UMathewu 18
1 Ngalesosikhathi abafundi beza kuJesu babuza bathi, “Ngubani omkhulu kulabo bonke embusweni wezulu na?”
At that time came the disciples to Jesus, saying, Who is to be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2 Wabiza umntwana omncinyane wamisa phakathi kwabo.
And Jesus calling to Him a little child, set it in the midst of them,
3 Wasesithi, “Ngiqinisile ngithi kini, ngaphandle kokuba liguquke libe njengabantwana abancinyane, kalisoze lafa langena embusweni wezulu.
and said, Verily I declare unto you, unless ye be converted, and become like little children, ye shall never enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4 Ngakho lowo ozithobayo njengomntwana lo nguye omkhulu kulabo bonke embusweni wezulu.
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, he shall be greatest in the kingdom of heaven:
5 Njalo lowo owamukela umntwana omncane njengalo ebizweni lami wamukela mina.”
and whoever shall receive one such little child for my sake, receiveth me:
6 “Nxa umuntu ekhubekisa oyedwa walaba abancinyane abakholwa kimi ukuthi enze isono, kungabangcono kuye ukuthi kulengiswe entanyeni yakhe inkalakatha yembokodo yokuchola agaluliswe enzikini yolwandle.
but whosoever shall lay a stumbling-block in the way of one of these little ones, who believe in me, it were better for him that a milstone were hung on his neck, and that he were thrown into the sea.
7 Maye kuwo umhlaba ngenxa yezinto ezenza abantu benze isono! Izinto ezinjalo zivele ziyafika kodwa maye kulowomuntu ezifika ngaye!
Wo will be to the world from such offenses; for it is of necessity that offenses come: but wo to that man by whom the offense cometh.
8 Nxa isandla sakho loba unyawo lwakho kukwenzisa isono, kuqume ukulahle. Kungcono kuwe ukuba ungene ekuphileni uyingini kumbe ugogekile kulokuba lezandla zombili kumbe inyawo zombili uphoselwe emlilweni ongapheliyo. (aiōnios g166)
If then thy hand or thy foot cause thee to offend, cut them off and cast them from thee; it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire: (aiōnios g166)
9 Nxa ilihlo lakho likwenzisa isono, likopole ulilahle. Kungcono kuwe ukungena ekuphileni ulelihlo elilodwa kulokuba lamehlo amabili kodwa uphoselwe esihogweni somlilo.” (Geenna g1067)
and if thine eye cause thee to offend, pluck it out and cast it from thee; it is better for thee to enter into life with but one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell-fire. (Geenna g1067)
10 “Nanzelelani ukuthi lingeyisi lamunye walaba abancinyane. Ngoba ngilitshela ukuthi izingilosi zabo zezulu zihlezi zibona ubuso bukaBaba ezulwini. [
See that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I tell you, that their angels in heaven do continually appear in the presence of my father, who is in heaven:
11 INdodana yoMuntu yalanda ukusindisa okwakulahlekile.]
for the Son of man came from thence to save that which was lost.
12 Kambe likhumbulani? Nxa indoda ilezimvu ezilikhulu, enye iqambuke kwezinye, kayiyikuzitshiya yini lezo ezingamatshumi ayisificamunwemunye lasificamunwemunye ezintabeni iyedinga leyo eqambukileyo?
What think ye? if any man had an hundred sheep, and one of them should go astray, would he not leave the ninety and nine, and go upon the hills, and seek that which is gone astray?
13 Ithi ingayithola, ngilitshela iqiniso ukuthi, iyathokoza ngaleyo ukwedlula lezo ezingamatshumi ayisificamunwemunye lasificamunwemunye ezingazange zilahleke.
And if he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more on account of that, than of the ninety nine which went not astray.
14 Ngokufanayo, uYihlo osezulwini kafisi ukuthi lamunye walaba abancinyane abhubhe.”
Even so it is not the will of your heavenly Father, that any one of these little ones should be lost.
15 “Nxa umfowenu ekona, yana kuye umtshengise isiphambeko sakhe lilodwa lobabili. Nxa ekulalela usumzuzile umfowenu.
And if thy brother trespass against thee, go and expostulate with him alone; if he hearken to thee, thou hast gained thy brother:
16 Kodwa nxa engakulaleli, biza omunye loba ababili ukuze ‘indaba yonke ivele obala ilabofakazi ababili loba abathathu.’
but if he regard thee not, take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
17 Nxa esala ukubalalela, tshela ibandla, nxa esala ukulilalela lalo ibandla mthatheni njengomhedeni kumbe njengomthelisi.
