I-Protevangelion ISAHLUKO 1 1 Emlandweni wezizwe eziyishumi nambili zakwa-Israyeli sifunda ukuthi kwakukhona umuntu othile ogama lakhe linguJoakhimi, owayecebile kakhulu, wanikela iminikelo ephindwe kabili eNkosini uNkulunkulu, wenza lesi sinqumo: Impahla yami iyakuba ngeyokusiza abantu bonke. , ukuze ngithole umusa eNkosini uNkulunkulu wokuthethelelwa kwezono zami. 2 Kepha ngomkhosi othile omkhulu kaJehova, lapho abantwana bakwa-Israyeli benikela ngezipho zabo, noJehoyakimi naye enikela ngeyakhe, uRubeni umpristi omkhulu wamelana naye, wathi awuvunyelwe ukunikela ngezipho zakho, lokhu wazala noma iyiphi inzalo kwa-Israyeli. 3 Khona-ke uJehoyakimi ekhathazeke kakhulu+ wasuka waya kubabhali+ bezizwe eziyishumi nambili ukuze abone ukuthi kwakunguye yedwa yini owayengazali. 4 Kodwa lapho ebuza wathola ukuthi bonke abalungileyo babevuse inzalo kwaIsrayeli. 5 Wayesekhumbula ukhokho u-Abrahama, ukuthi uNkulunkulu ekugcineni wamnika u-Isaka indodana yakhe; okwamcindezela kakhulu, engafuni ukubonwa ngumkakhe; 6 Kodwa wasuka waya enkangala, wamisa itende lakhe khona, wazila ukudla insuku ezingamatshumi amane lobusuku obungamatshumi amane, esithi enhliziyweni yakhe: 7 Angiyikwehla ukuba ngidle, ngiphuze, uJehova uNkulunkulu wami aze angibuke, kepha umkhuleko uyakuba ngukudla kwami nokuphuza. ISAHLUKO 2 1 Ngaleso sikhathi u-Ana umkakhe wakhathazeka futhi edidekile ngenxa yezizathu ezimbili, wathi ngizokhalela ubufelokazi bami nobunyumba bami. 2 Kwase kusondela idili elikhulu leNkosi, uJudithi incekukazi yakhe yathi: Koze kube nini uhlupha umphefumulo wakho? Umkhosi kaJehova usufikile, lapho kungekho emthethweni ukuba umuntu alile. 3 Ngakho thathani lesi sigqoko esisiphiwe ngumuntu owenza izinto ezinjalo, ngoba kakufanelanga ukuthi mina engiyisigqili ngisigqoke, kodwa simfanela umuntu olesimilo esikhulu kunani. 4 Kodwa uAna waphendula wathi: Suka kimi, kangikajwayele izinto ezinjalo; ngaphandle kwalokho, iNkosi ingithobisile kakhulu. 5 Ngiyesaba ukuthi umuntu okhohlakeleyo okunike lokhu, njalo uze ukungingcolisa ngesono sami. 6 UJuditha incekukazi yakhe waphendula wathi: Ngikubikeleni, nxa lingangilaleli? 7 Angikwazi ukukufisela isiqalekiso esikhulu kunalesi ongaphansi kwakho, ngokuba uNkulunkulu usivalile isizalo sakho, ukuba ungabi ngunina kwa-Israyeli. 8 Khona-ke u-Ana wakhathazeka kakhulu, futhi egqoke ingubo yakhe yomshado, wahamba cishe ngehora lesithathu ntambama ehamba ensimini yakhe. 9 Wabona umtholo, wahlala phansi kwawo, wakhuleka eNkosini, wathi: 10 O Nkulunkulu wawobaba, ngibusise futhi ubheke umkhuleko wami njengoba wasibusisa isibeletho sikaSara, futhi wamupha indodana u-Isaka.
