2 NDE njengokwedluliselwa kwazo kithi yilabo ababekhona ekuqaleni bengabafakazi lezinceku zelizwi. BSB BSB: just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word.
3 NDE Ngakho-ke, njengoba mina ngokwami sengichwayisisile konke kusukela ekuqaleni, lami ngikubone kufanele ukuthi ngikulobele umlando oqondileyo, komkhulu ohloniphekayo uTheyofelasi BSB BSB: 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 NDE ukuze wazi iqiniso lezinto lezo ozifundisiweyo. BSB BSB: so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
6 NDE Bobabili babelungile emehlweni kaNkulunkulu beyilandela yonke imilayo leziqondiso zeNkosi bengasoleki. BSB BSB: Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord.
7 NDE Kodwa babengelabantwana ngoba u-Elizabethi wayeyinyumba njalo bobabili basebeluphele. BSB BSB: But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.
8 NDE Kwenzakala ukuthi isigaba sikaZakhariya siyiso esasimiselwe umsebenzi wethempeli ngalesosikhathi, BSB BSB: One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,
9 NDE wadliwa yinkatho ngokomkhuba wobuphristi, ukuthi angene ethempelini leNkosi ayetshisa impepha. BSB BSB: he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
10 NDE Kwathi isikhathi sokutshisa impepha sesifikile, wonke amakholwa ayebuthene lapho ayekhuleka ephandle. BSB BSB: And at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside.
11 NDE Kwasekubonakala kuye ingilosi yeNkosi imi ngakwesokunene kwe-alithari lempepha. BSB BSB: Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
12 NDE UZakhariya wathi eyibona wethuka wesaba kakhulu. BSB BSB: When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear.
13 NDE Kodwa ingilosi yathi kuye, “Ungesabi, Zakhariya; umkhuleko wakho usuzwakele. Umkakho u-Elizabethi uzakuzalela indodana kufanele uyinike ibizo elithiwa nguJohane. BSB BSB: 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 NDE Uzakuba yintokozo lenjabulo kuwe njalo abanengi bazathokoza ngenxa yokuzalwa kwakhe, BSB BSB: He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth,
15 NDE ngoba uzakuba mkhulu emehlweni eNkosi. Kakumelanga anathe iwayini lanini loba yini ebilisiweyo enathwayo, njalo uzagcwaliswa ngoMoya oNgcwele kusukela ekuzalweni kwakhe. BSB BSB: 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 NDE Uzaletha abantu bako-Israyeli abanengi eNkosini uNkulunkulu wabo. BSB BSB: Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to the Lord their God.
18 NDE UZakhariya wabuza ingilosi wathi, “Ngingaba leqiniso lakho njani lokho? Sengilixhegu njalo lomkami useluphele.” BSB BSB: “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 NDE Ingilosi yaphendula yathi, “NginguGabhuriyeli mina. Ngima phambi kukaNkulunkulu, ngithunywe ukuzokhuluma lawe ngikutshela ngalezi izindaba ezinhle. BSB BSB: “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 NDE Okwamanje uzakuba yisimungulu wehluleke ukukhuluma kuze kufike lolosuku okuzakwenzakala ngalo lokhu, ngoba kawuzange uwakholwe amazwi ami, wona azagcwaliseka ngesikhathi sawo esifaneleyo.” BSB BSB: 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 NDE Sonke lesisikhathi abantu babelokhu bemlindele uZakhariya sebemangele ukuthi kungani wayethethe isikhathi eside kangako ethempelini. BSB BSB: Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long in the temple.
22 NDE Waphuma esesehluleka ukukhuluma labo. Babona ukuthi wayebone umbono ethempelini ngoba wayelokhu eqhweba ngezandla, kodwa esehluleka ukukhuluma. BSB BSB: 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 unable to speak.
