UJohane 8
1 Kodwa uJesu waya entabeni yeMihlwathi.
except Jesus, who went to the Mount of Olives.
2 Kwathi ekuseni kakhulu wabuya weza ethempelini, isizwe sonke sasesisiza kuye; wasehlala phansi wabafundisa.
But he went again into the Temple Courts early in the morning, and all the people came to him; and he sat down and taught them.
3 Ababhali labaFarisi basebeletha kuye owesifazana owayebanjwe efeba, bammisa phakathi,
Presently, however, the Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placed her in the middle of the Court,
4 bathi kuye: Mfundisi, lo owesifazana ubanjwe eseqotsheni lokuphinga;
and said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, this woman was found in the act of adultery.
5 lemlayweni uMozisi wasilaya ukuthi abanje bakhandwe ngamatshe; ngakho wena uthini?
Now Moses, in the Law, commanded us to stone such women to death; what do you say?’
6 Kodwa batsho lokhu bemlinga, ukuze bazuze okokummangalela ngakho. Kodwa uJesu ekhothamela phansi, wabhala emhlabathini ngomunwe, wenza angathi kabezwa.
They said this to test him, in order to have a charge to bring against him. But Jesus stooped down, and wrote on the ground with his finger.
7 Kwathi bephikelela ukumbuza, walulama wathi kubo: Ongelasono phakathi kwenu, kaqale ukumjikijela ngelitshe.
However, as they continued asking him, he raised himself, and said, ‘Let the person among you who has never done wrong throw the first stone at her.’
8 Wasebuya ekhothamela phansi wabhala emhlabathini.
And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
9 Kodwa bona, bekuzwa, balahlwa yisazela sabo, baphuma ngamunye ngamunye kuqala komdala kwaze kwaba kowokucina; uJesu wasesala yedwa, lowesifazana emi phakathi.
When they heard that, they went out one by one, beginning with the eldest; and Jesus was left alone with the woman in the middle of the Court.
10 UJesu waseselulama, engaboni muntu ngaphandle kowesifazana, wathi kuye: Mama, bangaphi labo abakumangalelayo? Kakho okulahlayo yini?
Raising himself, Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?’
11 Wasesithi: Kakho, Nkosi. UJesu wasesithi kuye: Lami kangikulahli; hamba ungabe usona futhi.
‘No one, Sir,’ she answered. ‘Neither do I condemn you,’ said Jesus ‘go, and do not sin again.’
12 Ngakho uJesu wakhuluma labo futhi wathi: Mina ngiyikukhanya komhlaba; ongilandelayo, kasoze ahambe emnyameni, kodwa uzakuba lokukhanya kwempilo.
Jesus again addressed the people. ‘I am the light of the world,’ he said. ‘The person who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’
13 Ngakho abaFarisi bathi kuye: Wena uyazifakazela; ubufakazi bakho kabulaqiniso.
‘You are bearing testimony to yourself!’ exclaimed the Pharisees, ‘your testimony is not trustworthy.’
14 UJesu waphendula wathi kubo: Lanxa ngizifakazela mina, buqinisile ubufakazi bami; ngoba ngiyazi ukuthi ngivela ngaphi, lokuthi ngiya ngaphi; kodwa lina kalazi ukuthi ngivela ngaphi, lokuthi ngiya ngaphi.
‘Even if I bear testimony to myself,’ answered Jesus, ‘my testimony is trustworthy; for I know where I came from, and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from, nor where I am going.
15 Lina lahlulela ngokwenyama; mina kangahluleli muntu.
You judge by appearances; I judge no one.
16 Kodwa uba lami ngisahlulela, ukwahlulela kwami kuqinisile; ngoba kangingedwa, kodwa yimi loBaba ongithumileyo.
Yet, even if I were to judge, my judgment would be trustworthy; because I am not alone, but the Father who sent me is with me.
17 Njalo emlayweni wenu kulotshiwe ukuthi ubufakazi babantu ababili bungobuqinisileyo.
Why, in your own Law it is said that the testimony of two persons is trustworthy.
18 Mina ngingozifakazelayo, loBaba ongithumileyo ufakaza ngami.
I, who bear testimony to myself, am one, and the Father who sent me also bears testimony to me.’
19 Ngakho bathi kuye: Ungaphi uYihlo? UJesu waphendula wathi: Kalingazi mina, loba uBaba. Uba belingazi mina, laye uBaba belizamazi.
‘Where is your father, then?’ they asked. ‘You know neither me nor my Father,’ replied Jesus. ‘If you had known me, you would have also known my Father.’
20 UJesu wakhuluma la amazwi ngasesitsheni somnikelo, efundisa ethempelini; futhi kakho owambambayo, ngoba ihola lakhe lalingakafiki.
These statements Jesus made in the Treasury, while teaching in the Temple Courts. Yet no one arrested him, for his time had not then come.
21 Ngakho uJesu wathi kubo futhi: Ngiyahamba mina, njalo lizangidinga, njalo lizafela esonweni senu; lapho engiya khona mina, lingeze leza lina.