ISAHLUKO 3 1 Esabheka ngasezulwini, wabona isidleke sikandlunkulu emvinini; 2 Ezilile phakathi kwakhe, wathi: “Maye kimi, ongizalayo na? nesizalo sini esangizalayo ukuba ngiqalekiswe kanjalo phambi kwabantwana bakwa-Israyeli, bangithuke, bangihlekise ethempelini likaNkulunkulu wami, bathi: “Maye kimi, ngingafaniswa nani, na? 3 Angifani nezilwane zomhlaba, ngokuba ngisho nezilwane zomhlaba ziyazala phambi kwakho, Jehova. Maye kimi, ngingafaniswa nani? 4 Angifani nezilwane ezingenangqondo, ngokuba ngisho nezilwane zasendle ziyazala phambi kwakho, O Nkosi! Maye mina, ngingafaniswa nani? 5 Anginakulinganiswa nalawa manzi, ngokuba namanzi ayathela phambi kwakho, Jehova! Maye kimi, ngingafaniswa nani? 6 Angifani namagagasi olwandle; ngoba lezi, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi zizolile, noma zinyakaza, nezinhlanzi ezikuzo, ziyakudumisa, O Nkosi! Maye kimi, ngingafaniswa nani? 7 Angifani nomhlaba ngokwawo, ngokuba umhlaba uthela izithelo zawo, futhi uyakudumisa, O Nkosi! ISAHLUKO 4 1 Ingelosi yeNkosi yema ngakuye, yathi: “Ana, Anna, iNkosi iwuzwile umkhuleko wakho; uyokhulelwa futhi uzale, futhi inzalo yakho kuyokhulunywa ngayo emhlabeni wonke. 2 UAna waphendula wathi: Kuphila kukaJehova uNkulunkulu wami, konke engizakuzala, loba owesilisa loba owesifazana, ngizakunikela eNkosini uNkulunkulu wami, njalo izamkhonza ezintweni ezingcwele, kukho konke ukuphila kwayo. 3 Bheka, kwabonakala izingelosi ezimbili, zathi kuye: “Bheka, uJoyakimi umyeni wakho uyeza nabelusi bakhe. 4 Ngokuba ingelosi yeNkosi yehlele kuye, yathi: INkosi uJehova iwuzwile umkhuleko wakho, phuthuma usuke lapha, ngokuba bheka, u-Ana umkakho uyakukhulelwa. 5 UJehoyakimi wehla, wabiza abelusi bakhe, wathi ngilethani kimi amawundlu ezinsikazi ayishumi angenasici nasici, abekaJehova uNkulunkulu wami. 6 Ningilethele amathole ayishumi nambili angenasici, amathole ayishumi nambili abe ngawabapristi namalunga. 7 Ngiletheleni futhi izimbuzi eziyikhulu, izimbuzi eziyikhulu zibe ngezabantu bonke. 8 UJehoyakimi wehla nabelusi, u-Ana wema ngasesangweni, wabona uJehoyakimi eza nabelusi. 9 Wagijima, walenga entanyeni yakhe, wathi: “Manje ngiyazi ukuthi uJehova ungibusisile kakhulu; 10 Ngokuba bheka, mina engangingumfelokazi angiseyena umfelokazi, futhi mina engangiyinyumba ngizokhulelwa. ISAHLUKO 5 1 UJehoyakimi wahlala ngosuku lokuqala endlini yakhe, kepha ngangomuso waletha iminikelo yakhe, wathi: 2 Uma iNkosi ingihawukela, makubonakale ucwecwe olusebunzini lompristi. 3 Wabuza ucwecwe ayelugqokile umpristi, walubona; bheka, isono sasingekho kuye. 4 UJehoyakhimi wasesithi: Khathesi sengiyazi ukuthi iNkosi ihawukele, yesusile zonke izono zami. 5 Wehla ethempelini leNkosi elungisisiwe, waya endlini yakhe.
6 Kwathi seziphelele izinyanga eziyisishiyagalolunye ku-Ana, wazala, wathi kumbelethisi: “Ngibelethe ngani na? 7 Wamtshela, intombi. 8 Wayesethi u-Ana: “INkosi iwukhulise namuhla umphefumulo wami; wamlalisa embhedeni. 9 Kwathi seziphelile izinsuku zokuhlanjululwa kwakhe, wamunyisa umntwana, waqamba igama lakhe ngokuthi uMariya. ISAHLUKO 6 1 Umntwana waqhubeka eba namandla izinsuku zonke, kangangokuthi lapho enezinyanga eziyisishagalolunye, unina wambeka phansi ukuze azame uma engase ame; kwathi esehambe amagxathu ayisificamunwemunye waphinda wafika esifubeni sikanina. 2 Unina wayesemphakamisa, wathi: "Kuphila kukaJehova uNkulunkulu wami, awusayikuphinda uhambe kulo mhlaba, ngize ngikungenise ethempelini likaJehova." 3 Ngakho wenza ikamelo lakhe laba yindawo engcwele, akavumelanga lutho olungavamile noma olungcolile ukuba lusondele kuye, kodwa wamema amadodakazi athile akwaIsrayeli angcolile, amdonsela eceleni. 