ULukha 2
1 Kwasekusithi ngalezonsuku, isimiso saphuma kuKesari uAgastasi, sokuthi kubhalwe umhlaba wonke.
Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.
2 Lokhukubhalwa kwakungokokuqala ukwenziwa lapho uKwiriniya engumbusi weSiriya.
This was the first enrolment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3 Bonke basebesiya ukuze bayebhalwa, ngulowo lalowo emzini wakibo.
All went to enrol themselves, everyone to his own city.
4 LoJosefa laye wenyuka esuka eGalili, emzini iNazaretha, waya eJudiya, emzini kaDavida, othiwa yiBhethelehema, ngoba wayengowendlu lowosendo lukaDavida,
Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to David’s city, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,
5 ukuyabhalwa kanye loMariya umkakhe ayemganile, owayezithwele.
to enrol himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant.
6 Kwasekusithi belapho, zaseziphelela insuku zokubeletha kwakhe.
While they were there, the day had come for her to give birth.
7 Wasebeletha indodana yakhe eyingqabutho, wayigoqela ngamalembu, wayilalisa emkolweni, ngoba kwakungelandawo yabo endlini yezihambi.
She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 Njalo kwakukhona kulelolizwe abelusi ababehlala egangeni futhi belinde umhlambi wabo ebusuku.
There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.
9 Njalo khangela, ingilosi yeNkosi yema eduze kwabo, lenkazimulo yeNkosi yakhanya ibazingelezele; njalo besaba ngokwesaba okukhulu.
Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10 Ingilosi yasisithi kubo: Lingesabi; ngoba khangelani, ngitshumayela indaba ezinhle kini ezentokozo enkulu, ezakuba kubantu bonke;
The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people.
11 ngoba lizalelwe lamuhla uMsindisi, onguKristu iNkosi, emzini kaDavida.
For there is born to you today, in David’s city, a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.
12 Njalo lokhu kuzakuba yisibonakaliso kini: Lizathola usane lugoqelwe ngamalembu, lulele emkolweni.
This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough.”
13 Njalo kwahle kwaba khona kanye lengilosi ixuku lebutho lasezulwini, lidumisa uNkulunkulu, lisithi:
Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God and saying,
14 Udumo kalube kuNkulunkulu kweliphezulu, lokuthula emhlabeni; isifiso esihle ebantwini.
“Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will towards men.”
15 Kwasekusithi, ingilosi sezisukile kubo zisiya ezulwini, abantu, abangabelusi, bakhulumisana besithi: Ake siye eBhethelehema, sibone leyonto eyenzakeleyo, iNkosi esazise yona.
When the angels went away from them into the sky, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
16 Basebesiza ngokuphangisa, bathola oMariya loJosefa, losane lulele emkolweni.
They came with haste and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough.
17 Sebebonile basebesazisa indawo ezizingelezeleyo ngelizwi ababelitshelwe mayelana lalo umntwana omncane.
When they saw it, they publicised widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child.
18 Labo bonke abakuzwayo bamangala ngezinto ezazikhulunywe ngabelusi kubo.
All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds.
19 Kodwa uMariya walondoloza wonke la amazwi, enakana ngawo enhliziyweni yakhe.
But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart.
20 Basebebuyela abelusi, bemdumisa bembonga uNkulunkulu ngazo zonke izinto ababezizwile lababezibonile, njengalokho okwakukhulunywe kubo.
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them.
21 Kwathi seziphelile insuku eziyisificaminwembili zokuthi umntwana omncane asokwe, ibizo lakhe laselithiwa nguJesu, elalibizwe yingilosi engakomulwa esiswini.
When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
22 Kwathi seziphelele insuku zokuhlanjululwa kwakhe ngokomlayo kaMozisi, bamletha eJerusalema, ukuze bammise phambi kweNkosi
When the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
23 (njengokulotshiweyo emlayweni weNkosi ukuthi konke okwesilisa okuvula isibeletho kuzathiwa kungcwele eNkosini)
(as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”),
24 lokuthi banikele umhlatshelo njengokutshiwo emlayweni weNkosi, amajuba amabili kumbe amaphuphu amabili enkwilimba.
and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”
25 Njalo khangela, kwakukhona eJerusalema umuntu, obizo lakhe linguSimeyoni, njalo lumuntu wayelungile ekhuthele ekukhonzeni, elindele induduzo kaIsrayeli, loMoya oNgcwele wayephezu kwakhe.
Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.
