ULukha 1
1 Banengi asebazimisela ukuqoqa umlando wezinto esezigcwalisekile phakathi kwethu,
Inasmuch as many took it in hand to present a history concerning these things which have been fulfilled among us,
2 njengokwedluliselwa kwazo kithi yilabo ababekhona ekuqaleni bengabafakazi lezinceku zelizwi.
as those being eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word have delivered unto us;
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 followed carefully all things from the beginning, to write unto thee consecutively, O most noble Theophilus,
4 ukuze wazi iqiniso lezinto lezo ozifundisiweyo.
in order that thou mayest know the certainty of the words concerning which 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, the king of Judea, a certain priest, by name Zacharias, of the course of Ahijah, and his wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name Elizabeth.
6 Bobabili babelungile emehlweni kaNkulunkulu beyilandela yonke imilayo leziqondiso zeNkosi bengasoleki.
And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, blameless.
7 Kodwa babengelabantwana ngoba u-Elizabethi wayeyinyumba njalo bobabili basebeluphele.
And there was no child to them, as Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in their days.
8 Kwenzakala ukuthi isigaba sikaZakhariya siyiso esasimiselwe umsebenzi wethempeli ngalesosikhathi,
And it came to pass, while he was officiating in the order of his course before God,
9 wadliwa yinkatho ngokomkhuba wobuphristi, ukuthi angene ethempelini leNkosi ayetshisa impepha.
(according to the custom of the priesthood he was chosen by lot to offer incense), having gone into the temple of the Lord;
10 Kwathi isikhathi sokutshisa impepha sesifikile, wonke amakholwa ayebuthene lapho ayekhuleka ephandle.
and all the multitude of the people were praying without at the hour of incense;
11 Kwasekubonakala kuye ingilosi yeNkosi imi ngakwesokunene kwe-alithari lempepha.
the angel of the Lord appeared unto him standing on the right hand of the altar of incense:
12 UZakhariya wathi eyibona wethuka wesaba kakhulu.
and Zacharias was troubled seeing him, and fear fell on him.
13 Kodwa ingilosi yathi kuye, “Ungesabi, Zakhariya; umkhuleko wakho usuzwakele. Umkakho u-Elizabethi uzakuzalela indodana kufanele uyinike ibizo elithiwa nguJohane.
And the angel said to him; Fear not, Zacharias; because thy prayer has been heard, and thy wife Elizabeth shall bring forth a son to thee, and thou shalt call his name John.
14 Uzakuba yintokozo lenjabulo kuwe njalo abanengi bazathokoza ngenxa yokuzalwa kwakhe,
And there shall be joy and rejoicing, and many shall rejoice at his birth.
15 ngoba uzakuba mkhulu emehlweni eNkosi. Kakumelanga anathe iwayini lanini loba yini ebilisiweyo enathwayo, njalo uzagcwaliswa ngoMoya oNgcwele kusukela ekuzalweni kwakhe.
For he shall be great before the Lord; and he shall not drink wine and strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost even from the womb of his mother.
16 Uzaletha abantu bako-Israyeli abanengi eNkosini uNkulunkulu wabo.
And he will turn many of the sons of Israel to 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 will go before Him in the spirit and Power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient unto the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people made ready for the Lord.
18 UZakhariya wabuza ingilosi wathi, “Ngingaba leqiniso lakho njani lokho? Sengilixhegu njalo lomkami useluphele.”
And Zacharias said to the angel: According to what shall I know this? for I am old and my wife advanced in her days.
19 Ingilosi yaphendula yathi, “NginguGabhuriyeli mina. Ngima phambi kukaNkulunkulu, ngithunywe ukuzokhuluma lawe ngikutshela ngalezi izindaba ezinhle.
And the angel responding said to him; I am Gabriel standing in the presence of God, and am sent to speak to you and to preach to you these things.
20 Okwamanje uzakuba yisimungulu wehluleke ukukhuluma kuze kufike lolosuku okuzakwenzakala ngalo lokhu, ngoba kawuzange uwakholwe amazwi ami, wona azagcwaliseka ngesikhathi sawo esifaneleyo.”
And behold thou shalt be dumb and unable to speak, unto the day upon which these things may take place; because thou didst not believe my words, which shall be fulfilled in their time.
21 Sonke lesisikhathi abantu babelokhu bemlindele uZakhariya sebemangele ukuthi kungani wayethethe isikhathi eside kangako ethempelini.
And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering because he tarries in the temple.
22 Waphuma esesehluleka ukukhuluma labo. Babona ukuthi wayebone umbono ethempelini ngoba wayelokhu eqhweba ngezandla, kodwa esehluleka ukukhuluma.
And having come out he was unable to speak to them; and they recognized that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he was beckoning to them and remained dumb.
23 Izopha lakhe seliphelile wabuyela ekhaya.
And it came to pass when the days of his ministry were fulfilled, he went away to his own house.
