UJohane 8
1 Kodwa uJesu waya entabeni yeMihlwathi.
But Jesus went [with us disciples] to Olive [Tree] Hill [and we stayed near there that night].
2 Kwathi ekuseni kakhulu wabuya weza ethempelini, isizwe sonke sasesisiza kuye; wasehlala phansi wabafundisa.
Early the next morning, we returned to the Temple [courtyard]. Many people gathered around Jesus, so he sat down to teach them.
3 Ababhali labaFarisi basebeletha kuye owesifazana owayebanjwe efeba, bammisa phakathi,
Then men who taught the [Jewish] laws and some of [SYN] the Pharisee [religious group] brought a woman to him. She was seized {[They] had [arranged to] seize her} while she was having sex with a man who was not her husband. They made her stand up in front of the group [that was listening to Jesus].
4 bathi kuye: Mfundisi, lo owesifazana ubanjwe eseqotsheni lokuphinga;
Then they said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was seized {[we] seized this woman} while she was having sex with a man who is not her husband.
5 lemlayweni uMozisi wasilaya ukuthi abanje bakhandwe ngamatshe; ngakho wena uthini?
Moses commanded us in the laws that [he gave us] that we should throw stones at such women [and kill them]. So what do you say [we should do]?”
6 Kodwa batsho lokhu bemlinga, ukuze bazuze okokummangalela ngakho. Kodwa uJesu ekhothamela phansi, wabhala emhlabathini ngomunwe, wenza angathi kabezwa.
They asked this question as a trap so that they could accuse him. [If he said that they should not kill her, they would shame him for disobeying the law of Moses. If he said that they should kill her, they could accuse him to the Roman governor]. But Jesus bent down and wrote something on the ground with his finger.
7 Kwathi bephikelela ukumbuza, walulama wathi kubo: Ongelasono phakathi kwenu, kaqale ukumjikijela ngelitshe.
While they continued to question him, he stood up and said to them, “Whichever one of you has never sinned can be the first one to start throwing stones at her.”
8 Wasebuya ekhothamela phansi wabhala emhlabathini.
Then he stooped down and wrote [some more] on the ground.
9 Kodwa bona, bekuzwa, balahlwa yisazela sabo, baphuma ngamunye ngamunye kuqala komdala kwaze kwaba kowokucina; uJesu wasesala yedwa, lowesifazana emi phakathi.
After they heard what he said, those [who were questioning him] went away, one by one, the older ones first [and then the younger ones, knowing they were all sinners]. Finally only Jesus was there, along with the woman.
10 UJesu waseselulama, engaboni muntu ngaphandle kowesifazana, wathi kuye: Mama, bangaphi labo abakumangalelayo? Kakho okulahlayo yini?
Jesus stood up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one said you must die for your sin?”
11 Wasesithi: Kakho, Nkosi. UJesu wasesithi kuye: Lami kangikulahli; hamba ungabe usona futhi.
She said, “No, sir, no one.” Then Jesus said, “I do not condemn you either. Go [home] now, and do not continue your sinful [life] any longer!”]
12 Ngakho uJesu wakhuluma labo futhi wathi: Mina ngiyikukhanya komhlaba; ongilandelayo, kasoze ahambe emnyameni, kodwa uzakuba lokukhanya kwempilo.
Jesus spoke to the people again. He said, “I am [like] a light [MET] for [all the people in] [MTY] the world. [Just like a light reveals what has been in the darkness] [MET], [I reveal God’s truth to them]. Those who walk in the darkness [are unaware of what is around them]. But those who become my disciples will always be aware [of God’s truth] [MET]. They will have my light [which shows them how to have eternal] life.”
13 Ngakho abaFarisi bathi kuye: Wena uyazifakazela; ubufakazi bakho kabulaqiniso.
So the Pharisees said to him, “You are just telling about yourself! [Since there is no one else to verify these things that you say about yourself], [we] do not [need to accept that] what you say is true.”
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.
Jesus replied, “Even if I were the [only one to] say these things about myself, what I say is true, because I know that I came from [heaven], and I know that I am going [back to heaven]. But you do not know where I came from or where I am going.
