ULukha 1
1 Banengi asebazimisela ukuqoqa umlando wezinto esezigcwalisekile phakathi kwethu,
Whereas many have undertaken to compose a narrative of the things, which have been fully certified among us;
2 njengokwedluliselwa kwazo kithi yilabo ababekhona ekuqaleni bengabafakazi lezinceku zelizwi.
as they delivered them to us, who were from the beginning eye-witnesses of them, and ministers of the word;
3 Ngakho-ke, njengoba mina ngokwami sengichwayisisile konke kusukela ekuqaleni, lami ngikubone kufanele ukuthi ngikulobele umlando oqondileyo, komkhulu ohloniphekayo uTheyofelasi
it seemed good to me also, having thoroughly traced them all from the very first, to write an account of them in order to thee,
4 ukuze wazi iqiniso lezinto lezo ozifundisiweyo.
most excellent Theophilus, that thou mayst know the certainty of the things wherein thou hast been instructed.
5 Ngesikhathi sikaHerodi inkosi yaseJudiya kwakulomphristi okwakuthiwa nguZakhariya, owaye ngowesigaba sika-Abhija, umkakhe u-Elizabethi laye wayengowosendo luka-Aroni.
There was in the days of Herod king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia; and his wife was of the family of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
6 Bobabili babelungile emehlweni kaNkulunkulu beyilandela yonke imilayo leziqondiso zeNkosi bengasoleki.
And they were both righteous in the sight of God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
7 Kodwa babengelabantwana ngoba u-Elizabethi wayeyinyumba njalo bobabili basebeluphele.
And they had no child, for Elisabeth was barren; and they were both far advanced in years.
8 Kwenzakala ukuthi isigaba sikaZakhariya siyiso esasimiselwe umsebenzi wethempeli ngalesosikhathi,
And it came to pass, while he was in the order of his course performing the priest's office before God,
9 wadliwa yinkatho ngokomkhuba wobuphristi, ukuthi angene ethempelini leNkosi ayetshisa impepha.
according to the custom of dividing the office of the priests, that it fell to his lot to burn incense, entring into the temple of the Lord:
10 Kwathi isikhathi sokutshisa impepha sesifikile, wonke amakholwa ayebuthene lapho ayekhuleka ephandle.
and all the people were praying without at the time of offering incense.
11 Kwasekubonakala kuye ingilosi yeNkosi imi ngakwesokunene kwe-alithari lempepha.
And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right hand of the altar of incense.
12 UZakhariya wathi eyibona wethuka wesaba kakhulu.
And when Zacharias saw him, he was startled and struck with fear:
13 Kodwa ingilosi yathi kuye, “Ungesabi, Zakhariya; umkhuleko wakho usuzwakele. Umkakho u-Elizabethi uzakuzalela indodana kufanele uyinike ibizo elithiwa nguJohane.
but the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias; for thy prayer is heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John:
14 Uzakuba yintokozo lenjabulo kuwe njalo abanengi bazathokoza ngenxa yokuzalwa kwakhe,
and he shall be a joy and transport to thee, yea, many shall rejoice on account of his birth; for he shall be great in the sight of the Lord,
15 ngoba uzakuba mkhulu emehlweni eNkosi. Kakumelanga anathe iwayini lanini loba yini ebilisiweyo enathwayo, njalo uzagcwaliswa ngoMoya oNgcwele kusukela ekuzalweni kwakhe.
and he shall drink neither wine nor any other strong liquor; and he shall be filled with the holy Spirit even from his birth;
16 Uzaletha abantu bako-Israyeli abanengi eNkosini uNkulunkulu wabo.
and many of the children of Israel shall he convert unto the Lord their God.
17 Uzahamba phambili kweNkosi ngomoya langamandla ka-Elija, ukuguqulela inhliziyo zaboyise ebantwaneni babo labayiziqholo elwazini lwabalungileyo, ukuqondisa abantu abalungiselelwe iNkosi.”
