< ULukha 1 >

1 Njengoba abanengi sebebeke izandla ukubeka ngendlela efaneleyo ukulandiswa kwezinto eziqiniseke ngokupheleleyo phakathi kwethu,
Many have undertaken to compose an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,
2 njengalokhu basinika labo ababonayo ngamehlo ekuqaleni njalo bezinceku zelizwi,
just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word.
3 kukhanye kukuhle lakimi, sengizihlolisisile zonke izinto kusukela ekuqaleni, ukuthi ngikubhalele ngokulandelana, mhlekazi Teyofilu,
Therefore, having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,
4 ukuze wazi iqiniso ngalezozinto ozifundisiweyo.
so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
5 Ensukwini zikaHerodi inkosi yeJudiya kwakukhona umpristi othile othiwa nguZakariya, oweqembu likaAbhiya; lomkakhe wayevela kumadodakazi kaAroni, lebizo lakhe linguElizabethi.
In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and whose wife Elizabeth was a daughter of Aaron.
6 Njalo babelungile bobabili phambi kukaNkulunkulu, behamba ngayo yonke imilayo lezimiso zeNkosi, bengasoleki.
Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord.
7 Njalo babengelamntwana, ngoba uElizabethi wayeyinyumba, basebeleminyaka eminengi bobabili.
But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.
8 Kwasekusithi esenza inkonzo yobupristi phambi kukaNkulunkulu esesimisweni seqembu lakibo,
One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,
9 ngomkhuba wenkonzo yobupristi, nguye owadliwa yinkatho yokutshisa impepha esengene ethempelini leNkosi.
he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
10 Njalo ixuku lonke labantu lalikhuleka ngaphandle ngesikhathi sokutshisa impepha.
And at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside.
11 Ingilosi yeNkosi yasibonakala kuye, imi ngakwesokunene selathi lempepha.
Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
12 Kwathi uZakariya eyibona waqhuqha, lokwesaba kwawela phezu kwakhe.
When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear.
13 Kodwa ingilosi yathi kuye: Ungesabi Zakariya; ngoba umkhuleko wakho uzwakele, lomkakho uElizabethi uzakuzalela indodana, njalo uzakuthi ibizo layo nguJohane.
But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.
14 Futhi uzakuba lenjabulo lentokozo, labanengi bazakujabulela ukuzalwa kwakhe.
He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth,
15 Ngoba uzakuba mkhulu phambi kweNkosi, iwayini kanye lokunathwayo okulamandla kasoze akunathe, futhi uzagcwaliswa ngoMoya oNgcwele kusukela esesesiswini sikanina.
for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.
16 Labanengi kubantwana bakoIsrayeli uzabaphendulela eNkosini uNkulunkulu wabo;
Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to the Lord their God.
17 njalo yena uzahamba phambi kwayo emoyeni lemandleni kaElija, ukuphendulela inhliziyo zaboyise kubantwana, labangalaleliyo ekuhlakanipheni kwabalungileyo, ukulungiselela iNkosi isizwe esilungisiweyo.
And he will go on before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
18 UZakariya wasesithi kuyo ingilosi: Ngizakwazi ngani lokhu? Ngoba mina ngilixhegu, lomkami useleminyaka eminengi.
“How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.”
19 Ingilosi yasiphendula yathi kuye: NginguGabriyeli mina, omayo phambi kukaNkulunkulu; njalo ngithunyiwe ukukhuluma lawe, lokukubikela lezizindaba ezinhle.
“I am Gabriel,” replied the angel. “I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
20 Njalo khangela, uzakuba yisimungulu njalo wehluleke ukukhuluma, kuze kube lusuku okuzakwenzeka ngalo lezizinto, ngenxa yokuthi ungakholwanga amazwi ami, azagcwaliseka ngesikhathi sawo.
And now you will be silent and unable to speak until the day this comes to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.”
21 Labantu babemlindele uZakariya; bamangala ngokuphuza kwakhe ethempelini.
Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long in the temple.
22 Kuthe esephuma wehluleka ukukhuluma labo; njalo bazi ukuthi ubone umbono ethempelini; njalo yena wayesebaqhweba, wahlala eyisimungulu.
When he came out and was unable to speak to them, they realized he had seen a vision in the temple. He kept making signs to them but remained speechless.
23 Kwasekusithi seziphelile insuku zokukhonza kwakhe, waya endlini yakhe.
And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home.