24 Ngemva kwalokhu umkakhe u-Elizabethi wazithwala wasezifihla okwezinyanga ezinhlanu,
And after these days Elizabeth, his wife, conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
25 esithi, “INkosi ingenzele lokhu. Kulezi insuku ilutshengisile uthando Lwayo yasusa ihlazo lami ebantwini.”
That the Lord so hath done unto me, in the days in which He condescended to take away my reproach among men.
26 Ngenyanga yesithupha yokuzithwala kuka-Elizabethi, uNkulunkulu wathuma ingilosi uGabhuriyeli eNazaretha, idolobho elaliseGalile,
And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, to which was the name
27 ukuya entombini egcweleyo eyayithembise ukutshada lendoda eyayithiwa nguJosefa, owesizukulwane sikaDavida. Ibizo lentombi egcweleyo le kwakunguMariya.
Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man, to whom was the name 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 the angel having come to her said; Hail, thou blessed one; the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women.
29 Amazwi ayo amhlupha kakhulu uMariya wamangala ukuthi kanti kwakuyikubingelela bani lokhu.
And she seeing was troubled over his word, and was reasoning what kind this salutation might be.
30 Kodwa ingilosi yathi kuye, “Ungesabi Mariya, uthole umusa kuNkulunkulu.
And the angel said to her; Fear not, Mary; for thou didst find favor with God.
31 Uzakhulelwa ubelethe indodana, uyethe ibizo uthi nguJesu.
And behold, thou shalt conceive and hear a son, and thou 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 Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David:
and He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His Kingdom there shall be no end. (aiōn g165)
34 UMariya wayibuza ingilosi wathi, “Lokho kuzakwenzakala njani njengoba mina ngimsulwa ngingayazi indoda?”
And Mary said to the angel; How shall this be, since I know not man?
35 Ingilosi yaphendula yathi, “UMoya oNgcwele uzakwehlela phezu kwakho, lamandla akhe oPhezukonke azakusibekela. Ngakho ongcwele ozazalwa uzathiwa yiNdodana kaNkulunkulu.
And the angel responding said to her; The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee; therefore, indeed, that holy thing that is begotten shall be called the Son of God.
36 Lo-Elizabethi isihlobo sakho uzakuba lomntwana ekuluphaleni kwakhe, yena okwakuthiwa yinyumba usesenyangeni yakhe yesithupha.
And behold Elizabeth thy kinswoman, indeed, herself having conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month, to her who is called barren.
37 Ngoba kakukho okwehlulayo kuNkulunkulu.”
Because no word shall be impossible with God.
38 UMariya waphendula wathi, “Ngiyincekukazi yeNkosi. Kakwenzeke kimi njengoba utshilo.” Ingilosi yasisuka kuye.
And Mary said; Behold the handmaiden of the Lord; may it be done unto me according to thy word. And the angel went away from her.
39 Ngalesosikhathi uMariya waphanga wenza amalungiselelo waya edolobheni elizweni lamaqaqa eJudiya,
And Mary, rising, departed into the mountainous land, with haste, into a city of Judah.
40 lapho angena khona emzini kaZakhariya wabingelela u-Elizabethi.
And she came into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elizabeth.
41 Kwathi u-Elizabethi esizwa ukubingelela kukaMariya, umntwana weqa esiswini sakhe, u-Elizabethi wagcwala ngoMoya oNgcwele.
And it came to pass when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant in her womb leaped; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit; and she spoke with a loud voice and said;
42 Wakhuluma ngelizwi eliphezulu wathi, “Ubusisiwe wena phakathi kwabesifazane, njalo ubusisiwe umntwana ozamzala!
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 to me that the mother of my Lord may come unto me?
44 Ngonele ukuzwa ukubingelela kwakho, umntwana osesiswini sami weqa ngentokozo.
For behold when the voice of your salutation came into my ears, the infant in my womb leaped with joy.
45 Ubusisiwe lowo osekholiwe ukuthi lokho iNkosi ethe kuzakwenzeka kuye kuzagcwaliseka!”
And blessed is she that believeth, because there shall be a perfection to those things having been spoken to her by the Lord.
46 UMariya wathi: “Umphefumulo wami uyayidumisa iNkosi
And Mary said; My soul doth magnify the Lord,
47 lomoya wami uyathokoza kuNkulunkulu uMsindisi wami,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
48 ngoba ukunanzile ukuzehlisa kwencekukazi yakhe. Kusukela manje zonke izizukulwane zizakuthi ngibusisiwe,
because He looked upon the low state of his handmaiden.
49 ngoba uSomandla ungenzele izinto ezinkulu, lingcwele ibizo lakhe.
For behold from now all generations call me blessed; because the Mighty One did great things unto me, and His name is holy;
50 Isihawu sakhe sifinyelela kulabo abamesabayo, kulandela isizukulwane ngesizukulwane.
and His mercy unto generation of generations to them that fear Him.
51 Uyenzile imisebenzi emikhulu ngengalo yakhe: ubachithizile labo abaziqakisa ngemicabango yezinhliziyo zabo.
He wrought power by his own arm; he dispersed the proud in the thought of their heart.
