ULukha 1
1 Banengi asebazimisela ukuqoqa umlando wezinto esezigcwalisekile phakathi kwethu,
Seeing that many did take in hand to set in order a narration of the matters that have been fully assured among us,
2 njengokwedluliselwa kwazo kithi yilabo ababekhona ekuqaleni bengabafakazi lezinceku zelizwi.
as they did deliver to us, who from the beginning became eye-witnesses, and officers 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 also to me, having followed from the first after all things exactly, to write to thee in order, most noble Theophilus,
4 ukuze wazi iqiniso lezinto lezo ozifundisiweyo.
that thou mayest know the certainty of the things wherein thou wast 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 Abijah, and his wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name Elisabeth;
6 Bobabili babelungile emehlweni kaNkulunkulu beyilandela yonke imilayo leziqondiso zeNkosi bengasoleki.
and they were both righteous before God, going on in all the commands and righteousnesses of the Lord blameless,
7 Kodwa babengelabantwana ngoba u-Elizabethi wayeyinyumba njalo bobabili basebeluphele.
and they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and both were advanced in their days.
8 Kwenzakala ukuthi isigaba sikaZakhariya siyiso esasimiselwe umsebenzi wethempeli ngalesosikhathi,
And it came to pass, in his acting as priest, 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, his lot was to make perfume, having gone into the sanctuary 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 the perfume.
11 Kwasekubonakala kuye ingilosi yeNkosi imi ngakwesokunene kwe-alithari lempepha.
And there appeared to him a messenger of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of the perfume,
12 UZakhariya wathi eyibona wethuka wesaba kakhulu.
and Zacharias, having seen, was troubled, 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 messenger said unto him, 'Fear not, Zacharias, for thy supplication was heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear 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 to thee, and gladness, and many at his birth shall joy,
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 wine and strong drink he may not drink, and of the Holy Spirit he shall be full, even from his mother's womb;
16 Uzaletha abantu bako-Israyeli abanengi eNkosini uNkulunkulu wabo.
and many of the sons of Israel he shall turn 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 shall go before Him, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn hearts of fathers unto children, and disobedient ones to the wisdom of righteous ones, to make ready for the Lord, a people prepared.'
18 UZakhariya wabuza ingilosi wathi, “Ngingaba leqiniso lakho njani lokho? Sengilixhegu njalo lomkami useluphele.”
And Zacharias said unto the messenger, 'Whereby shall I know this? for I am aged, and my wife is advanced in her days?'
19 Ingilosi yaphendula yathi, “NginguGabhuriyeli mina. Ngima phambi kukaNkulunkulu, ngithunywe ukuzokhuluma lawe ngikutshela ngalezi izindaba ezinhle.
And the messenger answering said to him, 'I am Gabriel, who have been standing near before God, and I was sent to speak unto thee, and to proclaim these good news to thee,
20 Okwamanje uzakuba yisimungulu wehluleke ukukhuluma kuze kufike lolosuku okuzakwenzakala ngalo lokhu, ngoba kawuzange uwakholwe amazwi ami, wona azagcwaliseka ngesikhathi sawo esifaneleyo.”
and lo, thou shalt be silent, and not able to speak, till the day that these things shall come to pass, because thou didst not believe my words, that shall be fulfilled in 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 wondering at his tarrying in the sanctuary,
22 Waphuma esesehluleka ukukhuluma labo. Babona ukuthi wayebone umbono ethempelini ngoba wayelokhu eqhweba ngezandla, kodwa esehluleka ukukhuluma.
and having come out, he was not able to speak to them, and they perceived that a vision he had seen in the sanctuary, and he was beckoning to them, and did remain dumb.
23 Izopha lakhe seliphelile wabuyela ekhaya.
And it came to pass, when the days of his service were fulfilled, he went away to his house,
24 Ngemva kwalokhu umkakhe u-Elizabethi wazithwala wasezifihla okwezinyanga ezinhlanu,
and after those days, his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying —
25 esithi, “INkosi ingenzele lokhu. Kulezi insuku ilutshengisile uthando Lwayo yasusa ihlazo lami ebantwini.”
