ULevi 1

1 INkosi yasimbiza uMozisi yakhuluma kuye isethenteni lenhlangano yathi:

While Moses/I was [standing near the entrance] to the Sacred Tent, Yahweh called to him/me from inside the tent. He said to Moses/me,

2 Khuluma kubantwana bakoIsrayeli uthi kubo: Nxa umuntu wakini esondeza umnikelo eNkosini, lizasondeza umnikelo wenu ovela ezifuyweni, ovela enkomeni, loba ovela ezimvini.

“Tell this to the Israeli people: ‘When any of you brings an offering to Yahweh, bring one of your sheep or goats or cattle.

3 Uba umnikelo wakhe ungumnikelo wokutshiswa ovela enkomeni, uzanikela iduna elingelasici, alinikele emnyango wethente lenhlangano, ngokuthanda kwakhe, phambi kweNkosi.

‘If what you are offering is a bull that will be completely burned [on the altar], it must not have any defects. You must take it to the entrance to the Sacred Tent, in order that it will be acceptable to Yahweh.

4 Uzabeka isandla sakhe enhlokweni yomnikelo wokutshiswa, njalo wemukelelwe yena, ukumenzela inhlawulo yokuthula.

You must lay your hands on the head of the bull. When you do that, Yahweh will accept [its death in your place] to forgive/pardon you for the sins that you have committed.

5 Uzalihlaba ijongosi phambi kweNkosi; lamadodana kaAroni, abapristi, azanikela igazi, afafaze igazi elathini inhlangothi zonke, elisemnyango wethente lenhlangano.

You must slaughter the bull in front of Yahweh. Then Aaron’s sons, who are priests, will bring the blood and sprinkle it against all sides of the altar near the entrance to the Sacred Tent.

6 Uzahlinza umnikelo wokutshiswa, awusike ngeziqa zawo.

You must remove the skin of the animal and cut the animal into pieces. You must wash the inner parts and the legs of the bull.

7 Njalo amadodana kaAroni umpristi azafaka umlilo elathini, ahlele inkuni phezu komlilo.

Then Aaron’s sons will put wood on the altar and light a fire.

8 Amadodana kaAroni, abapristi, azahlela-ke izitho, inhloko lamahwahwa, phezu kwenkuni ezisemlilweni ophezu kwelathi.

Then they will arrange the pieces, including the head and the fat, on the burning wood.

9 Kodwa imibilini yalo lemilenze yalo uzakugezisa ngamanzi; njalo umpristi uzakutshisa konke elathini, kube ngumnikelo wokutshiswa, umnikelo owenziwe ngomlilo oloqhatshi olumnandi eNkosini.

Then one of the priests will completely burn all of it on the altar. And the aroma will be pleasing to Yahweh.

10 Njalo uba umnikelo wakhe uvela emhlanjini, owezimvu loba owembuzi, kube ngumnikelo wokutshiswa, uzasondeza iduna elingelasici;

‘If you are offering a sheep or a goat, it must be a male without any defect.

11 uzalihlabela eceleni kwelathi ngenyakatho, phambi kweNkosi; njalo amadodana kaAroni, abapristi, azafafaza igazi lalo elathini inhlangothi zonke.

You must slaughter it in front of Yahweh, on the north side of the altar, [and drain all the blood into a bowl]. Then Aaron’s sons will sprinkle the blood against all sides of the altar.

12 Uzalisika ngeziqa zalo, lenhloko yalo lamahwahwa alo; lompristi uzakuhlela phezu kwenkuni ezisemlilweni ophezu kwelathi.

You must cut the animal into pieces. You must wash the inner parts and the legs of the animal. Then the priests will arrange the pieces, including the head and the fat, on the burning wood.

13 Kodwa uzagezisa imibilini lemilenze ngamanzi; lompristi uzakunikela konke, akutshise elathini; kungumnikelo wokutshiswa, umnikelo owenziwe ngomlilo oloqhatshi olumnandi eNkosini.

Then one of the priests will take all of it and completely burn all of it on the altar. And the aroma as it burns will be pleasing to Yahweh.

14 Uba-ke umnikelo wakhe eNkosini ungumnikelo wokutshiswa owezinyoni, uzanikela umnikelo wakhe uvela emajubeni loba amaphuphu enkwilimba.

‘If what you are offering to Yahweh is a bird, you must offer a dove or a young pigeon.

15 Umpristi alisondeze elathini, atshuphune inhloko yalo, alitshise elathini, legazi lalo likhanyelwe eceleni kwelathi,

The priest will take it to the altar and wring/twist off its head. Then he will burn the head on the altar. He will drain out the bird’s blood onto the side of the altar.

16 asuse isidlelo salo lensiba zalo, akulahle eceleni kwelathi ngempumalanga, endaweni yomlotha,

Then he will remove the bird’s (craw/food-grinding pouch) and what is inside it, and throw it on the east side of the altar, where the ashes are thrown.

17 aliqhaqhe ngempiko zalo, angalehlukanisi; umpristi alitshise-ke elathini, phezu kwenkuni ezisemlilweni; kungumnikelo wokutshiswa, umnikelo owenziwe ngomlilo oloqhatshi olumnandi eNkosini.

Then he will grasp the bird’s wings and partially tear the bird open. Then he will burn it completely in the fire on the altar. And the aroma will be pleasing to Yahweh.’