23 NDE Izopha lakhe seliphelile wabuyela ekhaya. BSB BSB: And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home.
24 NDE Ngemva kwalokhu umkakhe u-Elizabethi wazithwala wasezifihla okwezinyanga ezinhlanu, BSB BSB: After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. She declared,
25 NDE esithi, “INkosi ingenzele lokhu. Kulezi insuku ilutshengisile uthando Lwayo yasusa ihlazo lami ebantwini.” BSB BSB: “The Lord has done this for me. In these days He has shown me favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
27 NDE ukuya entombini egcweleyo eyayithembise ukutshada lendoda eyayithiwa nguJosefa, owesizukulwane sikaDavida. Ibizo lentombi egcweleyo le kwakunguMariya. BSB BSB: 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 NDE Ingilosi yaya kuye yathi, “Sabona wena othole umusa kakhulukazi INkosi ilawe.” BSB BSB: The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 NDE Amazwi ayo amhlupha kakhulu uMariya wamangala ukuthi kanti kwakuyikubingelela bani lokhu. BSB BSB: Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
30 NDE Kodwa ingilosi yathi kuye, “Ungesabi Mariya, uthole umusa kuNkulunkulu. BSB BSB: So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 NDE Uzakhulelwa ubelethe indodana, uyethe ibizo uthi nguJesu. BSB BSB: Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.
32 NDE Uzaba ngumuntu omkhulu abizwe ngokuthi yiNdodana yoPhezukonke. INkosi uNkulunkulu izamupha isihlalo sikayise uDavida, BSB BSB: 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 NDE njalo uzabusa phezu kwendlu kaJakhobe laphakade; umbuso wakhe kawuyikuphela.” BSB BSB: and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”
35 NDE Ingilosi yaphendula yathi, “UMoya oNgcwele uzakwehlela phezu kwakho, lamandla akhe oPhezukonke azakusibekela. Ngakho ongcwele ozazalwa uzathiwa yiNdodana kaNkulunkulu. BSB BSB: 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 NDE Lo-Elizabethi isihlobo sakho uzakuba lomntwana ekuluphaleni kwakhe, yena okwakuthiwa yinyumba usesenyangeni yakhe yesithupha. BSB BSB: 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 NDE Ngoba kakukho okwehlulayo kuNkulunkulu.” BSB BSB: For no word from God will ever fail.”
39 NDE Ngalesosikhathi uMariya waphanga wenza amalungiselelo waya edolobheni elizweni lamaqaqa eJudiya, BSB BSB: In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah,
40 NDE lapho angena khona emzini kaZakhariya wabingelela u-Elizabethi. BSB BSB: where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
41 NDE Kwathi u-Elizabethi esizwa ukubingelela kukaMariya, umntwana weqa esiswini sakhe, u-Elizabethi wagcwala ngoMoya oNgcwele. BSB BSB: When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 NDE Wakhuluma ngelizwi eliphezulu wathi, “Ubusisiwe wena phakathi kwabesifazane, njalo ubusisiwe umntwana ozamzala! BSB BSB: In a loud voice she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43 NDE Kodwa kungani ngithole umusa ongaka mina, ukuba ngethekelelwe ngunina weNkosi yami? BSB BSB: And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 NDE Ngonele ukuzwa ukubingelela kwakho, umntwana osesiswini sami weqa ngentokozo. BSB BSB: For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
45 NDE Ubusisiwe lowo osekholiwe ukuthi lokho iNkosi ethe kuzakwenzeka kuye kuzagcwaliseka!” BSB BSB: Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord’s word to her will be fulfilled.”
47 NDE lomoya wami uyathokoza kuNkulunkulu uMsindisi wami, BSB BSB: and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
49 NDE ngoba uSomandla ungenzele izinto ezinkulu, lingcwele ibizo lakhe. BSB BSB: For the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is His name.
50 NDE Isihawu sakhe sifinyelela kulabo abamesabayo, kulandela isizukulwane ngesizukulwane. BSB BSB: His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
51 NDE Uyenzile imisebenzi emikhulu ngengalo yakhe: ubachithizile labo abaziqakisa ngemicabango yezinhliziyo zabo. BSB BSB: He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 NDE Uwethule amakhosi ezihlalweni zawo, kodwa wabaphakamisa abantukazana. BSB BSB: He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.
53 NDE Ubasuthisile abalambileyo ngezinto ezinhle, kodwa abanothileyo ubaxotshe bengaphathanga lutho. BSB BSB: He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.