15 Lina lahlulela ngokwenyama; mina kangahluleli muntu.
You judge people according to human standards. [The reason] that I am [here is] not (to condemn people/to say that I will punish people) [for their sins].
16 Kodwa uba lami ngisahlulela, ukwahlulela kwami kuqinisile; ngoba kangingedwa, kodwa yimi loBaba ongithumileyo.
But if I did judge [people], what I decided would be correct, because I am not the [only] one [who will decide those things]. I and the one who sent me will both decide.
17 Njalo emlayweni wenu kulotshiwe ukuthi ubufakazi babantu ababili bungobuqinisileyo.
It is written {[Moses] wrote} in your law that if [at least] two people testify that [some event has happened], [people should consider] that what they say is true.
18 Mina ngingozifakazelayo, loBaba ongithumileyo ufakaza ngami.
I am telling you about myself, and the other one who is telling you about me is [my] Father who sent me. [So you should believe that what we declare is true].”
19 Ngakho bathi kuye: Ungaphi uYihlo? UJesu waphendula wathi: Kalingazi mina, loba uBaba. Uba belingazi mina, laye uBaba belizamazi.
Then they asked him, “[If you have a] father whom [we can question about you], where is he?” Jesus replied, “You do not know [who] I [really am]. If you knew who I [really am], you would know who my Father is also.”
20 UJesu wakhuluma la amazwi ngasesitsheni somnikelo, efundisa ethempelini; futhi kakho owambambayo, ngoba ihola lakhe lalingakafiki.
He said these things when he was in the Temple [courtyard], near the place where the people put their offerings. [This was also very close to the place where the Jewish council met]. But no one seized him to arrest him, because it was not yet time [MTY] [for him to suffer and die].
21 Ngakho uJesu wathi kubo futhi: Ngiyahamba mina, njalo lizangidinga, njalo lizafela esonweni senu; lapho engiya khona mina, lingeze leza lina.
Jesus also said to them, “I [will soon be] going away. Then [at the end of your life] you will seek me, but you will die [without God forgiving] your sins. Where I will go, you will not be able to come.”
22 Ngakho amaJuda athi: Uzazibulala yini? Ngoba uthi: Lapho engiya khona mina, lingeze leza khona lina.
So the Jewish [leaders] said among themselves, “Is he going to kill himself? Is that the reason that he said, ‘Where I go, you will not be able to come’?”
23 Wasesithi kuwo: Lina livela phansi, mina ngivela phezulu; lina lingabomhlaba lo, mina kangisuye owalumhlaba.
But Jesus continued by saying to them, “You were born here in this world, but I came from heaven. You belong to those who are opposed to God [MTY]. I do not belong to them.
24 Ngakho ngithe kini, lizafela ezonweni zenu; ngoba uba lingakholwa ukuthi nginguye, lizafela ezonweni zenu.
I told you that you will die [without God forgiving] your sins. If you do not believe that I am [who I say that I am], you will die [without God forgiving] your sins.”
25 Ngakho athi kuye: Wena ungubani? UJesu wasesithi kuwo: Lokho engalitshela khona futhi ekuqaleni.
So they said to him, “You! Who do you think you are?” Jesus said to them, “Ever since I began [teaching], I have been telling you who I am!
26 Ngilezinto ezinengi engilokuzikhuluma ngani lokwahlulela ngazo; kodwa ongithumileyo uqinisile, lezinto engizizwe kuye lezi ngizikhuluma emhlabeni.
I could judge you and say that [you are guilty of] many things. But instead, [I will say only] what the one who sent me tells me to say. [What he says] is true, and I tell the people in the world [MTY] what I have heard from him.”
27 Kawaqedisisanga ukuthi ukhuluma lawo ngoYise.
They did not understand that he was talking about his Father [in heaven].
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 said, “I am the one who came down from heaven, but when you lift me up [on a cross to kill me], you will know who I am. You will also know that I do not do anything with my own [authority]. Instead, I say just what [my] Father has taught me.
29 njalo yena ongithumileyo ulami; uBaba kangitshiyanga ngedwa, ngoba mina ngihlala ngisenza lezizinto ezimthokozisayo yena.
He is the one who sent me, and he helps me. Because I always do the things that please him, he has never abandoned me.”