4 Kwathi umntwana esenomnyaka ezelwe, uJehoyakimi wenza idili elikhulu, wamema abapristi, nababhali, namalunga, nabo bonke abantu bakwa-Israyeli; 5 UJehoyakimi wayesenikela ngentombazane kubapristi abakhulu, bayibusisa, bathi: “UNkulunkulu wawobaba wayibusisa le ntombazane, ayinike igama elinamandla ezizukulwaneni ngezizukulwane. Basebephendula bonke abantu bathi: Makube njalo, Amen. 6 UJehoyakimi wayeseyinikela ngokwesibili kubapristi, bambusisa, bathi: “O Nkulunkulu oPhezukonke, bheka le ntombazane, uyibusise ngesibusiso esiphakade. 7 Kulokhu unina wamphakamisa, wamnika isifuba, wahlabelela iNkosi ingoma elandelayo. 8 Ngizahlabelelela i Nkosi uNkulunkulu wami ihubo elitsha, ngoba ingihambele, yesusile kimi ihlazo lezitha zami, yanginika isithelo sokulunga kwayo, ukuze kuthiwe manje kubantwana bakoRubeni. ,u-Anna emunca. 9 Wayesemlalisa umntwana ekamelweni ayelingcwelisile, waphuma, wabakhonza. 10 Kwathi umkhosi usuphelile, bahamba bethokoza, bemdumisa uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli. ISAHLUKO 7 1 Intombazane yakhula, kwathi isineminyaka emibili, uJehoyakimi wathi ku-Ana: “Masimyise ethempelini likaJehova ukuba sigcwalise isithembiso sethu esenzile kuJehova uNkulunkulu, funa abulawe. usithukuthelele, nomnikelo wethu mawungamukeleki. 2 Kepha u-Ana wathi: "Masilinde ngomnyaka wesithathu, funa alahlekelwe ukwazi uyise." Wathi uJehoyakimi: "Masilinde-ke." 3 Kwathi umntwana eseneminyaka emithathu ubudala, uJehoyakimi wathi: “Masimeme amadodakazi amaHeberu angcolile, athathe, kube yilowo nalowo isibani, sikhanyiswe, ukuze umntwana angabuyi, abuye abuyele emuva. ingqondo yakhe iphambene nethempeli leNkosi. 4 Futhi benza kanjalo baze bakhuphukela ethempelini leNkosi. Umpristi omkhulu wamamukela, wambusisa, wathi: Mariya, iNkosi uNkulunkulu ikhulise igama lakho ezizukulwaneni ngezizukulwane, futhi kuze kube-sekupheleni kwesikhathi iNkosi izobonakalisa ngawe ukukhululwa kwayo kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli.
5 Wambeka esitebhisini sesithathu se-altare, uJehova wamnika umusa, wasina ngezinyawo zakhe; yonke indlu yakwa-Israyeli yamthanda. ISAHLUKO 8 1 Abazali bayo bahamba bemangele, bemdumisa uNkulunkulu, ngokuba intombazane ayibuyelanga kubo. 2 Kodwa uMariya waqhubeka ethempelini njengejuba efundiswa khona, futhi wathola ukudla kwakhe esandleni sengelosi. 3 Kwathi eseneminyaka eyishumi nambili, abapristi bahlangana emphakathini, bathi: “Bheka, uMariya useneminyaka eyishumi nambili; siyakwenzani ngayo, funa ingcoliswe indawo engcwele kaJehova uNkulunkulu wethu na? 4 Abapristi base bephendula uZakariya umpristi omkhulu bathi: "Yima e-altare leNkosi, futhi ungene endaweni engcwele, futhi ulinxusele, futhi noma yini iNkosi eyakukubonisa yona, kwenze." 5 Umpristi omkhulu wayesengena eNgcwelengcwele, wathatha isihlangu sesifuba sokwahlulela, wamkhulekela; 6 Bheka, ingelosi yeNkosi yeza kuye, yathi: “Zakariya, uZakariya, phuma ubize bonke abafelokazi phakathi kwabantu, kube yilowo nalowo alethe intonga yakhe, nalowo iNkosi eyakumbonisa ngaye umfelokazi. isibonakaliso kuyakuba ngumyeni kaMariya. 7 Abamemezayo baliphumela lonke iJudiya, kwakhala icilongo leNkosi, bagijima bonke abantu, bahlangana. 8 UJosefa laye walahla ingwegwe, waphuma ukubahlangabeza; sebehlanganile baya kumpristi omkhulu, kwaba yilowo nalowo wathatha intonga yakhe. 9 Kwathi umpristi omkhulu esezamukele izinduku zabo, wangena ethempelini ukuyakhuleka; 10 Eseqedile ukukhuleka, wathatha izinduku, waphuma waze waba, akwabakho sibonakaliso kuzo. 11 Induku yokugcina yathathwa nguJosefa; bheka, ijuba laphuma entongeni, landizela ekhanda likaJosefa. 12 Umpristi omkhulu wasesithi: UJosefa, wena ukhethiwe ukuthi uthathe intombi yeNkosi, uyigcinele yona; 13 Kepha uJosefa wala, wathi: "Mina sengimdala, nginabantwana, kepha yena usemncane; ngiyesaba funa ngibonakale ngiyinhlekiso kwa-Israyeli." 14 Umpristi omkhulu wasesithi: Josefa, yesaba iNkosi uNkulunkulu wakho, ukhumbule indlela uNkulunkulu abenze ngayo oDathani, uKora, loAbiramu, ukuthi umhlaba wavuleka wabaginya, ngenxa yokuphikisana kwabo. 