54 NDE Uyisizile inceku yakhe u-Israyeli, wakhumbula ukuba lesihawu BSB BSB: He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful,
55 NDE ku-Abhrahama lezizukulwane zakhe laphakade, njengoba wakutsho kubokhokho bethu.” BSB BSB: as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.”
56 NDE UMariya wahlala lo-Elizabethi izinyanga ezazingaba ntathu wasebuyela ekhaya. BSB BSB: Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
57 NDE Kwathi isikhathi sika-Elizabethi sesiphelele esokubeletha wazala indodana. BSB BSB: When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son.
58 NDE Omakhelwane bakhe lezihlobo bezwa ukuthi iNkosi yayimzwele isihawu esikhulu bathokoza kanye laye. BSB BSB: Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.
59 NDE Ngosuku lwesificaminwembili beza ukuzasoka umntwana, bafuna ukuthi bamethe ibizo likayise uZakhariya, BSB BSB: On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah.
60 NDE kodwa unina wala wathi, “Hatshi! Kathiwe nguJohane.” BSB BSB: But his mother replied, “No! He shall be called John.”
61 NDE Bathi kuye, “Kakho ebantwini bakini olebizo lelo.” BSB BSB: They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who bears this name.”
62 NDE Bakhuluma ngezandla kuyise bedinga ukuthi yena uthanda ukuthi umntwana aphiwe liphi ibizo. BSB BSB: So they made signs to his father to find out what he wanted to name the child.
63 NDE Wacela isibhebhedu sokulobela, wamangalisa wonke umuntu ngoba waloba ukuthi, “Ibizo lakhe nguJohane.” BSB BSB: Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.
64 NDE Masinyane umlomo wakhe wavuleka lolimi lwakhe lwatshwaphuluka, waqalisa ukukhuluma edumisa uNkulunkulu. BSB BSB: Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God.
65 NDE Omakhelwane bonke bamangala kakhulu, kwathi elizweni lonke lamaqaqa eJudiya abantu babekhuluma ngalezizinto. BSB BSB: All their neighbors were filled with awe, and people throughout the hill country of Judea were talking about these events.
66 NDE Wonke owezwayo ngalokho wamangala ebuza esithi, “Kambe uzakuba yini umntwana lo?” Ngoba isandla seNkosi sasilaye. BSB BSB: 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 NDE Uyise uZakhariya wagcwala ngoMoya oNgcwele waphrofitha wathi: BSB BSB: Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 NDE “Udumo kalube seNkosini, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, ngoba ubuyile ukuzahlenga abantu bakhe. BSB BSB: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.
69 NDE Iluphakamisile uphondo lwensindiso yethu endlini yenceku yayo uDavida BSB BSB: He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David,
70 NDE (njengoba yatsho ngabaphrofethi bayo abangcwele ekadeni), BSB BSB: as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past,
71 NDE ukusindiswa ezitheni zethu lesandleni sabo bonke abasizondayo, BSB BSB: salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,
72 NDE ukuze atshengise isihawu kubokhokho bethu lokukhumbula isivumelwano sakhe esingcwele, BSB BSB: to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,
73 NDE isifungo asifunga kubaba wethu u-Abhrahama: BSB BSB: the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 NDE ukusikhulula esandleni sezitha zethu, size siyikhonze singelakwesaba BSB BSB: deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,
75 NDE ngobungcwele langokulunga phambi kwayo ngazozonke insuku zethu. BSB BSB: in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.
76 NDE Wena mntanami, uzathiwa ungumphrofethi woPhezukonke; ngoba uzahamba phambili kweNkosi uyilungisele indlela, BSB BSB: 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 NDE ukunika abantu bayo ukwazi insindiso ngokuthethelelwa kwezono zabo, BSB BSB: to give to His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 NDE ngenxa yomusa kaNkulunkulu wethu, ilanga liphuma lize kithi livela ezulwini, BSB BSB: because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high,
79 NDE likhanyise kulabo abahlezi ebumnyameni lasethunzini lokufa, ukukhokhelela inyawo zethu endleleni yokuthula.” BSB BSB: to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
80 NDE Umntwana wakhula waqina emoyeni; waphila enkangala waze wavela obala ku-Israyeli. BSB BSB: And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until the time of his public appearance to Israel.