The Gospel of James or The Protevangelion is a second-century infancy gospel telling of the miraculous conception of the Virgin Mary, her upbringing and marriage to Joseph, the journey of the couple to Bethlehem, the birth of Jesus, and events immediately following.

1. 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, abe-
kaJehova 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.

2. 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 akwa-
Israyeli 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

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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 u-
Israyeli.
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.