15 Ngakho-ke, Josefa, yesaba uNkulunkulu, funa kwenzeke okufanayo emndenini wakho. 16 UJosefa wayesesaba, wamyisa endlini yakhe; Kufanele ngikhumbule umsebenzi wami wokwakha. yena iNkosi ibe nawe. ISAHLUKO 9 1 Kwasekusithi emhlanganweni wabapristi kwathiwa: Asenzeni ithempeli isihenqo esitsha. 2 Umpristi omkhulu wasesithi: Ngibizelani izintombi eziyisikhombisa ezingelasici zesizwe sikaDavida. 3 Izinceku zahamba zabangenisa ethempelini leNkosi, umpristi omkhulu wathi kuzo yenzani inkatho phambi kwami manje, ngubani kini oyakuphotha intambo yegolide, nokuluhlaza, nokubomvu, nelineni elicolekileyo kakhulu. , futhi ubani onsomi weqiniso. 4 Khona umpristi omkhulu wamazi uMariya ukuthi ungowesizwe sikaDavide; wambiza, kwaba yinkatho yakhe
eyibubende yoqobo ukuba ayiphothe, wamuka waya endlini yakhe. 5 Kodwa kusukela kulesosikhathi uZakariya umphristi omkhulu waba yisimungulu, uSamuweli wahlaliswa endlini yakhe waze uZakariya wakhuluma futhi. 6 Kodwa uMariya wathatha okuyibubende kweqiniso, waphotha. 7 Wathatha imbiza, waphuma ukuyokha amanzi, wezwa izwi lithi kuye: Bayede wena ogcwele umusa, 1 iNkosi inawe; ubusisiwe phakathi kwabesifazane. 8 Wabheka ngakwesokunene nangakwesokhohlo ukuba abone lapho livela khona lelozwi, kwangena endlini yakhe ukuthuthumela, wabeka isitsha samanzi, wathatha okububende, wahlala esihlalweni sakhe ukuba asimbe. . 9 Bheka, ingelosi yeNkosi yema ngakuye, yathi: “Ungesabi, Mariya, ngokuba uthole umusa emehlweni kaNkulunkulu; 10 Kwathi esezwile wazindla ukuthi kuyini ukubingelela. 11 Ingelosi yathi kuye: “INkosi inawe, futhi uzokhulelwa. 12 Wasephendula wathi: Awu! ngiyakukhulelwa kuNkulunkulu ophilayo, ngizale njengabo bonke abesifazane na? 13 Kodwa ingilosi yasiphendula yathi: Hatshi, Mariya, kodwa uMoya oNgcwele uzakuza phezu kwakho, lamandla oPhezukonke akusibekele; 14 Ngakho-ke lokho okuzelwe nguwe kuyakuba ngcwele, futhi kuyobizwa ngokuthi iNdodana kaNkulunkulu ophilayo, futhi uyoqamba igama layo ngokuthi uJesu; ngoba yena uzasindisa abantu bakhe ezonweni zabo. 15 Bheka, u-Elisabethe umzala wakho, naye ukhulelwe indodana ebudaleni bakhe. 16 Manje le sekuyinyanga yesithupha kuye, owayethiwa inyumba; ngokuba akukho okungenzeki kuNkulunkulu. 17 UMariya wasesithi: Khangela ngiyincekukazi yeNkosi; makube kimi njengezwi lakho. 18 Esembathile okububende, wakuyisa kumpristi omkhulu, umpristi omkhulu wambusisa, wathi: “Mariya, iNkosi uNkulunkulu ilikhulisile igama lakho; . 19 Khona-ke uMariya egcwele injabulo waya ku-Elisabethe umzala wakhe, wangqongqoza emnyango. 20 Kwathi u-Elisabethe ekuzwa, wagijima, wamvulela, wambusisa, wathi: “Kuvelaphi kimi lokhu ukuba unina weNkosi yami eze kimi na? 21 Ngoba bheka! kwathi nje izwi lokubingelela kwakho lifika ezindlebeni zami, okukimi kwagxuma futhi kwabusisa wena. 22 Kodwa uMariya engazi ngazo zonke lezizinto ingilosi enkulu uGabriyeli eyayizikhulume kuye, waphakamisela amehlo akhe ezulwini, wathi: Nkosi! Ngiyini mina ukuba zonke izizukulwane zomhlaba zithi ngibusisiwe? 23 Kepha wazibona ukuba mkhulu imihla ngemihla, wesaba, waya endlini yakhe, wacasha kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli; wayeneminyaka eyishumi nane lapho zonke lezi zinto zenzeka. ISAHLUKO 10 1 Kwathi isifikile inyanga yayo yesithupha, uJosefa wabuya endlini yakhe yokwakha ngaphandle kwendlu yakhe ayesebenzela kuyo, wangena endlini, wafumana intombi isikhulile; 2 Wazishaya ebusweni, wathi: “Ngingabheka ngabuphi ubuso kuJehova uNkulunkulu wami na? noma, ngizothini ngale ntombi? 3 Ngoba ngamamukela njengentombi emsulwa ethempelini leNkosi uNkulunkulu wami, njalo kangimlondolozanga enjalo. 4 Ngubani ongikhohlise kanje? Ngubani owenze lobu bubi endlini yami, wangidukisa iNtombi, wayingcolisa na?