24 Kwathi emva kwalezonsuku uElizabethi umkakhe wathatha isisu, wazifihla okwezinyanga ezinhlanu, esithi:
After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. She declared,
25 Yenze kanje kimi iNkosi ensukwini eyangikhangela ngazo ukususa ihlazo lami phakathi kwabantu.
“The Lord has done this for me. In these days He has shown me favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
26 Kwathi ngenyanga yesithupha ingilosi uGabriyeli yathunywa nguNkulunkulu emzini weGalili othiwa yiNazaretha,
In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
27 entombini eyayigane indoda, ebizo layo lalinguJosefa, eyendlu kaDavida; lebizo lentombi linguMariya.
to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.
28 Ingilosi yasingena kuye yathi: Ekuhle, wena othandiweyo! INkosi ilawe, ubusisiwe wena phakathi kwabesifazana.
The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 Kwathi eseyibonile wethuswa kakhulu yilizwi layo, wanakana ukuthi yikubingelela okunjani lokhu.
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
30 Ingilosi yasisithi kuye: Ungesabi, Mariya; ngoba uthole uthando kuNkulunkulu.
So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 Njalo khangela, uzathatha isisu, uzale indodana, uzakuthi ibizo layo nguJesu.
Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.
32 Yena uzakuba mkhulu, uzabizwa ngokuthi yiNdodana yoPhezukonke; futhi iNkosi uNkulunkulu izamnika isihlalo sobukhosi sikayise uDavida,
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David,
33 njalo uzabusa phezu kwendlu kaJakobe kuze kube nininini, langombuso wakhe kawuzukuba lokuphela. (aiōn g165)
and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!” (aiōn g165)
34 UMariya wasesithi kuyo ingilosi: Lokhu kungenzeka njani, njengoba ngingazi indoda?
“How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35 Ingilosi yasiphendula yathi kuye: UMoya oNgcwele uzakuza phezu kwakho, lamandla oPhezukonke azakwembesa; ngakho lalokhu okungcwele okuzazalwa nguwe kuzakuthiwa yiNdodana kaNkulunkulu.
The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.
36 Njalo khangela, isinini sakho uElizabethi, laye ukhulelwe yindodana ebudaleni bakhe; lale yinyanga yesithupha kuye obekuthiwa uyinyumba.
Look, even Elizabeth your relative has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is in her sixth month.
37 Ngoba kuNkulunkulu kakulalutho oluzakwehlula.
For no word from God will ever fail.”
38 UMariya wasesithi: Khangela, incekukazi yeNkosi; kakube kimi njengelizwi lakho. Ingilosi yasisuka kuye.
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.
39 Ngalezonsuku uMariya wasesukuma waya ezintabeni ngokuphangisa, emzini weJuda,
In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah,
40 wangena endlini kaZakariya, wabingelela uElizabethi.
where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 Kwasekusithi uElizabethi ezwe ukubingelela kukaMariya, inkonyane yeqa esiswini sakhe; loElizabethi wagcwaliswa ngoMoya oNgcwele,
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 wamemeza ngelizwi elikhulu, wathi: Ubusisiwe wena phakathi kwabesifazana, njalo sibusisiwe isithelo sesizalo sakho!
In a loud voice she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43 Kanti kuvela ngaphi lokhu kimi, ukuthi unina weNkosi yami eze kimi?
And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 Ngoba khangela, kuthe ilizwi lokubingelela kwakho lifika endlebeni zami, umntwana weqa esiswini sami ngokuthokoza.
For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
45 Futhi ubusisiwe okholiweyo, ngoba kuzagcwaliseka lezozinto ezakhulunywa kuye yiNkosi.
Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord’s word to her will be fulfilled.”
46 UMariya wasesithi: Umphefumulo wami uyayikhulisa iNkosi,
Then Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 lomoya wami uyathokoza kuNkulunkulu uMsindisi wami,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
48 ngoba ukhangele ubuphansi bencekukazi yakhe. Ngoba khangela, kusukela khathesi zonke izizukulwana zizakuthi ngibusisiwe.
For He has looked with favor on the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed.
49 Ngoba yena olamandla ungenzele izinto ezinkulu, lingcwele lebizo lakhe,
For the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is His name.
50 lesihawu sakhe sikusizukulwana ngesizukulwana kulabo abamesabayo.
