ULukha 15
1 Ngalesosikhathi kwasekubuthana kuye abathelisi lezoni ukuzokuzwa imfundiso yakhe.
Then all the tax collectors and ‘sinners’ were getting close to Him to hear Him.
2 Kodwa abaFarisi labafundisi bomthetho bakhonona bathi, “Umuntu lo wemukela izoni adle lazo.”
Well the Pharisees and the scribes started complaining, saying, “This man welcomes ‘sinners’ and eats with them.”
3 UJesu wasebatshela umzekeliso lo, wathi:
So He told them this parable, saying:
4 “Ake kuthiwe omunye wenu ulezimvu ezilikhulu besekulahleka eyodwa kuzo. Kazukuzitshiya yini lezo ezingamatshumi ayisificamunwemunye lasificamunwemunye khonale egangeni ayidinge leyo elahlekileyo aze ayithole na?
“What man among you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not abandon the ninety-nine in the wild and go after the lost one until he finds it?
5 Kuthi lapho eseyitholile ayithwale emahlombe ngokuthokoza
And upon finding it he joyfully puts it on his shoulders.
6 aye layo ekhaya. Abesebiza abangane bakhe labomakhelwane athi, ‘Thokozani lami; sengiyitholile imvu yami ebilahlekile.’
And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost!’
7 Ngilitshela ukuthi ngaleyondlela kuzakuba lokuthokoza ezulwini ngokuphenduka kwesoni esisodwa okudlula labobantu abalungileyo abangamatshumi ayisificamunwemunye lasificamunwemunye abangakudingiyo ukuphenduka.”
I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who have no need of repentance.
8 “Kumbe kuthi owesifazane elenhlamvu zesiliva ezilitshumi kulahleke uhlamvu olulodwa. Kalumathisi yini isibane, athanyele endlini, adingisise kuhle aze aluthole na?
“Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?
9 Kuthi eselutholile abize abangane bakhe labomakhelwane, athi kubo, ‘Thokozani lami; sengilutholile uhlamvu lwami lwesiliva obelulahlekile.’
And when she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbors saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I lost!’
10 Ngiyalitshela ukuthi ngaleyondlela kulokuthokoza phambi kwezingilosi zikaNkulunkulu ngokuphenduka kwesoni esisodwa.”
Just so, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
11 UJesu waqhubeka wathi: “Kwakukhona indoda eyayilamadodana amabili.
Then He said: “A certain man had two sons.
12 Encinyane yathi kuyise, ‘Baba, ngipha esami isabelo selifa.’ Ngakho uyise wabehlukanisela impahla yakhe bobabili.
And the younger one said to the father, ‘Father, give me the appropriate share of the estate.’ So he divided the property between them.
13 Ngemva kwesikhatshana indodana encane yabutha konke okungokwayo yasuka yaya elizweni elikhatshana, yafika khonale yayichitha inotho yayo ngempilo yokuxhwala.
Not many days later the younger son, having converted it all, journeyed to a distant country; and there he squandered his wealth living dissolutely.
14 Isitshaye yachitha konke, kwaba lendlala enkulu kulolonke ilizwe, yasiswela kakhulu.
But when he had spent it all, there was a severe famine throughout that country, and he began to be in need.
15 Yasisiyadinga umsebenzi komunye umuntu wakulelolizwe owayisa esiqintini sakhe ukuyagcina ingulube.
Then he went and attached himself to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
16 Yabona kungcono kuyo ukuthi ixotshe iphango ngokudla okwakudliwa zingulube, kodwa kayizange iphiwe lutho langubani.
He would gladly have filled his stomach with the carob pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 Kwathi lapho ingqondo yayo isicabanga kuhle, yathi, ‘Kambe zingaki izinceku zikababa ezidla zizezitshiye kodwa nanku mina ngifa ngendlala!
But when he came to himself he said: ‘How many of my father's hired servants have an abundance of bread, while I am dying of hunger!
18 Ngizasuka ngibuyele kubaba ngifike ngithi kuye: Baba, ngenze isono phambi kwezulu lakuwe.
I will get up and go to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,
19 Kangisafanelanga ukuthiwa ngiyindodana yakho; ngenza ngibe njengomunye wezinceku zakho.’
and I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired servants.’
20 Ngakho yaphakama yaya kuyise. Kodwa yathi isesebucwala uyise wayibona wayizwela isihawu; wagijimela kuyo indodana yakhe, wayigona, wayanga.
“So he got up and went to his own father. But while he was still a good ways off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion—he ran and fell on his neck and kissed him!
21 Indodana yathi kuye, ‘Baba, ngenze isono phambi kwezulu lakuwe. Kangisafanelanga ukuthiwa ngiyindodana yakho.’
Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 Kodwa uyise wathi ezincekwini zakhe, ‘Phangisani! Lethani isembatho esihle ukwedlula ezinye limgqokise. Lifake indandatho emunweni wakhe, limgqokise lamanyathela ezinyaweni zakhe.
But the father said to his slaves: ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.
23 Beseliletha ithole elinonisiweyo lilihlabe. Asenzeni idili sithokoze.
And bring in and kill the fatted calf, and let us eat and celebrate;
24 Ngoba indodana yami le yayisifile, kodwa isiphila njalo; yayilahlekile manje isifunyenwe.’ Waqalisa manje umkhosi wokujabula.
because this son of mine was dead and came to life; he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.
25 Sonke lesisikhathi indodana endala yayisensimini. Yathi isibanga endlini yezwa kuhlatshelelwa njalo kugidwa.
“Now his older son was in the field; and as he came approaching the house he heard music and dancing.
26 Yasibiza omunye wezinceku yambuza ukuthi kwakusenzakalani.
So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.
27 Waphendula wathi, ‘Umfowenu usebuyile, ngakho uyihlo usemhlabele ithole elinonisiweyo ngoba ubuye ephilile, ephelele.’
He said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’
28 Umnewabo wazonda kakhulu, wala ukungena ngekhaya. Uyise wasephuma esiya kuye ukuyamncenga.
So he became angry and refused to go in. Then his father came out and began to plead with him.
29 Kodwa waphendula uyise wathi, ‘Khangela! Iminyaka yonke le bengikusebenzela kanzima njalo kangizange ngeqe imilayo yakho. Kodwa kawuzange ungiphe lokulizinyane kodwa lokhu ukuthi lami kengithokoze labangane bami.
But in answer he said to the father: ‘Just look at how many years I have been serving you without ever transgressing your commandment; yet you never gave me even a young goat that I might celebrate with my friends.
30 Kodwa lokhu kuthi nxa indodana yakho le esitshaye yathintitha inotho yakho lezifebe, isibuyile ekhaya uyihlabele ithole elinonisiweyo!’
But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’
31 Uyise wathi, ‘Ndodana yami, uhlezi ulami sonke isikhathi njalo konke engilakho ngokwakho.
So he said to him: ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.
32 Kodwa bekufanele sithokoze sijabule ngoba umfowenu lo wayesefile, manje usephila njalo; ubelahlekile, usefunyenwe.’”
But it was right that we celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and came to life; he was lost and is found.’”