52 Uwethule amakhosi ezihlalweni zawo, kodwa wabaphakamisa abantukazana.
He cast down the mighty from thrones and exalted the humble.
53 Ubasuthisile abalambileyo ngezinto ezinhle, kodwa abanothileyo ubaxotshe bengaphathanga lutho.
He filled the poor with good things, and sent away the rich empty.
54 Uyisizile inceku yakhe u-Israyeli, wakhumbula ukuba lesihawu
He delivered his son Israel, to remember mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his seed forever. (aiōn g165)
56 UMariya wahlala lo-Elizabethi izinyanga ezazingaba ntathu wasebuyela ekhaya.
And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
57 Kwathi isikhathi sika-Elizabethi sesiphelele esokubeletha wazala indodana.
And the time of her parturition was fulfilled unto Elizabeth and she brought forth a son.
58 Omakhelwane bakhe lezihlobo bezwa ukuthi iNkosi yayimzwele isihawu esikhulu bathokoza kanye laye.
And the neighbors and her relatives heard, that the Lord was magnifying His mercy with her, and they continued to rejoice with her.
59 Ngosuku lwesificaminwembili beza ukuzasoka umntwana, bafuna ukuthi bamethe ibizo likayise uZakhariya,
And it came to pass on the eighth day, they came to circumcise the little child; and they were calling him Zacharias, after the name of his father.
60 kodwa unina wala wathi, “Hatshi! Kathiwe nguJohane.”
And his mother responding said; No, but he shall be called John.
61 Bathi kuye, “Kakho ebantwini bakini olebizo lelo.”
And they said to her; That there is no one among thy kindred who is called by this name.
62 Bakhuluma ngezandla kuyise bedinga ukuthi yena uthanda ukuthi umntwana aphiwe liphi ibizo.
And they were beckoning to his father, what he might wish to call him.
63 Wacela isibhebhedu sokulobela, wamangalisa wonke umuntu ngoba waloba ukuthi, “Ibizo lakhe nguJohane.”
And having asked for a writing tablet, he wrote saying; His name is John.
64 Masinyane umlomo wakhe wavuleka lolimi lwakhe lwatshwaphuluka, waqalisa ukukhuluma edumisa uNkulunkulu.
And all marveled. And his mouth immediately opened and his tongue loosed, and he continued to speak, praising God.
65 Omakhelwane bonke bamangala kakhulu, kwathi elizweni lonke lamaqaqa eJudiya abantu babekhuluma ngalezizinto.
And fear came upon all of those dwelling around; and all these words were spoken abroad in all the mountainous regions of Judea.
66 Wonke owezwayo ngalokho wamangala ebuza esithi, “Kambe uzakuba yini umntwana lo?” Ngoba isandla seNkosi sasilaye.
And all those hearing placed them in their heart, saying; What then shall this little child be? And the hand of the Lord was with him.
67 Uyise uZakhariya wagcwala ngoMoya oNgcwele waphrofitha wathi:
And Zacharias his father was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied saying;
68 “Udumo kalube seNkosini, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, ngoba ubuyile ukuzahlenga abantu bakhe.
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, because He looked upon us and wrought redemption to His people, and raised up unto us a horn of salvation
69 Iluphakamisile uphondo lwensindiso yethu endlini yenceku yayo uDavida
in the house of David His son.
As he spoke through the mouth of His holy prophets from the beginning; (aiōn g165)
71 ukusindiswa ezitheni zethu lesandleni sabo bonke abasizondayo,
salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all those who hate us,
72 ukuze atshengise isihawu kubokhokho bethu lokukhumbula isivumelwano sakhe esingcwele,
to execute mercy with our fathers, and remember His holy covenant,
73 isifungo asifunga kubaba wethu u-Abhrahama:
the oath which He swore to Abraham our father:
74 ukusikhulula esandleni sezitha zethu, size siyikhonze singelakwesaba
to grant unto us, having been delivered out of the hand of our enemies, to serve Him without fear,
75 ngobungcwele langokulunga phambi kwayo ngazozonke insuku zethu.
in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.
76 Wena mntanami, uzathiwa ungumphrofethi woPhezukonke; ngoba uzahamba phambili kweNkosi uyilungisele indlela,
And thou, little child, shall be called a prophet of the Highest; for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,
77 ukunika abantu bayo ukwazi insindiso ngokuthethelelwa kwezono zabo,
to give knowledge of salvation to His people in remission of their sins,
78 ngenxa yomusa kaNkulunkulu wethu, ilanga liphuma lize kithi livela ezulwini,
through the bowels of mercy of our God, in which the dayspring from on high looked upon us,
79 likhanyise kulabo abahlezi ebumnyameni lasethunzini lokufa, ukukhokhelela inyawo zethu endleleni yokuthula.”
to appear unto those sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death, to direct our feet in the way of peace.
80 Umntwana wakhula waqina emoyeni; waphila enkangala waze wavela obala ku-Israyeli.
And the little child continued to grow and waxed strong in spirit; and was in the deserts until the day of his showing unto Israel.