5 Ingabe umlando ka-Adamu awufezwanga ngokuqondile kimi? 6 Ngokuba ngasona leso sikhathi senkazimulo yayo, inyoka yafika yamthola u-Eva eyedwa, yamyenga. 7 Kwenzeke kimi ngendlela efanayo. 8 UJosefa wayesesukuma emhlabathini, wambiza, wathi: “O wena ophiwe umusa ongaka nguNkulunkulu, wenzeleni lokhu na? 9 Kungani wehlisele phansi kanjalo umphefumulo wakho, owafundiswa eNgcwelengcwele, futhi wemukela ukudla kwakho esandleni sezingelosi na? 10 Kodwa yena waphendula ngezinyembezi, wathi: Kangilacala, njalo kangazi muntu. 11 UJosefa wasesithi: Kwenzekeni ukuthi ukhulelwe? 12 UMariya waphendula wathi: Kuphila kweNkosi uNkulunkulu wami, angazi ukuthi ngani. 13 UJosefa wasesaba kakhulu, wasuka kuye, esazi ukuthi angenzani kuye; wasezindla ngalendlela: 14 Uma ngifihla ububi bakhe, ngizatholwa nginecala emthethweni weNkosi; 15 Futhi uma ngimdalula kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli, ngiyesaba, funa ekhulelwe yingelosi, ngifunyanwe ngikhaphela ukuphila kongenacala; 16 Ngakho ngizakwenzani? Ngizomxosha ngasese. 17 Kwase kufika ubusuku phezu kwakhe, khangela-ke, ingilosi yeNkosi yabonakala kuye ngephupho, yathi: 18 Ningesabi ukuthatha leyo ntombi, ngokuba lokho okungaphakathi kwayo kungoMoya oNgcwele; . 19 Uzazala indodana, uyiqambe igama lokuthi uJesu, ngokuba nguye oyakusindisa abantu bakhe ezonweni zabo. 20 UJosefa wayesevuka ebuthongweni bakhe, wakhazimulisa uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli owamenzela umusa onjalo, wayigcina intombi. ISAHLUKO 11 1 Kwasekufika uAnase umbhali, wathi kuJosefa: Kungani singakubonanga kusukela usubuyile? 2 UJosefa wasesithi: Ngoba ngangikhathele ekuhambeni kwami, futhi ngaphumula ngosuku lokuqala. 3 Kodwa u-Anase ephenduka wayibona iNcasakazi isinesisu. 4 Waya kumpristi, wamtshela ukuthi: “UJosefa enamethemba kangaka unecala elibi, ngokuba ungcolise iNtombi emsulwa ayamukele ethempelini leNkosi, wayigana ngasese. wakhe, engakutholi kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli. 5 Wayesethi umpristi: “UJosefa ukwenzile lokhu na? 6 UAnase waphendula wathi: Uba uthuma enye yezinceku zakho, uzathola ukuthi ukhulelwe. 7 Zahamba izinceku, zafumana njengokusho kwakhe. 8 Ngemva kwalokho bobabili yena loJosefa bayiswa ekugwetshweni kwabo, umphristi wasesithi kuye: Mariya, wenzeni? 9 Kungani uwonisile umphefumulo wakho, wakhohlwa uNkulunkulu wakho, lokhu wakhuliswa eNgcwelengcwele, wamukela ukudla kwakho ezandleni zezingelosi, wezwa izingoma zazo na? 10 Wenzeni lokhu na? 11 Yaphendula yathi: Kuphila kukaJehova uNkulunkulu wami, ngimsulwa emehlweni ayo, lokhu ngingazi muntu. 12 Umpristi wayesethi kuJosefa: “Ukwenzeleni lokhu na? 13 UJosefa wasesithi: Kuphila kukaJehova uNkulunkulu wami, kangibanga laye. 14 Kodwa umpristi wathi: Ungaqambi amanga, kodwa khuluma iqiniso; wamthatha ngasese, awukwambulanga kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli, wazithoba phansi kwesandla esinamandla sikaNkulunkulu, ukuze inzalo yakho ibusiswe.
