ULukha 1
1 Banengi asebazimisela ukuqoqa umlando wezinto esezigcwalisekile phakathi kwethu,
To his Excellency, Theophilus. Many attempts have been already made to draw up an account of those events which have reached their conclusion among us,
2 njengokwedluliselwa kwazo kithi yilabo ababekhona ekuqaleni bengabafakazi lezinceku zelizwi.
just as they were reported to us by those who from the beginning were eye-witnesses, and afterwards became bearers of the message.
3 Ngakho-ke, njengoba mina ngokwami sengichwayisisile konke kusukela ekuqaleni, lami ngikubone kufanele ukuthi ngikulobele umlando oqondileyo, komkhulu ohloniphekayo uTheyofelasi
And, therefore, I also, since I have investigated all these events with great care from their very beginning, have resolved to write a connected history of them for you,
4 ukuze wazi iqiniso lezinto lezo ozifundisiweyo.
in order that you may be able to satisfy yourself of the accuracy of the story which you have heard from the lips of others.
5 Ngesikhathi sikaHerodi inkosi yaseJudiya kwakulomphristi okwakuthiwa nguZakhariya, owaye ngowesigaba sika-Abhija, umkakhe u-Elizabethi laye wayengowosendo luka-Aroni.
In the reign of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the division called after Abijah. His wife, whose name was Elizabeth, was also a descendant of Aaron.
6 Bobabili babelungile emehlweni kaNkulunkulu beyilandela yonke imilayo leziqondiso zeNkosi bengasoleki.
They were both righteous people, who lived blameless lives, guiding their steps by all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
7 Kodwa babengelabantwana ngoba u-Elizabethi wayeyinyumba njalo bobabili basebeluphele.
But they had no child, Elizabeth being barren; and both of them were advanced in years.
8 Kwenzakala ukuthi isigaba sikaZakhariya siyiso esasimiselwe umsebenzi wethempeli ngalesosikhathi,
One day, when Zechariah was officiating as priest before God, during the turn of his division,
9 wadliwa yinkatho ngokomkhuba wobuphristi, ukuthi angene ethempelini leNkosi ayetshisa impepha.
it fell to him by lot, in accordance with the practice among the priests, to go into the Temple of the Lord and burn incense;
10 Kwathi isikhathi sokutshisa impepha sesifikile, wonke amakholwa ayebuthene lapho ayekhuleka ephandle.
and, as it was the Hour of Incense, the people were all praying outside.
11 Kwasekubonakala kuye ingilosi yeNkosi imi ngakwesokunene kwe-alithari lempepha.
And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right of the Altar of Incense.
12 UZakhariya wathi eyibona wethuka wesaba kakhulu.
Zechariah was startled at the sight and was awe-struck.
13 Kodwa ingilosi yathi kuye, “Ungesabi, Zakhariya; umkhuleko wakho usuzwakele. Umkakho u-Elizabethi uzakuzalela indodana kufanele uyinike ibizo elithiwa nguJohane.
But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, whom you will call by the name John.
14 Uzakuba yintokozo lenjabulo kuwe njalo abanengi bazathokoza ngenxa yokuzalwa kwakhe,
He will be to you a joy and a delight; and many will rejoice over 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 will be great in the sight of the Lord; he will not drink any wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from the very hour of his birth,
16 Uzaletha abantu bako-Israyeli abanengi eNkosini uNkulunkulu wabo.
and will reconcile many of the Israelites 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.”
He will go before him in the spirit and with the power of Elijah, to reconcile fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, and so make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.’
18 UZakhariya wabuza ingilosi wathi, “Ngingaba leqiniso lakho njani lokho? Sengilixhegu njalo lomkami useluphele.”
‘How can I be sure of this?’ Zechariah asked the angel. ‘For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.’
