ULukha 15
1 Ngalesosikhathi kwasekubuthana kuye abathelisi lezoni ukuzokuzwa imfundiso yakhe.
And publicans and sinners came to him, to hear him.
2 Kodwa abaFarisi labafundisi bomthetho bakhonona bathi, “Umuntu lo wemukela izoni adle lazo.”
And the Scribes and Pharisees murmured, and said: This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
3 UJesu wasebatshela umzekeliso lo, wathi:
And Jesus spoke to them this similitude:
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, that hath a hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the desert, and go and seek for that which is lost, until he find it?
5 Kuthi lapho eseyitholile ayithwale emahlombe ngokuthokoza
And when he findeth it, he rejoiceth, and taketh it upon his shoulders;
6 aye layo ekhaya. Abesebiza abangane bakhe labomakhelwane athi, ‘Thokozani lami; sengiyitholile imvu yami ebilahlekile.’
and he cometh home, and he calleth together his friends and neighbors, and saith 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 there will thus be joy in heaven, over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just ones, to whom repentance was not necessary.
8 “Kumbe kuthi owesifazane elenhlamvu zesiliva ezilitshumi kulahleke uhlamvu olulodwa. Kalumathisi yini isibane, athanyele endlini, adingisise kuhle aze aluthole na?
Or what woman is there, who, if she have ten drachmas, and lose one of them, doth not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and search for it carefully, until she find it?
9 Kuthi eselutholile abize abangane bakhe labomakhelwane, athi kubo, ‘Thokozani lami; sengilutholile uhlamvu lwami lwesiliva obelulahlekile.’
And when she hath found it, she calleth together her friends and neighbors, and saith to them: Rejoice with me, for I have found my drachma that was lost.
10 Ngiyalitshela ukuthi ngaleyondlela kulokuthokoza phambi kwezingilosi zikaNkulunkulu ngokuphenduka kwesoni esisodwa.”
I say to you, That there will thus be joy, before the angels of God, over one sinner that repenteth.
11 UJesu waqhubeka wathi: “Kwakukhona indoda eyayilamadodana amabili.
And Jesus said to them again: A certain man had two sons.
12 Encinyane yathi kuyise, ‘Baba, ngipha esami isabelo selifa.’ Ngakho uyise wabehlukanisela impahla yakhe bobabili.
And his younger son said to him: My father, give me the portion that falleth to me from thy house. And he divided to them his property.
13 Ngemva kwesikhatshana indodana encane yabutha konke okungokwayo yasuka yaya elizweni elikhatshana, yafika khonale yayichitha inotho yayo ngempilo yokuxhwala.
And after a few days, the younger son collected together all that fell to him, and went to a distant place and there squandered his property, by living in dissipation.
14 Isitshaye yachitha konke, kwaba lendlala enkulu kulolonke ilizwe, yasiswela kakhulu.
And when he had consumed all that he had, there occurred a great famine in that place; and he began to be in want.
15 Yasisiyadinga umsebenzi komunye umuntu wakulelolizwe owayisa esiqintini sakhe ukuyagcina ingulube.
And he went and connected himself with one of the citizens of that place: and he sent him into the field to tend swine.
16 Yabona kungcono kuyo ukuthi ixotshe iphango ngokudla okwakudliwa zingulube, kodwa kayizange iphiwe lutho langubani.
And he longed to fill his belly with those pods which the swine ate: and no one gave to him.
17 Kwathi lapho ingqondo yayo isicabanga kuhle, yathi, ‘Kambe zingaki izinceku zikababa ezidla zizezitshiye kodwa nanku mina ngifa ngendlala!
And when he came to himself, he said: How many hired servants are now at my father's house, who have bread enough, and I am here perishing with hunger.
18 Ngizasuka ngibuyele kubaba ngifike ngithi kuye: Baba, ngenze isono phambi kwezulu lakuwe.
I will arise and go to my father, and say to him: My father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee;
19 Kangisafanelanga ukuthiwa ngiyindodana yakho; ngenza ngibe njengomunye wezinceku zakho.’
and am no longer worthy to be called thy son. Make me like one of thy hired servants.
20 Ngakho yaphakama yaya kuyise. Kodwa yathi isesebucwala uyise wayibona wayizwela isihawu; wagijimela kuyo indodana yakhe, wayigona, wayanga.
And he arose and went towards his father. And he was yet at a distance, when his father saw him; and he pitied him, and ran, and fell upon his neck and kissed him.
21 Indodana yathi kuye, ‘Baba, ngenze isono phambi kwezulu lakuwe. Kangisafanelanga ukuthiwa ngiyindodana yakho.’
And his son said to him: My father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am not worthy to be called thy son.
22 Kodwa uyise wathi ezincekwini zakhe, ‘Phangisani! Lethani isembatho esihle ukwedlula ezinye limgqokise. Lifake indandatho emunweni wakhe, limgqokise lamanyathela ezinyaweni zakhe.
But his father said to his servants: Bring forth the best robe, and clothe him, and put a ring on his hand, and supply him with shoes.
23 Beseliletha ithole elinonisiweyo lilihlabe. Asenzeni idili sithokoze.
And bring forth and slay the fatted bullock; and let us eat, and be merry.
24 Ngoba indodana yami le yayisifile, kodwa isiphila njalo; yayilahlekile manje isifunyenwe.’ Waqalisa manje umkhosi wokujabula.
For, this my son was dead, and is alive; he was lost and is found. And they began to be merry.
25 Sonke lesisikhathi indodana endala yayisensimini. Yathi isibanga endlini yezwa kuhlatshelelwa njalo kugidwa.
But his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard the sound of the singing of many.
26 Yasibiza omunye wezinceku yambuza ukuthi kwakusenzakalani.
And he called to one of the boys, and asked him what it meant.
27 Waphendula wathi, ‘Umfowenu usebuyile, ngakho uyihlo usemhlabele ithole elinonisiweyo ngoba ubuye ephilile, ephelele.’
And he said to him: Thy brother hath come; and thy father hath killed the fatted bullock, because he hath received him in health.
28 Umnewabo wazonda kakhulu, wala ukungena ngekhaya. Uyise wasephuma esiya kuye ukuyamncenga.
And he was angry, and would not go in: and his father went out and entreated 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.
And he said to his father: Lo, these many years have I labored in thy service, and never transgressed thy command; and thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends.
30 Kodwa lokhu kuthi nxa indodana yakho le esitshaye yathintitha inotho yakho lezifebe, isibuyile ekhaya uyihlabele ithole elinonisiweyo!’
But for this thy son, when he had dissipated thy property with harlots, and came home, thou hast slain the fatted bullock for him.
31 Uyise wathi, ‘Ndodana yami, uhlezi ulami sonke isikhathi njalo konke engilakho ngokwakho.
His father said to him: My son, thou hast been ever with me, and all that I have, is thine.
32 Kodwa bekufanele sithokoze sijabule ngoba umfowenu lo wayesefile, manje usephila njalo; ubelahlekile, usefunyenwe.’”
But it was proper for us to be merry, and to rejoice; because this thy brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.