His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
51 Wenzile amandla ngengalo yakhe; uhlakazile abazigqajayo ekunakaneni kwenhliziyo zabo.
He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 Wehlisile iziphathamandla ezihlalweni zobukhosi, kodwa uphakamisile abantukazana.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.
53 Abalambileyo ubasuthise ngezinto ezinhle, kodwa abanothileyo wabamukisa beze.
He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.
54 Umsizile uIsrayeli inceku yakhe, ngokukhumbula isihawu,
He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful,
55 njengoba watsho kubobaba bethu, kuAbrahama, lenzalweni yakhe kuze kube nininini. (aiōn g165)
as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.” (aiōn g165)
56 UMariya wasehlala laye okungaba zinyanga ezintathu, wasebuyela endlini yakhe.
Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
57 Isikhathi sikaElizabethi sokuthi abelethe sesiphelele, wasebeletha indodana.
When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son.
58 Abakhelene laye lezinini zakhe basebesizwa ukuthi iNkosi yenze isihawu sayo saba sikhulu kuye, basebethokoza laye.
Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.
59 Kwasekusithi ngosuku lwesificaminwembili, beza ukuzasoka usane; balubiza ngebizo likayise ngokuthi nguZakariya.
On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah.
60 Kodwa unina waphendula wathi: Hatshi bo, kodwa luzathiwa nguJohane.
But his mother replied, “No! He shall be called John.”
61 Basebesithi kuye: Kakho ezihlotsheni zakho obizwa ngalelibizo.
They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who bears this name.”
62 Basebeqhweba uyise, ukuthi angathanda ukuthi lubizwe ngokuthini.
So they made signs to his father to find out what he wanted to name the child.
63 Wasecela into yokubhalela, wabhala, esithi: NguJohane ibizo lalo; basebemangala bonke.
Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.
64 Njalo wahle wavulwa umlomo wakhe lolimi lwakhe lwatshwaphululwa, wasekhuluma edumisa uNkulunkulu.
Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God.
65 Lokwesaba kwehlela phezu kwabo bonke abakhelene labo; njalo kwakhulunywa ngazo zonke lezizinto kulo lonke elezintabeni zeJudiya,
All their neighbors were filled with awe, and people throughout the hill country of Judea were talking about these events.
66 labo bonke abazizwayo bazilondoloza ezinhliziyweni zabo, besithi: Kambe lolusane luzakuba njani? Njalo isandla seNkosi sasilalo.
And all who heard this wondered in their hearts and asked, “What then will this child become?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.
67 LoZakariya uyise wagcwaliswa ngoMoya oNgcwele, waprofetha, esithi:
Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 Ibusisiwe iNkosi uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, ngoba ihambele yasenzela inkululeko isizwe sayo,
“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.
69 yasivusela uphondo losindiso endlini kaDavida inceku yayo,
He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David,
70 njengalokho yakhuluma ngomlomo wabaprofethi bayo abangcwele kusukela ekuqaleni komhlaba, (aiōn g165)
as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past, (aiōn g165)
71 isikhulula ezitheni zethu, lesandleni sabo bonke abasizondayo;
salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,
72 ukwenzela obaba bethu isihawu, lokukhumbula isivumelwano sayo esingcwele,
to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,
73 isifungo eyasifunga kubaba wethu uAbrahama,
the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 ukusinika, ukuthi sesikhululiwe esandleni sezitha zethu, siyikhonze singelakwesaba,
deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,
75 ngobungcwele langokulunga phambi kwayo zonke izinsuku zempilo yethu.
in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.
76 Lawe-ke, sane, uzabizwa ngokuthi ungumprofethi woPhezukonke; ngoba uzahamba phambi kobuso beNkosi ukulungisa izindlela zayo;
And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him,
77 lokunika isizwe sayo ulwazi losindiso ngothethelelo lwezono zabo,
to give to His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 ngesihelo sikaNkulunkulu wethu, okuthi ngaso ukusa kwaphezulu kusethekelele,
because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high,
79 ukubakhanyisela abahlezi emnyameni lethunzini lokufa, ukuqondisa inyawo zethu endleleni yokuthula.
to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
80 Wakhula-ke umntwana omncane, waqina emoyeni, waba sezinkangala kwaze kwaba lusuku lokubonakala kwakhe kuIsrayeli.
And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until the time of his public appearance to Israel.

< ULukha 1 >