30 Esakhuluma lezizinto abanengi bakholwa kuye.
As Jesus was saying these things, many people believed that he [was] ([from God/the Messiah]).
31 Ngakho uJesu wathi kumaJuda akholwe kuye: Uba lina lihlala elizwini lami, lingabafundi bami oqotho;
Then Jesus said to the Jews who now said they believed in him, “If you continue to [live in accordance with] my message, you will truly be my disciples.
32 lizalazi iqiniso, leqiniso lizalikhulula.
Then you will know [God’s] truth, and as a result of [your believing his] truth, he [PRS] will free you [from being controlled by the one who has made you his slaves].”
33 Amphendula athi: Siyinzalo kaAbrahama, kasizanga sibe yizigqili zamuntu; wena utsho njani ukuthi: Lizakuba ngabakhululekileyo?
They replied to him, “We are descendants of Abraham. We have never been anyone’s slaves. So why do you say [we will] be freed [from being someone’s slaves]?”
34 UJesu wawaphendula wathi: Ngiqinisile, ngiqinisile, ngithi kini: Wonke owenza isono uyisigqili sesono.
Jesus replied, “Listen carefully to what I am going to tell you. All those who continue to sin are [forced to obey] their sinful desires [MET], [just like] a slave [is forced to obey his master].
A slave is not a permanent member of a family. But a son is a member of a family forever. [Similarly, you say you are members of God’s family because you are descendants of Abraham, but really, because you are like slaves of your sinful desires, you are no longer permanent members of God’s family]. (aiōn g165)
36 Ngakho uba iNdodana ilikhulula, lizakuba ngabakhululekileyo oqotho.
So if you allow me to free you, you will truly be free.
37 Ngiyazi ukuthi liyinzalo kaAbrahama; kodwa lidinga ukungibulala, ngoba ilizwi lami kalilandawo kini.
I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. But you are trying to kill me because [you are not] allowing [PRS] my message to continue [to change] your inner being.
38 Mina ngikhuluma lokho engikubonileyo kuBaba; lani-ke lenza lokho elikubonileyo kuyihlo.
I am telling you what I saw when I was with [my] Father. But you do the things that you have heard from your father.”
39 Aphendula athi kuye: Ubaba wethu nguAbrahama. UJesu wathi kuwo: Uba belingabantwana bakaAbrahama, belizakwenza imisebenzi kaAbrahama.
They replied to him, “Abraham is our ancestor.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s descendants, [your character would be like Abraham’s character, and] you would do [good] things like Abraham did.
40 Kodwa khathesi lidinga ukungibulala, umuntu olitshele iqiniso, engilizwe kuNkulunkulu; lokho uAbrahama kakwenzanga.
I have been telling you the truth that I heard from God, but you are trying to kill me. Abraham did not do things like that.
41 Lina lenza imisebenzi kayihlo. Ngakho athi kuye: Kasizalwanga ngobufebe thina; siloBaba munye, uNkulunkulu.
No! You are doing the things that your [real] father does.” They said to him, “[We do not know about you, but] we are not illegitimate children. And [spiritually], we have only one Father. That is God, and you do not know who your father is!”
42 UJesu wathi kuwo: Uba uNkulunkulu ubenguYihlo, belizangithanda; ngoba mina ngiphume ngivela kuNkulunkulu; ngoba kangizizelanga ngokwami, kodwa yena ungithumile.
Jesus said to them, “If God were your father, you would love me, because I came from God, and now I have come here [to this world]. My coming was not (because I [appointed] myself/with my own [authority]). He sent me.
43 Kungani lingaqedisisi inkulumo yami? Ngoba lingeke lilizwe ilizwi lami.
(And I will tell you why you do not understand what I say./Do you know why you do not understand what I say?) [RHQ] It is because you do not want to accept 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.
You belong to your father, (the devil/Satan), and you desire to do what he wants. He has [caused people to become] murderers from the time when [people] first [sinned]. He has abandoned [God’s] truth because he is a liar by his nature. Whenever he lies, he is speaking according to his [nature], because he is a liar and is the one who originates [MET] all lies.
45 Mina-ke ngoba ngikhuluma iqiniso, kalingikholwa.
But because I tell you the truth, you do not believe me!
