ULukha 1
1 Njengoba abanengi sebebeke izandla ukubeka ngendlela efaneleyo ukulandiswa kwezinto eziqiniseke ngokupheleleyo phakathi kwethu,
SINCE many have attempted to compose a narrative of facts, confirmed to us by the fullest evidence:
2 njengalokhu basinika labo ababonayo ngamehlo ekuqaleni njalo bezinceku zelizwi,
exactly as they delivered them to us, who were eve witnesses from the first, and ministers of the word;
3 kukhanye kukuhle lakimi, sengizihlolisisile zonke izinto kusukela ekuqaleni, ukuthi ngikubhalele ngokulandelana, mhlekazi Teyofilu,
it seemed right to me also, having obtained accurate knowledge of all things from above, to write to thee in regular order, most excellent Theophilus,
4 ukuze wazi iqiniso ngalezozinto ozifundisiweyo.
to the intent that thou mayest clearly know the certainty of those matters, concerning which thou hast been instructed.
5 Ensukwini zikaHerodi inkosi yeJudiya kwakukhona umpristi othile othiwa nguZakariya, oweqembu likaAbhiya; lomkakhe wayevela kumadodakazi kaAroni, lebizo lakhe linguElizabethi.
There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abiah: and his wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name Elisabeth.
6 Njalo babelungile bobabili phambi kukaNkulunkulu, behamba ngayo yonke imilayo lezimiso zeNkosi, bengasoleki.
And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
7 Njalo babengelamntwana, ngoba uElizabethi wayeyinyumba, basebeleminyaka eminengi bobabili.
And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were far advanced in years.
8 Kwasekusithi esenza inkonzo yobupristi phambi kukaNkulunkulu esesimisweni seqembu lakibo,
And it came to pass, as he discharged his priestly office in the order of his periodical ministration before God,
9 ngomkhuba wenkonzo yobupristi, nguye owadliwa yinkatho yokutshisa impepha esengene ethempelini leNkosi.
according to the custom of the priesthood, it fell to his lot to burn the incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
10 Njalo ixuku lonke labantu lalikhuleka ngaphandle ngesikhathi sokutshisa impepha.
And all the multitude of people was praying without, at the time of the burning the incense.
11 Ingilosi yeNkosi yasibonakala kuye, imi ngakwesokunene selathi lempepha.
And an angel of the Lord appeared to him standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12 Kwathi uZakariya eyibona waqhuqha, lokwesaba kwawela phezu kwakhe.
And Zacharias was agitated greatly at the sight, and fear fell upon him.
13 Kodwa ingilosi yathi kuye: Ungesabi Zakariya; ngoba umkhuleko wakho uzwakele, lomkakho uElizabethi uzakuzalela indodana, njalo uzakuthi ibizo layo nguJohane.
But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bring thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
14 Futhi uzakuba lenjabulo lentokozo, labanengi bazakujabulela ukuzalwa kwakhe.
And it shall give thee joy and exultation; and many shall 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 shall be great in the sight of the Lord; and he shall never drink wine, nor any intoxicating liquor; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.
16 Labanengi kubantwana bakoIsrayeli uzabaphendulela eNkosini uNkulunkulu wabo;
And many of the children of Israel shall he turn unto 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 shall go forth before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to convert the hearts of fathers with their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people ready for the Lord.
18 UZakariya wasesithi kuyo ingilosi: Ngizakwazi ngani lokhu? Ngoba mina ngilixhegu, lomkami useleminyaka eminengi.
And Zacharias said to the angel, By what shall I know this? for I am old, and my wife far advanced in her age.
19 Ingilosi yasiphendula yathi kuye: NginguGabriyeli mina, omayo phambi kukaNkulunkulu; njalo ngithunyiwe ukukhuluma lawe, lokukubikela lezizindaba ezinhle.
And the angel answering said to him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and I have been sent to speak to thee, and to proclaim these glad tidings to thee.
20 Njalo khangela, uzakuba yisimungulu njalo wehluleke ukukhuluma, kuze kube lusuku okuzakwenzeka ngalo lezizinto, ngenxa yokuthi ungakholwanga amazwi ami, azagcwaliseka ngesikhathi sawo.
And behold, thou shalt be dumb, and unable to speak, until that day when these things shall come to pass, because thou hast not believed my words, which shall be fulfilled at their exact time.
21 Labantu babemlindele uZakariya; bamangala ngokuphuza kwakhe ethempelini.
And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.
22 Kuthe esephuma wehluleka ukukhuluma labo; njalo bazi ukuthi ubone umbono ethempelini; njalo yena wayesebaqhweba, wahlala eyisimungulu.
And when he came out, he could not speak to them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he himself made signs to them, and continued deaf and dumb.
23 Kwasekusithi seziphelile insuku zokukhonza kwakhe, waya endlini yakhe.
And it came to pass, when the days of his ministry were fulfilled, he went to his own house.