'Thus hath the Lord done to me, in days in which He looked upon [me], 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 was the messenger Gabriel sent by God, to a city of Galilee, the name of which [is] Nazareth,
27 ukuya entombini egcweleyo eyayithembise ukutshada lendoda eyayithiwa nguJosefa, owesizukulwane sikaDavida. Ibizo lentombi egcweleyo le kwakunguMariya.
to a virgin, betrothed to a man, whose name [is] Joseph, of the house of David, and the name of the virgin [is] Mary.
28 Ingilosi yaya kuye yathi, “Sabona wena othole umusa kakhulukazi INkosi ilawe.”
And the messenger having come in unto her, said, 'Hail, favoured 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, having seen, was troubled at his word, and was reasoning of what kind this salutation may be.
30 Kodwa ingilosi yathi kuye, “Ungesabi Mariya, uthole umusa kuNkulunkulu.
And the messenger said to her, 'Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favour with God;
31 Uzakhulelwa ubelethe indodana, uyethe ibizo uthi nguJesu.
and lo, thou shalt conceive in the womb, and shalt bring forth a son, and call his name Jesus;
32 Uzaba ngumuntu omkhulu abizwe ngokuthi yiNdodana yoPhezukonke. INkosi uNkulunkulu izamupha isihlalo sikayise uDavida,
he shall be great, and Son of the Highest he shall be called, and the Lord God shall give him the throne of David his father,
and he shall reign over the house of Jacob to the ages; and of his reign there shall be no end.' (aiōn g165)
34 UMariya wayibuza ingilosi wathi, “Lokho kuzakwenzakala njani njengoba mina ngimsulwa ngingayazi indoda?”
And Mary said unto the messenger, 'How shall this be, seeing a husband I do not know?'
35 Ingilosi yaphendula yathi, “UMoya oNgcwele uzakwehlela phezu kwakho, lamandla akhe oPhezukonke azakusibekela. Ngakho ongcwele ozazalwa uzathiwa yiNdodana kaNkulunkulu.
And the messenger answering said to her, 'The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee, therefore also the holy-begotten thing shall be called Son of God;
36 Lo-Elizabethi isihlobo sakho uzakuba lomntwana ekuluphaleni kwakhe, yena okwakuthiwa yinyumba usesenyangeni yakhe yesithupha.
and lo, Elisabeth, thy kinswoman, she also hath conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month to her who was called barren;
37 Ngoba kakukho okwehlulayo kuNkulunkulu.”
because nothing shall be impossible with God.'
38 UMariya waphendula wathi, “Ngiyincekukazi yeNkosi. Kakwenzeke kimi njengoba utshilo.” Ingilosi yasisuka kuye.
And Mary said, 'Lo, the maid-servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to thy saying,' and the messenger went away from her.
39 Ngalesosikhathi uMariya waphanga wenza amalungiselelo waya edolobheni elizweni lamaqaqa eJudiya,
And Mary having arisen in those days, went to the hill-country, with haste, to a city of Judea,
40 lapho angena khona emzini kaZakhariya wabingelela u-Elizabethi.
and entered 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 it came to pass, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe did leap 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 spake 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 to me, that the mother of my Lord might come unto me?
44 Ngonele ukuzwa ukubingelela kwakho, umntwana osesiswini sami weqa ngentokozo.
for, lo, when the voice of thy salutation came to my ears, leap in gladness did the babe in my womb;
45 Ubusisiwe lowo osekholiwe ukuthi lokho iNkosi ethe kuzakwenzeka kuye kuzagcwaliseka!”
and happy [is] she who did believe, for there shall be a completion to the things spoken to her from 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 was glad on God my Saviour,
48 ngoba ukunanzile ukuzehlisa kwencekukazi yakhe. Kusukela manje zonke izizukulwane zizakuthi ngibusisiwe,
Because He looked on the lowliness of His maid-servant, For, lo, henceforth call me happy shall all the generations,
49 ngoba uSomandla ungenzele izinto ezinkulu, lingcwele ibizo lakhe.