26 Futhi kwakubonakalisiwe kuye nguMoya oyiNgcwele, ukuthi kayikubona ukufa engakamboni uKristu weNkosi.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
27 Wasengena ethempelini ngoMoya; kwathi abazali bemletha umntwana omncane uJesu, ukuze benze ngaye ngokomkhuba womlayo,
He came in the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought in the child, Jesus, that they might do concerning him according to the custom of the law,
28 yena wasemthatha wamphatha engalweni zakhe, wabonga uNkulunkulu, wathi:
then he received him into his arms and blessed God, and said,
29 Nkosi, khathesi iyekele inceku yakho ihambe ngokuthula, njengokwelizwi lakho;
“Now you are releasing your servant, Master, according to your word, in peace;
30 ngoba amehlo ami alubonile usindiso lwakho
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 olulungisileyo phambi kobuso babantu bonke;
which you have prepared before the face of all peoples;
32 ukukhanya kokwembulela abezizwe, lenkazimulo yesizwe sakho uIsrayeli.
a light for revelation to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel.”
33 UJosefa lonina basebemangala ngezinto ezatshiwo ngaye.
Joseph and his mother were marvelling at the things which were spoken concerning him.
34 USimeyoni wasebabusisa, wathi kuMariya unina: Khangela, lo umiselwe ukuwa lokuvuka kwabanengi kuIsrayeli, lokuba yisibonakaliso esizaphikiswa;
Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against.
35 futhi lawe, inkemba izadabula owakho umphefumulo; ukuze imicabango yenhliziyo ezinengi yembulwe.
Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
36 Njalo kwakukhona uAna umprofethikazi, indodakazi kaFanuweli, owesizwe sikaAsheri; wayesekhulile kakhulu, ebehlale lendoda iminyaka eyisikhombisa kusukela ebuntombini bakhe,
There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity,
37 njalo wayengumfelokazi owayengaba leminyaka engamatshumi ayisificaminwembili lane, engasuki ethempelini, ekhonza ngokuzila ukudla langemikhuleko ebusuku lemini.
and she had been a widow for about eighty-four years), who didn’t depart from the temple, worshipping with fastings and petitions night and day.
38 Laye efika ngalelohola wadumisa uNkulunkulu, wakhuluma ngaye kubo bonke ababelindele inkululeko eJerusalema.
Coming up at that very hour, she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of him to all those who were looking for redemption in Jerusalem.
39 Kwathi sebeqedile konke okungokomlayo weNkosi, babuyela eGalili, emzini wakibo iNazaretha.
When they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.
40 Lomntwana omncane wakhula, waqina emoyeni, wagcwala inhlakanipho; lomusa kaNkulunkulu wawuphezu kwakhe.
The child was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.
41 Njalo abazali bakhe babesiya eJerusalema iminyaka yonke ngomkhosi wephasika.
His parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover.
42 Kwathi eseleminyaka elitshumi lambili, sebenyukele eJerusalema njengomkhuba womkhosi,
When he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast;
43 njalo sebeziqedile insuku, ekubuyeleni kwabo, umntwana uJesu wasala eJerusalema; njalo uJosefa lonina bengazi;
and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and his mother didn’t know it,
44 kodwa becabanga ukuthi wayesexukwini endleleni, bahamba uhambo losuku, bamdinga phakathi kwezinini labazana labo;
but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day’s journey; and they looked for him amongst their relatives and acquaintances.
45 kodwa bengamtholi, babuyela eJerusalema, bemdinga.
When they didn’t find him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for him.
46 Kwasekusithi emva kwensuku ezintathu, bamthola ethempelini, ehlezi phakathi kwabafundisi, njalo ebalalela, futhi ebabuza.
After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the middle of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.
47 Njalo bonke ababemuzwa bamangala kakhulu ngolwazi lempendulo zakhe.
All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
48 Kwathi bembona bamangala; lonina wathi kuye: Mntanami, wenzeleni okunje kithi? Khangela, uyihlo lami besikudinga sidubekile.
When they saw him, they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I were anxiously looking for you.”
49 Wasesithi kubo: Kungani lingidinga? Belingakwazi yini ukuthi kumele ukuthi ngibe sezintweni zikaBaba?
He said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
50 Kodwa bona kabaliqedisisanga ilizwi alikhuluma kubo.
They didn’t understand the saying which he spoke to them.
51 Wasesehla labo, weza eNazaretha; wazehlisela ngaphansi kwabo. Unina wasegcina zonke lezizinto enhliziyweni yakhe.
And he went down with them and came to Nazareth. He was subject to them, and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
52 UJesu waseqhubeka enhlakanipheni lekukhuleni, lekuthandekeni kuNkulunkulu lebantwini.
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men.