And if he disregard them, tell it to the church: but if he disregard the church too, let him be unto thee as an heathen and a publican.
18 Ngilitshela iqiniso ukuthi, loba yini eliyibophayo emhlabeni izabotshwa lasezulwini njalo lokho elikuthukululayo emhlabeni kuzathukululwa lasezulwini.
Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven.
19 Njalo ngilitshela iqiniso ukuthi nxa ababili kini emhlabeni bevumelana loba ngalutho bani abalucelayo bazalwenzelwa nguBaba osezulwini.
And I tell you moreover, that if but two of you shall agree on earth concerning any thing which they would ask for, it shall be granted them by my Father who is in heaven:
20 Ngoba lapho okuhlangana khona ababili loba abathathu ngebizo lami, ngizabe ngikhona lami.”
for where two or three are assembled together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
21 UPhethro weza kuJesu wabuza wathi, “Nkosi, umfowethu loba udadewethu ngizamthethelela kangaki nxa elokhu engona na? Kuze kube kasikhombisa na?”
Then Peter came to Him and said, Lord, how often shall my brother offend against me, and I forgive him? to seven times?
22 UJesu waphendula wathi, “Ngithi hatshi kasikhombisa kodwa okwezikhathi ezingamatshumi ayisikhombisa lesikhombisa.
Jesus answereth him, I tell thee not, to seven times, but to seventy times seven.
23 Ngakho umbuso wezulu unjengenkosi eyayifuna ukuqeda izikwelede zayo lezinceku zayo.
And therefore the gospel-kingdom is like unto a king, who had a mind to settle accounts with his servants:
24 Yathi isiqalisa ukuthonisa kwalethwa kuyo indoda eyayilesikwelede samathalenta azinkulungwane ezilitshumi.
and when he began to reckon, there was brought to him one, who was debtor in ten thousand talents:
25 Kwathi ngoba ingelamandla okuhlawula inkosi yalaya ukuthi yona, umkayo, abantwana lakho konke eyayilakho kuthengiswe ukuze kuqedwe umlandu.
and not having it to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife and children and all that he had; and payment to be made.
26 Inceku yaguqa phambi kwenkosi yayincenga yathi, ‘Ake ungibekezelele, ngizahlawula konke.’
The servant therefore fell prostrate before him, saying, Lord, bear with me a while, and I will pay thee all:
27 Inkosi yenceku leyo yayizwela usizi, yayithethelela, yawesula umlandu yayiyekela yahamba.
and his lord had compassion on him, and discharged him, and forgave him the debt.
28 Kodwa leyo yonela ukuphuma, yafumana eyinye inceku eyayilesikwelede sayo samadenari alikhulu. Yayibamba ngomphimbo, yayiklinya, yathi ngolaka, ‘Hlawula isikwelede sami!’
But that same servant, as he was going out, met with one of his fellow-servants, who owed him but an hundred pence; and he laid hold on him and seized him by the throat, saying, Pay me what thou owest me:
29 Leyonceku layo yawa ngamadolo yayincenga yathi, ‘Ake ungibekezelele, ngizakuhlawula.’
and his fellow-servant fell down at his feet, and intreated him, saying, Bear with me a while, and I will pay thee all.
30 Kodwa yona yala. Endaweni yalokho, yahamba yenza ukuba leyondoda iphoselwe entolongweni ize iqale ihlawule isikwelede.
And he would not: but went away and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.
31 Kwathi ezinye izinceku sezibonile okwakwenzakele, zathukuthela kakhulu zayaceba enkosini ngalokho okwenzakeleyo.
Now when his fellow-servants saw what was done, they were very much grieved, and came and acquainted their lord with all that had passed.
32 Inkosi yayibiza leyonceku, yathi, ‘Wena nceku embi. Ngikuthethelele, ngasesula sonke isikwelede sakho ngoba ungincengile.
Then his lord called for him again, and said to him, Thou wicked slave, I forgave thee all that vast debt at thy request,
33 Kungani pho ungazwelanga omunye wakho isihawu njengalokhu ngenzile kuwe?’
and oughtest not thou to have had compassion on thy fellow-servant, even as I had on thee?
34 Inkosi yayo yathukuthela kakhulu, yayinikela kubaphathi bejele ukuthi bayihlukuluze ize isihlawule sonke isikwelede.
And his lord being highly provoked delivered him to the officers, till he should pay all that was owing to him.
35 Yiyo le indlela uBaba osezulwini azaphatha ngayo lowo lalowo wenu nxa lingathetheleli abazalwane kuphuma enhliziyweni.”
Thus will my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye forgive not every one his brother from your hearts their trespasses.