For He who is mighty did to me great things, And holy [is] His name,
50 Isihawu sakhe sifinyelela kulabo abamesabayo, kulandela isizukulwane ngesizukulwane.
And His kindness [is] to generations of generations, To those fearing Him,
51 Uyenzile imisebenzi emikhulu ngengalo yakhe: ubachithizile labo abaziqakisa ngemicabango yezinhliziyo zabo.
He did powerfully with His arm, He scattered abroad the proud in the thought of their heart,
52 Uwethule amakhosi ezihlalweni zawo, kodwa wabaphakamisa abantukazana.
He brought down the mighty from thrones, And He exalted the lowly,
53 Ubasuthisile abalambileyo ngezinto ezinhle, kodwa abanothileyo ubaxotshe bengaphathanga lutho.
The hungry He did fill with good, And the rich He sent away empty,
54 Uyisizile inceku yakhe u-Israyeli, wakhumbula ukuba lesihawu
He received again Israel His servant, To remember kindness,
As He spake unto our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed — to the age.' (aiōn g165)
56 UMariya wahlala lo-Elizabethi izinyanga ezazingaba ntathu wasebuyela ekhaya.
And Mary remained with her about three months, and turned back to her house.
57 Kwathi isikhathi sika-Elizabethi sesiphelele esokubeletha wazala indodana.
And to Elisabeth was the time fulfilled for her bringing forth, and she bare a son,
58 Omakhelwane bakhe lezihlobo bezwa ukuthi iNkosi yayimzwele isihawu esikhulu bathokoza kanye laye.
and the neighbours and her kindred heard that the Lord was making His kindness great with her, and they were rejoicing 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 child, and they were calling him by the name of his father, Zacharias,
60 kodwa unina wala wathi, “Hatshi! Kathiwe nguJohane.”
and his mother answering said, 'No, but he shall be called John.'
61 Bathi kuye, “Kakho ebantwini bakini olebizo lelo.”
And they said unto her — 'There is none 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 making signs to his father, what he would wish him to be called,
63 Wacela isibhebhedu sokulobela, wamangalisa wonke umuntu ngoba waloba ukuthi, “Ibizo lakhe nguJohane.”
and having asked for a tablet, he wrote, saying, 'John is his name;' and they did all wonder;
64 Masinyane umlomo wakhe wavuleka lolimi lwakhe lwatshwaphuluka, waqalisa ukukhuluma edumisa uNkulunkulu.
and his mouth was opened presently, and his tongue, and he was speaking, praising God.
65 Omakhelwane bonke bamangala kakhulu, kwathi elizweni lonke lamaqaqa eJudiya abantu babekhuluma ngalezizinto.
And fear came upon all those dwelling around them, and in all the hill-country of Judea were all these sayings spoken of,
66 Wonke owezwayo ngalokho wamangala ebuza esithi, “Kambe uzakuba yini umntwana lo?” Ngoba isandla seNkosi sasilaye.
and all who heard did lay them up in their hearts, saying, 'What then shall this 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 Spirit, and did prophesy, saying,
68 “Udumo kalube seNkosini, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, ngoba ubuyile ukuzahlenga abantu bakhe.
'Blessed [is] the Lord, the God of Israel, Because He did look upon, And wrought redemption for His people,
69 Iluphakamisile uphondo lwensindiso yethu endlini yenceku yayo uDavida
And did raise an horn of salvation to us, In the house of David His servant,
As He spake by the mouth of His holy prophets, Which have been from the age; (aiōn g165)
71 ukusindiswa ezitheni zethu lesandleni sabo bonke abasizondayo,
Salvation from our enemies, And out of the hand of all hating us,
72 ukuze atshengise isihawu kubokhokho bethu lokukhumbula isivumelwano sakhe esingcwele,
To do kindness with our fathers, And to be mindful of His holy covenant,
73 isifungo asifunga kubaba wethu u-Abhrahama:
An oath that He sware to Abraham our father,
74 ukusikhulula esandleni sezitha zethu, size siyikhonze singelakwesaba
To give to us, without fear, Out of the hand of our enemies having been delivered,
75 ngobungcwele langokulunga phambi kwayo ngazozonke insuku zethu.
To serve Him, 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, child, Prophet of the Highest Shalt thou be called; 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 tender mercies of our God, In which the rising from on high did look upon us,
79 likhanyise kulabo abahlezi ebumnyameni lasethunzini lokufa, ukukhokhelela inyawo zethu endleleni yokuthula.”
To give light to those sitting in darkness and death-shade, To guide our feet to a way of peace.'
80 Umntwana wakhula waqina emoyeni; waphila enkangala waze wavela obala ku-Israyeli.
And the child grew, and was strengthened in spirit, and he was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.