And he shall go before Him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers unto the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to prepare for the Lord a people well-disposed.
18 UZakhariya wabuza ingilosi wathi, “Ngingaba leqiniso lakho njani lokho? Sengilixhegu njalo lomkami useluphele.”
And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife far advanced in years.
19 Ingilosi yaphendula yathi, “NginguGabhuriyeli mina. Ngima phambi kukaNkulunkulu, ngithunywe ukuzokhuluma lawe ngikutshela ngalezi izindaba ezinhle.
And the angel answering said to him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God, and I am sent to speak to thee, and to tell thee this good news:
20 Okwamanje uzakuba yisimungulu wehluleke ukukhuluma kuze kufike lolosuku okuzakwenzakala ngalo lokhu, ngoba kawuzange uwakholwe amazwi ami, wona azagcwaliseka ngesikhathi sawo esifaneleyo.”
and now shalt thou be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall come to pass; because thou believedst not my words, which shall be fulfilled at their season.
21 Sonke lesisikhathi abantu babelokhu bemlindele uZakhariya sebemangele ukuthi kungani wayethethe isikhathi eside kangako ethempelini.
And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and wondered at his staying so long in the temple:
22 Waphuma esesehluleka ukukhuluma labo. Babona ukuthi wayebone umbono ethempelini ngoba wayelokhu eqhweba ngezandla, kodwa esehluleka ukukhuluma.
but when he came out he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he made signs to them, and continued speechless:
23 Izopha lakhe seliphelile wabuyela ekhaya.
and as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
24 Ngemva kwalokhu umkakhe u-Elizabethi wazithwala wasezifihla okwezinyanga ezinhlanu,
And after these days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and retired five months,
25 esithi, “INkosi ingenzele lokhu. Kulezi insuku ilutshengisile uthando Lwayo yasusa ihlazo lami ebantwini.”
saying, the Lord hath thus dealt with me in the days wherein he looked upon me to take away my reproach among men.
26 Ngenyanga yesithupha yokuzithwala kuka-Elizabethi, uNkulunkulu wathuma ingilosi uGabhuriyeli eNazaretha, idolobho elaliseGalile,
But in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee called Nazareth,
27 ukuya entombini egcweleyo eyayithembise ukutshada lendoda eyayithiwa nguJosefa, owesizukulwane sikaDavida. Ibizo lentombi egcweleyo le kwakunguMariya.
to a virgin who was betrothed to a man, whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary.
28 Ingilosi yaya kuye yathi, “Sabona wena othole umusa kakhulukazi INkosi ilawe.”
And when the angel came in to the room to her, he said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured; the Lord is with thee;
29 Amazwi ayo amhlupha kakhulu uMariya wamangala ukuthi kanti kwakuyikubingelela bani lokhu.
blessed art thou among women! and when she saw him, she was confused at what he said, and pondered in her mind what sort of salutation this could be.
30 Kodwa ingilosi yathi kuye, “Ungesabi Mariya, uthole umusa kuNkulunkulu.
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary; for thou hast found favor with God:
31 Uzakhulelwa ubelethe indodana, uyethe ibizo uthi nguJesu.
and behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS:
32 Uzaba ngumuntu omkhulu abizwe ngokuthi yiNdodana yoPhezukonke. INkosi uNkulunkulu izamupha isihlalo sikayise uDavida,
He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God shall give Him the throne of David his father,
and He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end. (aiōn g165)
34 UMariya wayibuza ingilosi wathi, “Lokho kuzakwenzakala njani njengoba mina ngimsulwa ngingayazi indoda?”
Then said Mary to the angel, How can this be, since I am a virgin?
35 Ingilosi yaphendula yathi, “UMoya oNgcwele uzakwehlela phezu kwakho, lamandla akhe oPhezukonke azakusibekela. Ngakho ongcwele ozazalwa uzathiwa yiNdodana kaNkulunkulu.