Jesus again spoke to the people. ‘I am going away,’ he said, ‘and you will look for me, but you will die in your sin; you cannot come where I am going.’
22 Ngakho amaJuda athi: Uzazibulala yini? Ngoba uthi: Lapho engiya khona mina, lingeze leza khona lina.
‘Is he going to kill himself,’ the people exclaimed, ‘that he says – “You cannot go where I am going”?’
23 Wasesithi kuwo: Lina livela phansi, mina ngivela phezulu; lina lingabomhlaba lo, mina kangisuye owalumhlaba.
‘You,’ added Jesus, ‘are from below, I am from above; you are of this present world, I am not;
24 Ngakho ngithe kini, lizafela ezonweni zenu; ngoba uba lingakholwa ukuthi nginguye, lizafela ezonweni zenu.
and so I told you that you would die in your sins, for, unless you believe that I am what I am, you will die in your sins.’
25 Ngakho athi kuye: Wena ungubani? UJesu wasesithi kuwo: Lokho engalitshela khona futhi ekuqaleni.
‘Who are you?’ they asked. ‘Why ask exactly what I have been telling you?’ said Jesus.
26 Ngilezinto ezinengi engilokuzikhuluma ngani lokwahlulela ngazo; kodwa ongithumileyo uqinisile, lezinto engizizwe kuye lezi ngizikhuluma emhlabeni.
‘I have still much that concerns you to speak of and to pass judgment on; yet he who sent me may be trusted, and I speak to the world only of the things which I have heard from him.’
27 Kawaqedisisanga ukuthi ukhuluma lawo ngoYise.
They did not understand that he meant the Father.
28 Ngakho uJesu wathi kuwo: Nxa seliyiphakamisile iNdodana yomuntu, khona lizakwazi ukuthi nginguye, njalo kangizenzeli lutho ngokwami, kodwa ngikhuluma lezizinto njengalokhu uBaba engifundisile;
So Jesus added, ‘When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will understand that I am what I am, and that I do nothing of myself, but that I say just what the Father has taught me.
29 njalo yena ongithumileyo ulami; uBaba kangitshiyanga ngedwa, ngoba mina ngihlala ngisenza lezizinto ezimthokozisayo yena.
Moreover, he who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone; for I always do what pleases him.’
30 Esakhuluma lezizinto abanengi bakholwa kuye.
While he was speaking in this way, many came to believe in him.
31 Ngakho uJesu wathi kumaJuda akholwe kuye: Uba lina lihlala elizwini lami, lingabafundi bami oqotho;
So Jesus went on to say to those who had believed him, ‘If you remain constant to my message, you are truly my disciples;
32 lizalazi iqiniso, leqiniso lizalikhulula.
and you will find out the truth, and the truth will set you free.’
33 Amphendula athi: Siyinzalo kaAbrahama, kasizanga sibe yizigqili zamuntu; wena utsho njani ukuthi: Lizakuba ngabakhululekileyo?
‘We are descendants of Abraham,’ was their answer, ‘and have never yet been in slavery to anyone. What do you mean by saying “you will be set free”?’
34 UJesu wawaphendula wathi: Ngiqinisile, ngiqinisile, ngithi kini: Wonke owenza isono uyisigqili sesono.
‘In truth I tell you,’ replied Jesus, ‘everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
And a slave does not remain in the home always; but a son remains always. (aiōn g165)
36 Ngakho uba iNdodana ilikhulula, lizakuba ngabakhululekileyo oqotho.
If, then, the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!
37 Ngiyazi ukuthi liyinzalo kaAbrahama; kodwa lidinga ukungibulala, ngoba ilizwi lami kalilandawo kini.
I know that you are descendants of Abraham; yet you are seeking to put me to death, because my message finds no place in your hearts.
38 Mina ngikhuluma lokho engikubonileyo kuBaba; lani-ke lenza lokho elikubonileyo kuyihlo.
I tell you what I have myself seen in the presence of my Father; and you, in the same way, do what you have learned from your father.’
39 Aphendula athi kuye: Ubaba wethu nguAbrahama. UJesu wathi kuwo: Uba belingabantwana bakaAbrahama, belizakwenza imisebenzi kaAbrahama.
‘Our father is Abraham,’ was their answer. ‘If you are Abraham’s children,’ replied Jesus, ‘do what Abraham did.
40 Kodwa khathesi lidinga ukungibulala, umuntu olitshele iqiniso, engilizwe kuNkulunkulu; lokho uAbrahama kakwenzanga.
But, as it is, you are seeking to put me to death – a man who has told you the truth as he heard it from God. Abraham did not act in that way.
41 Lina lenza imisebenzi kayihlo. Ngakho athi kuye: Kasizalwanga ngobufebe thina; siloBaba munye, uNkulunkulu.
You are doing what your own father does.’ ‘We are not bastards,’ they said, ‘we have one Father – God himself.’