19 Ingilosi yaphendula yathi, “NginguGabhuriyeli mina. Ngima phambi kukaNkulunkulu, ngithunywe ukuzokhuluma lawe ngikutshela ngalezi izindaba ezinhle.
‘I am Gabriel,’ the angel answered, ‘who stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you 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 you will be silent and unable to speak until the day when this takes place, because you did not believe what I said, though my words will be fulfilled in due course.’
21 Sonke lesisikhathi abantu babelokhu bemlindele uZakhariya sebemangele ukuthi kungani wayethethe isikhathi eside kangako ethempelini.
Meanwhile the people were watching for Zechariah, wondering at his remaining so long in the Temple.
22 Waphuma esesehluleka ukukhuluma labo. Babona ukuthi wayebone umbono ethempelini ngoba wayelokhu eqhweba ngezandla, kodwa esehluleka ukukhuluma.
When he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision there. But Zechariah kept making signs to them, and remained dumb.
23 Izopha lakhe seliphelile wabuyela ekhaya.
And, as soon as his term of service was finished, he returned home.
24 Ngemva kwalokhu umkakhe u-Elizabethi wazithwala wasezifihla okwezinyanga ezinhlanu,
After this his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and lived in seclusion for five months.
25 esithi, “INkosi ingenzele lokhu. Kulezi insuku ilutshengisile uthando Lwayo yasusa ihlazo lami ebantwini.”
‘The Lord has done this for me,’ she said, ‘he has shown me kindness and taken away the public disgrace of childlessness under which I have been living.’
26 Ngenyanga yesithupha yokuzithwala kuka-Elizabethi, uNkulunkulu wathuma ingilosi uGabhuriyeli eNazaretha, idolobho elaliseGalile,
Six months later the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
27 ukuya entombini egcweleyo eyayithembise ukutshada lendoda eyayithiwa nguJosefa, owesizukulwane sikaDavida. Ibizo lentombi egcweleyo le kwakunguMariya.
to a maiden there who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. Her name was Mary.
28 Ingilosi yaya kuye yathi, “Sabona wena othole umusa kakhulukazi INkosi ilawe.”
Gabriel came into her presence and greeted her, saying, ‘You have been shown great favour – the Lord is with you.’
29 Amazwi ayo amhlupha kakhulu uMariya wamangala ukuthi kanti kwakuyikubingelela bani lokhu.
Mary was much disturbed at his words, and was wondering to herself what such a greeting could mean,
30 Kodwa ingilosi yathi kuye, “Ungesabi Mariya, uthole umusa kuNkulunkulu.
when the angel spoke again, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God.
31 Uzakhulelwa ubelethe indodana, uyethe ibizo uthi nguJesu.
And now, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will give him the name Jesus.
32 Uzaba ngumuntu omkhulu abizwe ngokuthi yiNdodana yoPhezukonke. INkosi uNkulunkulu izamupha isihlalo sikayise uDavida,
The child will be great and will be called “Son of the Most High,” and the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David,
and he will reign over the descendants of Jacob for ever; And to his kingdom there will be no end.’ (aiōn g165)
34 UMariya wayibuza ingilosi wathi, “Lokho kuzakwenzakala njani njengoba mina ngimsulwa ngingayazi indoda?”
‘How can this be?’ Mary asked the angel. ‘For I have no husband.’
35 Ingilosi yaphendula yathi, “UMoya oNgcwele uzakwehlela phezu kwakho, lamandla akhe oPhezukonke azakusibekela. Ngakho ongcwele ozazalwa uzathiwa yiNdodana kaNkulunkulu.
‘The Holy Spirit will descend on you,’ answered the angel, ‘and the Power of the Most High will overshadow you; and therefore the child will be called “holy,” and “Son of God.”
36 Lo-Elizabethi isihlobo sakho uzakuba lomntwana ekuluphaleni kwakhe, yena okwakuthiwa yinyumba usesenyangeni yakhe yesithupha.