And the angel answered and said unto her, The holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee, and therefore thine holy offspring shall be called the Son of God: and lo,
36 Lo-Elizabethi isihlobo sakho uzakuba lomntwana ekuluphaleni kwakhe, yena okwakuthiwa yinyumba usesenyangeni yakhe yesithupha.
thy cousin Elisabeth also hath conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month with her that was called barren;
37 Ngoba kakukho okwehlulayo kuNkulunkulu.”
for nothing is impossible with God.
38 UMariya waphendula wathi, “Ngiyincekukazi yeNkosi. Kakwenzeke kimi njengoba utshilo.” Ingilosi yasisuka kuye.
Then Mary said, Behold the servant of the Lord, may it be unto me according to thy word. So the angel departed from her.
39 Ngalesosikhathi uMariya waphanga wenza amalungiselelo waya edolobheni elizweni lamaqaqa eJudiya,
Then Mary arose and went with speed into the hill-country, to a city of Juda,
40 lapho angena khona emzini kaZakhariya wabingelela u-Elizabethi.
and came into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
41 Kwathi u-Elizabethi esizwa ukubingelela kukaMariya, umntwana weqa esiswini sakhe, u-Elizabethi wagcwala ngoMoya oNgcwele.
And as soon as Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the child leaped in her womb, and Elisabeth was filled with the holy Spirit:
42 Wakhuluma ngelizwi eliphezulu wathi, “Ubusisiwe wena phakathi kwabesifazane, njalo ubusisiwe umntwana ozamzala!
and she cried out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb:
43 Kodwa kungani ngithole umusa ongaka mina, ukuba ngethekelelwe ngunina weNkosi yami?
and whence is this honor to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 Ngonele ukuzwa ukubingelela kwakho, umntwana osesiswini sami weqa ngentokozo.
for behold, as soon as the voice of thy salutation reached my ears, the child in my womb leaped for joy:
45 Ubusisiwe lowo osekholiwe ukuthi lokho iNkosi ethe kuzakwenzeka kuye kuzagcwaliseka!”
and blessed is she that believed; for there shall be a performance of the things that were told her from the Lord.
46 UMariya wathi: “Umphefumulo wami uyayidumisa iNkosi
And Mary said, "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour;
47 lomoya wami uyathokoza kuNkulunkulu uMsindisi wami,
for He hath regarded the low estate of his handmaid:
48 ngoba ukunanzile ukuzehlisa kwencekukazi yakhe. Kusukela manje zonke izizukulwane zizakuthi ngibusisiwe,
for behold, from henceforth shall all generations call me blessed:
49 ngoba uSomandla ungenzele izinto ezinkulu, lingcwele ibizo lakhe.
for He that is mighty hath done great things for me,
50 Isihawu sakhe sifinyelela kulabo abamesabayo, kulandela isizukulwane ngesizukulwane.
and his name is holy, and his mercy is on them that fear Him, unto all generations.
51 Uyenzile imisebenzi emikhulu ngengalo yakhe: ubachithizile labo abaziqakisa ngemicabango yezinhliziyo zabo.
He hath wrought powerfully with his arm; He hath confounded those that were proud in the imagination of their heart.
52 Uwethule amakhosi ezihlalweni zawo, kodwa wabaphakamisa abantukazana.
He hath cast down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the humble.
53 Ubasuthisile abalambileyo ngezinto ezinhle, kodwa abanothileyo ubaxotshe bengaphathanga lutho.
He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He hath sent away empty.
54 Uyisizile inceku yakhe u-Israyeli, wakhumbula ukuba lesihawu
He hath supported Israel his servant,
in remembrance of his mercy (even as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed, ) for ever." (aiōn g165)
56 UMariya wahlala lo-Elizabethi izinyanga ezazingaba ntathu wasebuyela ekhaya.
And Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her own house.