46 Nguwuphi kini ongilahla ngesono? Njalo uba ngilitshela iqiniso, lina kalingikholwa ngani?
[Since I have never sinned], (none of you can show that I have sinned./can anyone among you show that I have sinned?) [RHQ] So, since I tell you the truth, (there is no good reason for your not believing me!/why is it that you do not believe me?) [RHQ]
47 Yena ongokaNkulunkulu uyawezwa amazwi kaNkulunkulu; kungakho lina lingezwa, ngoba kalisibo abakaNkulunkulu.
Those who belong to God habitually obey God’s message. You do not belong to God, so you do not obey his message.”
48 Ngakho amaJuda aphendula athi kuye: Kasitsho kuhle yini thina ukuthi wena ungumSamariya, lokuthi uledimoni?
The Jewish [leaders] [SYN] replied to him, “(We are certainly right by saying that you [believe what is false as] the Samaritans [do]!/Are we not right by saying that you [believe what is false as] the Samaritans [do]?) [RHQ] And that (a demon/an evil spirit) [controls] you!”
49 UJesu waphendula wathi: Mina kangiladimoni, kodwa ngiyadumisa uBaba; kodwa lina liyangigcona.
Jesus replied, “A demon does not [control] me! I honor my Father, and you do not honor me!
50 Mina-ke kangizidingeli udumo lwami; ukhona odingayo lowahlulelayo.
I am not trying to honor myself. There is someone else who desires [to honor me], and he is the one who will judge [whether it is I who am telling the truth or whether it is you who are telling the truth].
51 Ngiqinisile, ngiqinisile, ngithi kini: Uba umuntu elondoloza ilizwi lami, kasoze abone ukufa laphakade. (aiōn g165)
But the truth is that anyone who obeys what I say will never 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)
Then the Jewish [leaders] [SYN], [thinking that he was talking about ordinary death and not about spiritual death], said to him, “Now we are sure that a demon [controls] you! Abraham and the prophets died [long ago]! But you say that anyone who obeys what you teach will never die! (aiōn g165)
53 Wena umkhulu yini kulobaba wethu uAbrahama, owafayo? Labaprofethi bafa; uzenza bani wena?
(You are certainly not greater than our ancestor Abraham!/Do you think you are greater than our ancestor Abraham?) [RHQ] He died, and all the prophets died, so who do you think you are [by saying something like that]?”
54 UJesu waphendula wathi: Uba ngizidumisa mina, udumo lwami luyize; nguBaba ongidumisayo, elitsho ngaye lina ukuthi unguNkulunkulu wenu,
Jesus replied, “If I were honoring myself, that would be worthless. My Father is the one who you say is your God. He is the one who honors me.
55 njalo kalimazanga; kodwa mina ngiyamazi, njalo uba ngisithi kangimazi, ngizakuba ngumqambi wamanga njengani; kodwa ngiyamazi, ngiyalilondoloza ilizwi lakhe.
Although you do not know him, I know him [and have a close relationship with him]. If I said that I did not know him, I would be a liar like you are. But I know him, and I obey what he says.
56 Uyihlo uAbrahama wajabula kakhulu ukubona usuku lwami, njalo walubona wathokoza.
Your ancestor Abraham was happy when he thought about what I would [do during] my life [MTY]. [It was as though] he saw that, and was happy.”
57 Ngakho amaJuda athi kuye: Kawukabi leminyaka engamatshumi amahlanu, njalo wena wambona uAbrahama yini?
Then the Jewish [leaders] [SYN] said to him, “You are not 50 years old yet! So (you certainly did not see him!/how could you have seen him?) [RHQ] [Because he died long ago]!”
58 UJesu wathi kuwo: Ngiqinisile, ngiqinisile, ngithi kini: UAbrahama engakabi khona, mina ngikhona.
Jesus said to them, “The truth is that I existed before Abraham was born!”
59 Asedobha amatshe ukuze amjikijele; kodwa uJesu wacatsha, waphuma ethempelini, edabula phakathi kwawo; wadlula ngokunjalo.
So, [because they were very angry about Jesus thus saying that he] ([had eternally existed/was equal with God]), they picked up stones to throw at him [to kill him]. But [Jesus] caused them not to be able to see him, and he left the Temple courtyard.