24 Kwathi emva kwalezonsuku uElizabethi umkakhe wathatha isisu, wazifihla okwezinyanga ezinhlanu, esithi:
And after those days Elisabeth his wife conceived, and kept herself in retirement five months, saying,
25 Yenze kanje kimi iNkosi ensukwini eyangikhangela ngazo ukususa ihlazo lami phakathi kwabantu.
Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days in which he looked upon me to take away my reproach among men.
26 Kwathi ngenyanga yesithupha ingilosi uGabriyeli yathunywa nguNkulunkulu emzini weGalili othiwa yiNazaretha,
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, the name of which was Nazareth,
27 entombini eyayigane indoda, ebizo layo lalinguJosefa, eyendlu kaDavida; lebizo lentombi linguMariya.
to a virgin of the house of David, betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
28 Ingilosi yasingena kuye yathi: Ekuhle, wena othandiweyo! INkosi ilawe, ubusisiwe wena phakathi kwabesifazana.
And the angel coming in to her said, All hail! O thou highly favoured one! the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
29 Kwathi eseyibonile wethuswa kakhulu yilizwi layo, wanakana ukuthi yikubingelela okunjani lokhu.
And when she saw him, she was greatly agitated at his address: and reasoned in herself what kind of salutation this could be.
30 Ingilosi yasisithi kuye: Ungesabi, Mariya; ngoba uthole uthando kuNkulunkulu.
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favour with God.
31 Njalo khangela, uzathatha isisu, uzale indodana, uzakuthi ibizo layo nguJesu.
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS.
32 Yena uzakuba mkhulu, uzabizwa ngokuthi yiNdodana yoPhezukonke; futhi iNkosi uNkulunkulu izamnika isihlalo sobukhosi sikayise uDavida,
He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father;
33 njalo uzabusa phezu kwendlu kaJakobe kuze kube nininini, langombuso wakhe kawuzukuba lokuphela. (aiōn g165)
and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end. (aiōn g165)
34 UMariya wasesithi kuyo ingilosi: Lokhu kungenzeka njani, njengoba ngingazi indoda?
And Mary said, How shall this be, seeing I know not man?
35 Ingilosi yasiphendula yathi kuye: UMoya oNgcwele uzakuza phezu kwakho, lamandla oPhezukonke azakwembesa; ngakho lalokhu okungcwele okuzazalwa nguwe kuzakuthiwa yiNdodana kaNkulunkulu.
And the angel answering said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee; wherefore also the Holy One that shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of God.
36 Njalo khangela, isinini sakho uElizabethi, laye ukhulelwe yindodana ebudaleni bakhe; lale yinyanga yesithupha kuye obekuthiwa uyinyumba.
And, behold, Elisabeth thy cousin, she also hath conceived in her old age: and this is the fifth month of pregnancy with her who was called barren.
37 Ngoba kuNkulunkulu kakulalutho oluzakwehlula.
For there is nothing impossible with God.
38 UMariya wasesithi: Khangela, incekukazi yeNkosi; kakube kimi njengelizwi lakho. Ingilosi yasisuka kuye.
Then said Mary, Behold a servant of the Lord, be it to me according to thy declaration. And the angel departed from her.
39 Ngalezonsuku uMariya wasesukuma waya ezintabeni ngokuphangisa, emzini weJuda,
Then Mary arose in those days, and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah,
40 wangena endlini kaZakariya, wabingelela uElizabethi.
and entered into the house of Zachariah, and saluted Elisabeth.
41 Kwasekusithi uElizabethi ezwe ukubingelela kukaMariya, inkonyane yeqa esiswini sakhe; loElizabethi wagcwaliswa ngoMoya oNgcwele,
And it came to pass, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped for joy in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
42 wamemeza ngelizwi elikhulu, wathi: Ubusisiwe wena phakathi kwabesifazana, njalo sibusisiwe isithelo sesizalo sakho!
and she exclaimed with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
43 Kanti kuvela ngaphi lokhu kimi, ukuthi unina weNkosi yami eze kimi?
And whence is this favour shewn me, 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, lo! as the voice of thy salutation reached my ears, the babe leaped for joy in my womb.
45 Futhi ubusisiwe okholiweyo, ngoba kuzagcwaliseka lezozinto ezakhulunywa kuye yiNkosi.
And blessed is she that hath believed; for there shall be a fulfilment of the things told her from the Lord.
46 UMariya wasesithi: Umphefumulo wami uyayikhulisa iNkosi,
And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
47 lomoya wami uyathokoza kuNkulunkulu uMsindisi wami,
and my spirit hath exulted in God my Saviour:
48 ngoba ukhangele ubuphansi bencekukazi yakhe. Ngoba khangela, kusukela khathesi zonke izizukulwana zizakuthi ngibusisiwe.
for he hath looked upon the lowly state of his maid-servant: for, lo! henceforth shall all generations pronounce me blessed.
49 Ngoba yena olamandla ungenzele izinto ezinkulu, lingcwele lebizo lakhe,
For the Mighty One hath done great things for me; and holy is his name.
50 lesihawu sakhe sikusizukulwana ngesizukulwana kulabo abamesabayo.
And his mercy is upon those who fear him, from generation to generation.