57 Kwathi isikhathi sika-Elizabethi sesiphelele esokubeletha wazala indodana.
Now when Elisabeth's time for her delivery was fully come, she brought forth a son:
58 Omakhelwane bakhe lezihlobo bezwa ukuthi iNkosi yayimzwele isihawu esikhulu bathokoza kanye laye.
and her neighbours and kindred heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her, and they congratulated her;
59 Ngosuku lwesificaminwembili beza ukuzasoka umntwana, bafuna ukuthi bamethe ibizo likayise uZakhariya,
and on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child: and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of his father:
60 kodwa unina wala wathi, “Hatshi! Kathiwe nguJohane.”
but his mother said, No, but he shall be called John:
61 Bathi kuye, “Kakho ebantwini bakini olebizo lelo.”
and they said to her, There is none of thy relations of this name.
62 Bakhuluma ngezandla kuyise bedinga ukuthi yena uthanda ukuthi umntwana aphiwe liphi ibizo.
And they made signs to his father, what name he would have him called by.
63 Wacela isibhebhedu sokulobela, wamangalisa wonke umuntu ngoba waloba ukuthi, “Ibizo lakhe nguJohane.”
And he called for a writing-tablet, and wrote upon it, His name is John: and they all wondered.
64 Masinyane umlomo wakhe wavuleka lolimi lwakhe lwatshwaphuluka, waqalisa ukukhuluma edumisa uNkulunkulu.
And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake and praised God.
65 Omakhelwane bonke bamangala kakhulu, kwathi elizweni lonke lamaqaqa eJudiya abantu babekhuluma ngalezizinto.
And an awe fell upon all that dwelt round about them; and all these things were divulged through the whole hill-country of Judea.
66 Wonke owezwayo ngalokho wamangala ebuza esithi, “Kambe uzakuba yini umntwana lo?” Ngoba isandla seNkosi sasilaye.
And all that heard them, laid them up in their hearts, saying, What a child will this be? And the hand of the Lord was with him.
67 Uyise uZakhariya wagcwala ngoMoya oNgcwele waphrofitha wathi:
And his father Zacharias was filled with the holy Spirit,
68 “Udumo kalube seNkosini, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, ngoba ubuyile ukuzahlenga abantu bakhe.
and prophesied, saying, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He hath visited and wrought redemption for his people,
69 Iluphakamisile uphondo lwensindiso yethu endlini yenceku yayo uDavida
and hath raised up an horn of salvation for us,
in the house of his servant David, as He spake by the mouth of his holy prophets from the beginning, (aiōn g165)
71 ukusindiswa ezitheni zethu lesandleni sabo bonke abasizondayo,
even salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us,
72 ukuze atshengise isihawu kubokhokho bethu lokukhumbula isivumelwano sakhe esingcwele,
to display his mercy towards our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant,
73 isifungo asifunga kubaba wethu u-Abhrahama:
according to the oath which He sware to Abraham our father,
74 ukusikhulula esandleni sezitha zethu, size siyikhonze singelakwesaba
to grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him,
75 ngobungcwele langokulunga phambi kwayo ngazozonke insuku zethu.
all the days of our life.
76 Wena mntanami, uzathiwa ungumphrofethi woPhezukonke; ngoba uzahamba phambili kweNkosi uyilungisele indlela,
And thou, my child, shalt be called the prophet of the most High; for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord,
77 ukunika abantu bayo ukwazi insindiso ngokuthethelelwa kwezono zabo,
to make known salvation to his people,
78 ngenxa yomusa kaNkulunkulu wethu, ilanga liphuma lize kithi livela ezulwini,
in the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the day-spring hath visited us from on high,
79 likhanyise kulabo abahlezi ebumnyameni lasethunzini lokufa, ukukhokhelela inyawo zethu endleleni yokuthula.”
to enlighten them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to direct our feet into the way of peace."
80 Umntwana wakhula waqina emoyeni; waphila enkangala waze wavela obala ku-Israyeli.
And the child grew, and became strong in spirit: and he was in the deserts till the time of his being manifested to Israel.