And Elizabeth, your cousin, is herself also expecting a son in her old age; and it is now the sixth month with her, though she is called barren;
37 Ngoba kakukho okwehlulayo kuNkulunkulu.”
for no promise from God will fail to be fulfilled.’
38 UMariya waphendula wathi, “Ngiyincekukazi yeNkosi. Kakwenzeke kimi njengoba utshilo.” Ingilosi yasisuka kuye.
‘I am the servant of the Lord,’ exclaimed Mary. ‘Let it be with me as you have said.’ Then the angel left her.
39 Ngalesosikhathi uMariya waphanga wenza amalungiselelo waya edolobheni elizweni lamaqaqa eJudiya,
Soon after this Mary set out, and made her way quickly into the hill-country, to a town in Judah;
40 lapho angena khona emzini kaZakhariya wabingelela u-Elizabethi.
and there she went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.
41 Kwathi u-Elizabethi esizwa ukubingelela kukaMariya, umntwana weqa esiswini sakhe, u-Elizabethi wagcwala ngoMoya oNgcwele.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child moved within her, and Elizabeth herself was filled with the Holy Spirit,
42 Wakhuluma ngelizwi eliphezulu wathi, “Ubusisiwe wena phakathi kwabesifazane, njalo ubusisiwe umntwana ozamzala!
and cried aloud, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is your unborn child!
43 Kodwa kungani ngithole umusa ongaka mina, ukuba ngethekelelwe ngunina weNkosi yami?
But how have I this honour, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 Ngonele ukuzwa ukubingelela kwakho, umntwana osesiswini sami weqa ngentokozo.
For, as soon as your greeting reached my ears, the child moved within me with delight!
45 Ubusisiwe lowo osekholiwe ukuthi lokho iNkosi ethe kuzakwenzeka kuye kuzagcwaliseka!”
Happy indeed is she who believed that the promise which she received from the Lord would be fulfilled.’
46 UMariya wathi: “Umphefumulo wami uyayidumisa iNkosi
And Mary said: ‘My soul exalts the Lord,
47 lomoya wami uyathokoza kuNkulunkulu uMsindisi wami,
and my spirit delights in God my Saviour,
48 ngoba ukunanzile ukuzehlisa kwencekukazi yakhe. Kusukela manje zonke izizukulwane zizakuthi ngibusisiwe,
for he has looked with favour on his humble servant girl. From now on all generations will call me blessed!
49 ngoba uSomandla ungenzele izinto ezinkulu, lingcwele ibizo lakhe.
‘For the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
50 Isihawu sakhe sifinyelela kulabo abamesabayo, kulandela isizukulwane ngesizukulwane.
He has mercy on those who revere him in every generation.
51 Uyenzile imisebenzi emikhulu ngengalo yakhe: ubachithizile labo abaziqakisa ngemicabango yezinhliziyo zabo.
‘Mighty are the deeds of his arm! He has scattered the self-satisfied proud,
52 Uwethule amakhosi ezihlalweni zawo, kodwa wabaphakamisa abantukazana.
he has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and he uplifts the humble,
53 Ubasuthisile abalambileyo ngezinto ezinhle, kodwa abanothileyo ubaxotshe bengaphathanga lutho.
he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 Uyisizile inceku yakhe u-Israyeli, wakhumbula ukuba lesihawu
‘He has stretched out his hand to his servant Israel, ever mindful of his mercy,
as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and his descendants for ever.’ (aiōn g165)
56 UMariya wahlala lo-Elizabethi izinyanga ezazingaba ntathu wasebuyela ekhaya.
Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned to her home.
57 Kwathi isikhathi sika-Elizabethi sesiphelele esokubeletha wazala indodana.
When Elizabeth’s time came, she gave birth to a son;
58 Omakhelwane bakhe lezihlobo bezwa ukuthi iNkosi yayimzwele isihawu esikhulu bathokoza kanye laye.
and her neighbours and relatives, hearing of the great goodness of the Lord to her, came to share her joy.