42 UJesu wathi kuwo: Uba uNkulunkulu ubenguYihlo, belizangithanda; ngoba mina ngiphume ngivela kuNkulunkulu; ngoba kangizizelanga ngokwami, kodwa yena ungithumile.
‘If God were your Father,’ Jesus replied, ‘you would have loved me, for I came out from God, and now am here; and I have not come of myself, but he sent me as his messenger.
43 Kungani lingaqedisisi inkulumo yami? Ngoba lingeke lilizwe ilizwi lami.
How is it that you do not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to listen to my message.
44 Lina lingabakayihlo udiyabhola, lithanda ukwenza inkanuko zikayihlo. Yena wayengumbulali kusukela ekuqaleni, njalo kemi eqinisweni, ngoba iqiniso kalikho kuye. Nxa eqamba amanga, ukhuluma ngokwakhe; ngoba engumqambimanga loyise wawo.
As for you, you are children of your father the devil, and you are determined to do what your father loves to do. He was a murderer from the first, and did not stand by the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he lies, he does what is natural to him; because he is a liar, and the father of lying.
45 Mina-ke ngoba ngikhuluma iqiniso, kalingikholwa.
But, as for me, it is because I speak the truth to you that you do not believe me.
46 Nguwuphi kini ongilahla ngesono? Njalo uba ngilitshela iqiniso, lina kalingikholwa ngani?
Which of you can convict me of sin? Why then don’t you believe me, if I am speaking truth?
47 Yena ongokaNkulunkulu uyawezwa amazwi kaNkulunkulu; kungakho lina lingezwa, ngoba kalisibo abakaNkulunkulu.
The person who comes from God listens to God’s teaching; the reason why you do not listen is because you do not come from God.’
48 Ngakho amaJuda aphendula athi kuye: Kasitsho kuhle yini thina ukuthi wena ungumSamariya, lokuthi uledimoni?
‘Aren’t we right, after all,’ replied the people, ‘in saying that you are a Samaritan, and are possessed by a demon?’
49 UJesu waphendula wathi: Mina kangiladimoni, kodwa ngiyadumisa uBaba; kodwa lina liyangigcona.
‘I am not possessed by a demon,’ Jesus answered, ‘but I am honouring my Father; and yet you dishonour me.
50 Mina-ke kangizidingeli udumo lwami; ukhona odingayo lowahlulelayo.
Not that I am seeking honour for myself; there is one who is seeking my honour, and he decides.
51 Ngiqinisile, ngiqinisile, ngithi kini: Uba umuntu elondoloza ilizwi lami, kasoze abone ukufa laphakade. (aiōn g165)
In truth I tell you, if anyone lays my message to heart, he will never really die.’ (aiōn g165)
52 Ngakho amaJuda athi kuye: Khathesi sesisazi ukuthi uledimoni; uAbrahama wafa, labaprofethi, kodwa wena uthi: Uba umuntu elondoloza ilizwi lami, kasoze ezwe ukufa laphakade. (aiōn g165)
‘Now we are sure that you are possessed by a demon,’ the people replied. ‘Abraham died, and so did the prophets; and yet you say “If anyone lays my message to heart, they will never know death.” (aiōn g165)
53 Wena umkhulu yini kulobaba wethu uAbrahama, owafayo? Labaprofethi bafa; uzenza bani wena?
Are you greater than our ancestor Abraham, who died? And the prophets died too. Whom do you make yourself out to be?’
54 UJesu waphendula wathi: Uba ngizidumisa mina, udumo lwami luyize; nguBaba ongidumisayo, elitsho ngaye lina ukuthi unguNkulunkulu wenu,
‘If I do honour to myself,’ answered Jesus, ‘such honour counts for nothing. It is my Father who does me honour – and you say that he is your God;
55 njalo kalimazanga; kodwa mina ngiyamazi, njalo uba ngisithi kangimazi, ngizakuba ngumqambi wamanga njengani; kodwa ngiyamazi, ngiyalilondoloza ilizwi lakhe.
and yet you have not learned to know him; but I know him; and, if I were to say that I do not know him, I should be a liar like you; but I do know him, and I lay his message to heart.
56 Uyihlo uAbrahama wajabula kakhulu ukubona usuku lwami, njalo walubona wathokoza.
Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day; and he did see it, and was glad.’
57 Ngakho amaJuda athi kuye: Kawukabi leminyaka engamatshumi amahlanu, njalo wena wambona uAbrahama yini?
‘You are not fifty years old yet,’ the people exclaimed, ‘and have you seen Abraham?’
58 UJesu wathi kuwo: Ngiqinisile, ngiqinisile, ngithi kini: UAbrahama engakabi khona, mina ngikhona.
‘In truth I tell you,’ replied Jesus, ‘before Abraham existed I was.’
59 Asedobha amatshe ukuze amjikijele; kodwa uJesu wacatsha, waphuma ethempelini, edabula phakathi kwawo; wadlula ngokunjalo.
At this they took up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid himself, and left the Temple Courts.