51 Wenzile amandla ngengalo yakhe; uhlakazile abazigqajayo ekunakaneni kwenhliziyo zabo.
He hath displayed strength from his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 Wehlisile iziphathamandla ezihlalweni zobukhosi, kodwa uphakamisile abantukazana.
He hath cast down potentates from the throne, and hath exalted the lowly.
53 Abalambileyo ubasuthise ngezinto ezinhle, kodwa abanothileyo wabamukisa beze.
He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
54 Umsizile uIsrayeli inceku yakhe, ngokukhumbula isihawu,
He hath succoured Israel his servant, that he might be mindful of mercy for ever; (aiōn g165)
as he had spoken to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed.
56 UMariya wasehlala laye okungaba zinyanga ezintathu, wasebuyela endlini yakhe.
And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned unto her home.
57 Isikhathi sikaElizabethi sokuthi abelethe sesiphelele, wasebeletha indodana.
Now Elisabeth’s time was up that she should be delivered; and she brought a son.
58 Abakhelene laye lezinini zakhe basebesizwa ukuthi iNkosi yenze isihawu sayo saba sikhulu kuye, basebethokoza laye.
And her neighbours and her relations heard, that the Lord had magnified his mercy upon her; and they congratulated her.
59 Kwasekusithi ngosuku lwesificaminwembili, beza ukuzasoka usane; balubiza ngebizo likayise ngokuthi nguZakariya.
And it came to pass, on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him after the name of his father, Zacharias.
60 Kodwa unina waphendula wathi: Hatshi bo, kodwa luzathiwa nguJohane.
And his mother spake and said, No; but he shall be called John.
61 Basebesithi kuye: Kakho ezihlotsheni zakho obizwa ngalelibizo.
And they said to her, There is not one among thy relations, who is called by this name.
62 Basebeqhweba uyise, ukuthi angathanda ukuthi lubizwe ngokuthini.
And they made signs to his father, what he would have him called.
63 Wasecela into yokubhalela, wabhala, esithi: NguJohane ibizo lalo; basebemangala bonke.
And desiring a writing tablet, he wrote, saying, John is his name. And they were all surprised.
64 Njalo wahle wavulwa umlomo wakhe lolimi lwakhe lwatshwaphululwa, wasekhuluma edumisa uNkulunkulu.
Instantly then his mouth was opened, and his tongue loosed, and he burst out in praises to God.
65 Lokwesaba kwehlela phezu kwabo bonke abakhelene labo; njalo kwakhulunywa ngazo zonke lezizinto kulo lonke elezintabeni zeJudiya,
And great awe fell on all those who dwelt around them: and in all the mountainous country of Judea, all these circumstances were the subject of conversation.
66 labo bonke abazizwayo bazilondoloza ezinhliziyweni zabo, besithi: Kambe lolusane luzakuba njani? Njalo isandla seNkosi sasilalo.
And all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, Well! what a child will this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.
67 LoZakariya uyise wagcwaliswa ngoMoya oNgcwele, waprofetha, esithi:
And Zacharias his father was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,
68 Ibusisiwe iNkosi uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, ngoba ihambele yasenzela inkululeko isizwe sayo,
Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel; for he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people;
69 yasivusela uphondo losindiso endlini kaDavida inceku yayo,
and hath 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 spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been from the beginning: (aiōn g165)
71 isikhulula ezitheni zethu, lesandleni sabo bonke abasizondayo;
even preservation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
72 ukwenzela obaba bethu isihawu, lokukhumbula isivumelwano sayo esingcwele,
to perform mercy towards our fathers, and to remember his own holy covenant:
73 isifungo eyasifunga kubaba wethu uAbrahama,
the oath which he sware to Abraham our father,
74 ukusinika, ukuthi sesikhululiwe esandleni sezitha zethu, siyikhonze singelakwesaba,
to give us, that we, secure from fear, rescued from the hands of our enemies, should serve him,
75 ngobungcwele langokulunga phambi kwayo zonke izinsuku zempilo yethu.
in righteousness and holiness before him, all the days of our life.
76 Lawe-ke, sane, uzabizwa ngokuthi ungumprofethi woPhezukonke; ngoba uzahamba phambi kobuso beNkosi ukulungisa izindlela zayo;
And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Most High; for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
77 lokunika isizwe sayo ulwazi losindiso ngothethelelo lwezono zabo,
to give the knowledge of salvation to his people, by the remission of their sins,
78 ngesihelo sikaNkulunkulu wethu, okuthi ngaso ukusa kwaphezulu kusethekelele,
through the bowels of mercy of our God; with which he hath visited us, as the dawn of the morning from on high,
79 ukubakhanyisela abahlezi emnyameni lethunzini lokufa, ukuqondisa inyawo zethu endleleni yokuthula.
to illumine those who sat in darkness, and in the shadow of death, to direct our feet into the way of peace.
80 Wakhula-ke umntwana omncane, waqina emoyeni, waba sezinkangala kwaze kwaba lusuku lokubonakala kwakhe kuIsrayeli.
And the child grew, and became mighty in spirit, and was in the deserts until the days of his public exhibition to Israel.