59 Ngosuku lwesificaminwembili beza ukuzasoka umntwana, bafuna ukuthi bamethe ibizo likayise uZakhariya,
A week later they met to circumcise the child, and were about to call him Zechariah after his father,
60 kodwa unina wala wathi, “Hatshi! Kathiwe nguJohane.”
when his mother spoke up, ‘No, he is to be called John.’
61 Bathi kuye, “Kakho ebantwini bakini olebizo lelo.”
‘You have no relation of that name!’ they exclaimed;
62 Bakhuluma ngezandla kuyise bedinga ukuthi yena uthanda ukuthi umntwana aphiwe liphi ibizo.
and they made signs to the child’s father, to find out what he wished the child to be called.
63 Wacela isibhebhedu sokulobela, wamangalisa wonke umuntu ngoba waloba ukuthi, “Ibizo lakhe nguJohane.”
Asking for a writing tablet, he wrote the words – “His name is John.” Everyone was surprised
64 Masinyane umlomo wakhe wavuleka lolimi lwakhe lwatshwaphuluka, waqalisa ukukhuluma edumisa uNkulunkulu.
and immediately Zechariah recovered his voice and the use of his tongue, and began to bless God.
65 Omakhelwane bonke bamangala kakhulu, kwathi elizweni lonke lamaqaqa eJudiya abantu babekhuluma ngalezizinto.
All their neighbours were awe-struck at this, and throughout the hill-country of Judea the whole story was much talked about.
66 Wonke owezwayo ngalokho wamangala ebuza esithi, “Kambe uzakuba yini umntwana lo?” Ngoba isandla seNkosi sasilaye.
All who heard it kept it in mind, asking one another – ‘What can this child be destined to become?’ For the Power of the Lord was with him.
67 Uyise uZakhariya wagcwala ngoMoya oNgcwele waphrofitha wathi:
Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and, speaking under inspiration, said:
68 “Udumo kalube seNkosini, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, ngoba ubuyile ukuzahlenga abantu bakhe.
‘Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, who has visited his people and wrought their deliverance,
69 Iluphakamisile uphondo lwensindiso yethu endlini yenceku yayo uDavida
and has raised up for us the strength of our salvation in the house of his servant David –
as he promised by the lips of his holy prophets of old – (aiōn g165)
71 ukusindiswa ezitheni zethu lesandleni sabo bonke abasizondayo,
salvation from our enemies and from the hands of all who hate us,
72 ukuze atshengise isihawu kubokhokho bethu lokukhumbula isivumelwano sakhe esingcwele,
showing mercy to our ancestors, and mindful of his sacred covenant.
73 isifungo asifunga kubaba wethu u-Abhrahama:
This was the oath which he swore to our ancestor Abraham –
74 ukusikhulula esandleni sezitha zethu, size siyikhonze singelakwesaba
that we should be rescued from the hands of our enemies,
75 ngobungcwele langokulunga phambi kwayo ngazozonke insuku zethu.
and should serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness, in his presence all our days.
76 Wena mntanami, uzathiwa ungumphrofethi woPhezukonke; ngoba uzahamba phambili kweNkosi uyilungisele indlela,
And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to make ready his way,
77 ukunika abantu bayo ukwazi insindiso ngokuthethelelwa kwezono zabo,
to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 ngenxa yomusa kaNkulunkulu wethu, ilanga liphuma lize kithi livela ezulwini,
through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dawn will break on us from heaven,
79 likhanyise kulabo abahlezi ebumnyameni lasethunzini lokufa, ukukhokhelela inyawo zethu endleleni yokuthula.”
to give light to those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, and guide our feet into the way of peace.’
80 Umntwana wakhula waqina emoyeni; waphila enkangala waze wavela obala ku-Israyeli.
The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he lived in the wilds until the time came for his appearance before Israel.