15 UJosefa wathula. 16 Umphristi wasesithi kuJosefa: Kumelwe ubuyisele ethempelini leNkosi iNcasakazi owayikhupha lapho. 17 Kodwa wakhala kamunyu, umpristi wasesithi: Ngizaliphuzisa lamanzi e Nkosi, 1 okulingwayo, ukuze ububi benu buvulwe phambi kwenu. 18 Umpristi wayesewathabatha amanzi, wamphuzisa uJosefa, wamthuma entabeni. 19 Wabuya ephilile, bonke abantu bamangala ngokuthi icala lakhe lalingaziwa. 20 Wayesethi umpristi: “Njengokuba uJehova engazivezanga izono zenu, nami anginilahla. 21 Ngakho wabamukisa. 22 UJosefa wayesemthatha uMariya, waya endlini yakhe ethokoza, edumisa uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli. ISAHLUKO 12 1 Kwasekuphuma isimemezelo kuMbusi uAwugustu sokuthi wonke amaJuda avela eBhethilehema eJudiya kumele abhalwe. 2 UJosefa wathi: "Ngiyakuqaphela ukuba abantwana bami babhalwe, kepha ngiyakuyenzani le ntombi na?" 3 Ukubhaliswa kwakhe njengomkami nginamahloni; uma ngimthelisa njengendodakazi yami, wonke u-Israyeli uyazi ukuthi akasiyo indodakazi yami. 4 Lapho kufika isikhathi sokumiswa kweNkosi, makenze okuhle emehlweni akhe. 5 Wayibophela imbongolo, wayikhwelisa phezu kwayo; oJosefa noSimoni bamlandela, bafika eBetlehema phakathi kwamamayela* amathathu. 6 UJosefa wasetshibilika wabona uMariya elusizi, wathi phakathi kwakhe: Mhlawumbe uphakathi kobuhlungu obuphakathi kwakhe. 7 Kodwa ephenduka futhi wambona ehleka, wathi kuye: 8 Mary, kwenzeka kanjani, ukuthi ngezinye izikhathi ngibone usizi, futhi ngezinye izikhathi ukuhleka kanye nenjabulo ebusweni bakho na? 9 UMariya wasephendula wathi kuye: Ngibona abantu ababili ngamehlo ami, omunye ekhala futhi elila, omunye ehleka futhi ethokoza. 10 Wabuye wawelela ngaphesheya, uMariya wathi kuJosefa: “Ngehlise embongolweni, ngokuba okuphakathi kwami kuyakucindezela ukuba ngiphume. 11 Kodwa uJosefa waphendula wathi: Ngikuse ngaphi? ngoba indawo iyihlane. 12 UMariya wasephinda wathi kuJosefa: Ngehlise, ngoba okuphakathi kwami kungicindezela ngamandla. 13 UJosefa wamehlisa; 14 Wafumana khona umhume, wamngenisa kuwo. ISAHLUKO 13 1 UJosefa wamshiya emhumeni namadodana akhe, waphuma ukuyodinga umbelethisi ongumHeberu emzini waseBetlehema. 2 Kepha ngisahamba, kusho uJosefa, ngabheka phezulu, ngabona amafu emangala, nezinyoni zezulu zima phakathi nokundiza kwazo. 3 Ngabheka phansi emhlabeni, bheka, itafula lidekiwe, nabasebenzayo behlezi nxazonke zalo, kepha izandla zabo ziphezu kwetafula, benganyakazi ukuba badle. 4 Ababenenyama emilonyeni yabo abazange badle. 5 Labo abaphakamisela izandla zabo emakhanda abo kababuyiselanga emuva; 6 Abawaphakamisela emlonyeni wabo abafakanga lutho; 7 Kodwa bonke ubuso babo babukhangele phezulu. 8 Ngabona izimvu zihlakazeka, nokho izimvu zimi.
