UMathewu 2
1 UJesu esezelwe eBhethilehema laseJudiya ngesikhathi sokubusa kwenkosi uHerodi, kwafika eJerusalema iZazi zivela empumalanga,
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, behold, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem,
2 zabuza zathi, “Ungaphi lowo ozalelwe ukuba yinkosi yamaJuda na? Sibone inkanyezi yakhe empumalanga ngakho size ukuzamkhonza.”
saying: Where is he that is born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and have come to do him homage.
3 Kwathi inkosi uHerodi isikuzwile lokhu yakhathazeka, kanye leJerusalema lonke.
When Herod the king heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 Kwathi esebizele ndawonye abaphristi abakhulu bonke labafundisi bomthetho, wababuza ukuthi uKhristu wayezazalelwa ngaphi.
And when he had assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born.
5 Baphendula bathi, “EBhethilehema laseJudiya, ngoba lokhu yikho okwalotshwa ngumphrofethi ukuthi:
And they said to him: In Bethlehem of Judea; for thus it is written by the prophet:
6 ‘Kodwa wena Bhethilehema, elizweni lakoJuda, kawumncinyane kulabo bonke ababusi bakoJuda; ngoba kuzavela umbusi kuwe, ozakuba ngumelusi wabantu bami bako-Israyeli.’”
And thou, Bethlehem, city of Judah, art by no means the least among the chiefs of Judah; for out of thee shall come a leader, that shall be a shepherd to my people Israel.
7 UHerodi wasezibiza iZazi ngasese wadingisisa kuzo isikhathi inkanyezi eyaphuma ngaso ngqe.
Then Herod, when he had secretly called the Magi, inquired of them strictly at what time the star, then visible, first made its appearance:
8 Wabathuma eBhethilehema wathi, “Hambani liyemdinga umntwana. Lingamfumana lingazise masinyane ukuze lami ngihambe ngiyemkhonza.”
and sending them to Bethlehem, he said: Go, make strict inquiry for the young child: and when you have found him, bring me word, that I also may go and do him homage.
9 Sezizwile okwatshiwo yinkosi, zasuka zahamba, inkanyezi leyo ezaziyibonile empumalanga yahamba phambi kwazo yaze yayakuma lapho umntwana ayekhona.
When they had heard the king, they departed; and lo, the star, which they had seen in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over the place where the young child was.
10 Zathi ziyibona inkanyezi zagcwala intokozo.
And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with very great joy.
11 Zangena endlini zambona umntwana lonina uMariya, zakhothama zamkhonza. Zasezivula impahla zazo eziligugu zamkhunga ngezipho zegolide lempepha lemure.
And having come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother; and falling down, they did him homage. And when they had opened their treasures, they offered to him gifts, gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 Kwathi ngoba zixwayisiwe ephutsheni ukuthi zingabuyeli kuHerodi, zaqonda elizweni lakibo ngenye indlela.
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed into their own country by another way.
13 Kwathi sezihambile, ingilosi yeNkosi yabonakala kuJosefa ngephupho. Yathi, “Vuka uthathe umntwana lonina libalekele eGibhithe. Lihlale khonale ngize ngilitshele ngoba uHerodi uzamdinga umntwana efuna ukumbulala.”
When they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying: Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be there till I bring you word; for Herod is about to seek for the young child, to destroy him.
14 Ngakho wavuka wathatha umntwana lonina ebusuku waya eGibhithe
And he arose and took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt,
15 lapho abahlala khona uHerodi waze wafa. Ngakho kwagcwaliseka lokho iNkosi eyayikutshilo ngomphrofethi ukuthi, “Indodana yami ngayikhupha eGibhithe.”
and was there till the death of Herod; that the word might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through his prophet, saying: Out of Egypt have I called my Son.
16 Kwathi ukuba uHerodi ananzelele ukuthi iZazi zazimphicile wazonda kakhulu, wasekhupha umlayo wokuthi kubulawe bonke abantwana abangabafana eBhethilehema lasemangweni wonke oseduze, bonke ababeleminyaka emibili kusehla, kuhambelana lesikhathi leso ayesitshelwe yiZazi.
Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the Magi, was greatly enraged, and sent out and slew all the male children that were in Bethlehem and in all its borders, from the age of two years and under, according to the time which he had strictly inquired of the Magi.
17 Ngakho lokho okwakutshiwo ngumphrofethi uJeremiya kwagcwaliseka ukuthi:
Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:
18 “Ilizwi lizwakala eRama, ukukhala lesililo esikhulu, uRasheli ekhalela abantwana bakhe njalo wala ukududuzwa, ngoba kabasekho.”
A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and weeping, and great mourning; Rachel weeping for her children, and refusing to be comforted because they are no more.
19 UHerodi esefile, ingilosi yeNkosi yabonakala ngephupho kuJosefa eseGibhithe
But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
20 yathi, “Sukuma uthathe umntwana lonina liye elizweni lako-Israyeli ngoba labo ababefuna ukubulala umntwana sebefile.”
saying: Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel; for they are dead who sought the young child’s life.
21 Ngakho wasukuma wathatha umntwana lonina waya elizweni lako-Israyeli.
And he arose and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.
22 Kodwa wathi ngokuzwa ukuthi u-Akhelasi wayebusa eJudiya esikhundleni sikayise uHerodi wesaba ukuya khona. Kwathi esexwayisiwe ephutsheni wahamba wayahlala eGalile,
But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of Herod his father, he was afraid to go thither. But being warned in a dream, he withdrew into the regions of Galilee,
23 edolobheni elalithiwa yiNazaretha. Ngalokho kwagcwaliseka okwatshiwo ngabaphrofethi ukuthi: Uzabizwa ngokuthi ngoweNazaretha.
and came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that the word might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets: He shall be called a Nazarene.