9 Umalusi waphakamisa isandla sakhe ukuba azishaye, isandla sakhe saqhubeka siphakama. 10 Ngase ngibheka emfuleni, ngabona amazinyane emilonyeni yawo eduze namanzi, ewathinta, kepha awaphuzanga. ISAHLUKO 14 1 Ngase ngibona owesifazane ehla ezintabeni, wathi kimi: “Uya ngaphi, muntu? 2 Ngasengisithi kuye: Ngiya ukudinga umbelethisi ongumHebheru. 3 Wasengiphendula wathi: Ungaphi owesifazana ozazala? 4 Ngathi: “Emhumeni, useganiselwe kimi. 5 Wayesethi umbelethisi: “Akasiye umkakho na? 6 UJosefa waphendula wathi: UMariya, owafundiswa eNgcwelengcwele, endlini yeNkosi, owabelwa isabelo sami, njalo kasuye umkami, kodwa ukhulelwe ngoMoya oNgcwele. 7 Umbelethisi wasesithi: Lokhu kuliqiniso yini? 8 Wasephendula wathi: Wozani libone. 9 Umbelethisi wahamba naye, wema emhumeni. 10 Ifu elikhazimulayo lasibekela umhume, umbelethisi wathi: “Namuhla umphefumulo wami uphakeme, ngokuba amehlo ami abone izimangaliso, nokusindiswa kukhishwa ku-Israyeli. 11 Kodwa kungazelelwe ifu laba ukukhanya okukhulu emhumeni, kangangokuthi amehlo abo ayengenakukuthwala. 12 Kodwa ukukhanya kwancipha kancane kancane, kwaze kwavela usane, lwancela ibele likanina uMariya. 13 Umbelethisi wamemeza wathi: “Yeka lolu suku olukhazimulayo lapho amehlo ami abone ngalo lo mbono omangalisayo! 14 Umbelethisi wasephuma emhumeni, uSalome wamhlangabeza; 15 Umbelethisi wasesithi kuye: Salome, Salome, ngizakutshela okumangalisayo engikubonileyo; 16 Intombi emsulwa yazala okuphambene lemvelo. 17 USalome waphendula wathi: Kuphila kukaJehova uNkulunkulu wami, ngaphandle kokuthi ngithole ubufakazi bendaba le, kangiyikukholwa ukuthi intombi ibelethile. 18 Khona-ke uSalome wangena, umbelethisi wathi: “Mariya, ziveze, ngokuba kuphakama ukuphikisana okukhulu ngawe. 19 Futhi uSalome wathola ukwaneliseka. 20 Kodwa isandla sakhe sasibunile, wabubula kamunyu. 21 Wathi: “Maye kimi ngenxa yobubi bami! ngokuba ngimlingile uNkulunkulu ophilayo, isandla sami simi ngomumo. 22 USalome wayesekhuleka kuJehova, wathi: “Nkulunkulu wawobaba, ngikhumbule, ngokuba ngiyinzalo ka-Abrahama, no-Isaka, noJakobe. 23 Ungangenzi ngibe yisihlamba phakathi kwabantwana bakwa-Israyeli, kepha ngibuyisele kubazali bami ngiphilile. 24 Ngokuba wazi kahle, O Nkosi, ukuthi ngenze imisebenzi eminingi yothando egameni lakho, futhi ngithole umvuzo wami kuwe. 25 Khona-ke ingelosi yeNkosi yema ngakuSalome, yathi: “INkosi uJehova ikuzwile ukunxusa kwakho; 26 USalome, egcwele intokozo enkulu, waya kumntwana, wathi: Ngizakumthinta; 27 Wazimisela ukukhuleka kuye, ngokuba wathi: "Lo uyinkosi enkulu ezelwe kwa-Israyeli." 28 Wahle waphulukiswa uSalome. 29 Umbelethisi wasephuma emhumeni, ekholekile kuNkulunkulu. 30 Futhi, bheka! kwafika izwi kuSalome, lathi: Ungakhulumi izimanga ozibonileyo, umntwana aze afike eJerusalema. 31 Ngakho uSalome laye wahamba ekholekile kuNkulunkulu.
ISAHLUKO 15 1 UJosefa wayeselungiselela ukuhamba, ngokuba kwavela isiphithiphithi esikhulu eBetlehema ngokufika kwezazi zasempumalanga, 2 Abathi: Ingaphi inkosi yamaJuda ezelwe? Ngokuba sibonile inkanyezi yakhe empumalanga, size ukukhuleka kuye. 3 Kwathi uHerode ekuzwa lokho wakhathazeka kakhulu, wathuma izithunywa kuzo izazi nakubapristi, wabuza kubo esigodlweni; 4 Wathi kubo: “Nilobele kuphi ngoKristu iNkosi, noma kufanele azalelwe kuphi na? 5 Base bethi kuye: EBetlehema laseJudiya; ngokuba kulotshiwe kanje ukuthi: “Nawe Betlehema ezweni lakwaJuda, awusiye omncinyane phakathi kwezikhulu zakwaJuda, ngokuba kuyakuvela kuwe umbusi oyakubusa abantu bami uIsrayeli. 6 Wasebamukisa abapristi abakhulu, wabuza emadodeni egcekeni, wathi kuwo: Libone isibonakaliso bani ngenkosi ezelweyo? 7 Basebemphendula bathi: Sabona inkanyezi enkulu engavamile ikhanya phakathi kwenkanyezi zezulu, futhi yakhanya kakhulu okwedlula zonke ezinye izinkanyezi, kangangokuthi zazingabonakali; futhi sazi ngalokho ukuthi kwazalwa inkosi enkulu kwaIsrayeli; size ukukhuleka kuye. 8 UHerodi wasesithi kubo: Hambani libuzisise; uma nimthola umntwana, ningibikele, ukuze nami ngize ngikhuleke kuye. 9 Zase ziphuma izazi, bheka, inkanyezi ezayibona empumalanga yahamba phambi kwazo, yaze yafika yema phezu komhume lapho umntwana wayenoMariya unina. 10 Base bekhipha isifungo engcebweni yabo, banikela kuye igolide, nenhlaka, nomure. 11 Kwathi sebexwayiswe yingilosi ephutsheni ukuthi bangabuyeli kuHerodi bedabula iJudiya, basuka baya elizweni lakibo ngenye indlela. ISAHLUKO 16 1 Kwathi uHerode ekwazi ukuthi uklolodelwe yizazi, wathukuthela kakhulu, wayala amadoda ukuba ahambe, abulale bonke abantwana baseBetlehema, abaneminyaka emibili nangaphansi. 2 Kodwa uMariya esezwile ukuthi abantwana bazabulawa, esaba kakhulu, wamthatha umntwana, wamsonga ngezingubo, wamlalisa emkhombeni wezinkabi, ngoba yayingekho indawo yabo endlini yezihambi. 3 U-Elisabethe laye, esizwa ukuthi indodana yakhe uJohane isizadingwa, wamthatha wakhwela entabeni, waqalaza indawo yokuyicatsha; 4 Futhi yayingekho indawo eyimfihlo eyayingatholwa. 5 Wabubula phakathi kwakhe, wathi: O ntaba yeNkosi, yemukela unina nomntwana. 6 Ngokuba u-Elisabethe wayengenakukhuphuka. 7 Njalo yahle yahlukana intaba, yabamukela. 8 Kwabonakala kubo ingelosi yeNkosi ukuba ibalondoloze. 9 Kepha uHerode wamfuna uJohane, wathuma izinceku kuZakariya ekhonza e-altare, wathi kuye: “Uyifihlephi indodana yakho na? 10 Wasesithi kubo: Ngiyisikhonzi sikaNkulunkulu, lenceku elathini; ngingazi kanjani ukuthi indodana yami ikuphi? 11 Ngakho izinceku zabuyela emuva zamtshela uHerodi konke; Wathukuthela wathi: “Lo akanjengaye yini ukuba abe yinkosi kwa-Israyeli na? 12 Ngakho waphinda wathuma izinceku zakhe kuZakariya, wathi: Sitshele iqiniso, iphi indodana yakho, ngoba uyazi ukuthi ukuphila kwakho kusesandleni sami.
13 Ngakho izinceku zahamba zamtshela konke lokho. 14 Kodwa uZakariya waphendula wathi kubo: Mina ngingumfakazi kaNkulunkulu, njalo uba echitha igazi lami, iNkosi izakwamukela umphefumulo wami. 15 Futhi yazini ukuthi nichitha igazi elingenacala. 16 Kepha uZakariya wabulawa ngasemnyango wethempeli ne-altare, nangaseceleni kwendlu; 17 Kodwa abantwana bakwa-Israyeli babengazi lapho ebulawa. 18 Kwathi ngesikhathi sokubingelela abapristi bangena ethempelini, kodwa uZakariya kabahlangabezanga njengomkhuba, wababusisa; 19 Nokho baqhubeka bemlindele ukuba abakhulekele; 20 Kwathi sebemtholile ukuthi akafikanga isikhathi eside, omunye wabo waqonda endaweni engcwele lapho okwakukhona i-altare, wabona igazi liphansi emhlabathini; 21 Bheka, kwavela izwi ezulwini, lithi: “UZakariya ubulewe, negazi lakhe aliyikusulwa, kuze kufike umphindiseli wegazi lakhe. 22 Kodwa lapho ezwa lokho wesaba, waphuma futhi watshela abapristi lokho ayekubonile nakuzwayo; bangena bonke babona. 23 Uphahla lwethempeli lwakhala, lwadabuka kusukela phezulu kuze kufike phansi. 24 Futhi abasitholanga isidumbu, kodwa kuphela igazi elenziwe lukhuni njengetshe. 25 Bahamba kabi, babikela abantu ukuthi uZakariya ubulewe, nezizwe zonke zakwa-Israyeli zakuzwa, zamkhalela, zamkhalela izinsuku ezintathu. 26 Abapristi base becebisana ngomuntu ozongena esikhundleni sakhe. 27 USimeyoni labanye abapristi benza inkatho, inkatho yadla uSimeyoni. 28 Ngokuba wayeqinisekisiwe nguMoya oNgcwele, ukuthi akayikufa, aze abone uKristu eza enyameni.