1 Corinthians 4
1 So let a man consider us, as ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
Ngakho abantu kumele basibone njengezisebenzi zikaKhristu lanjengalabo abagciniswe izinto ezifihlakeleyo zikaNkulunkulu.
2 Here, moreover, it is required among stewards, that every one must be found faithful.
Kuyadingeka ukuthi labo abagcinisiweyo babonakalise ukuthi bathembekile.
3 But to me it is the smallest matter, that I may be judged by you, or by human day: but I do not judge myself.
Kanginaki kakhulu nxa ngahlulelwe yini loba omunye umthethwandaba wabantu; impela, kangizahluleli lami.
4 For I know nothing against myself; but in this I am not justified; and the Lord is the one judging me.
Isazela sami simsulwa, kodwa lokho kakungenzi ngingabi lacala. INkosi yiyo engahlulelayo.
5 So judge nothing before the time, until the Lord may come, who will also bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then praise shall be to each one from God.
Ngakho-ke, lingahluleli lutho isikhathi esimisiweyo singakafiki; manini iNkosi ize ifike. Yona izakubeka ekukhanyeni okufihlwe emnyameni, njalo izaziveza obala injongo zezinhliziyo zabantu. Ngalesosikhathi omunye lomunye uzakwamukela ukubongwa kwakhe kuNkulunkulu.
6 But, brethren, I have transferred these things to myself and Apollos on your account: that you may learn among us not to be wise above what is written; in order that you may not be puffed up one in behalf of one against another.
Bazalwane, izinto lezi ngizisebenzisile kimi laku-Apholo ngenxa yenu ukuze lifunde kithi okutshiwo yisitsho esithi, “Lingenzi okudlula okulotshiweyo.” Lapho-ke, kaliyikuzigqaja ngomunye umuntu komunye.
7 For who judges you? and what have you which you did not receive. But if indeed you received it, why do you boast, as not having received it?
Kambe ngubani olenza lehluke omunye komunye na? Kuyini elilakho elingakwamukelanga na? Njalo nxa lakwamukela, pho kungani lizincoma kungathi alikwamukelanga?
8 Already are ye filled, already have ye become rich; you did reign without us: and I would indeed that you did reign, in order that we also might reign along with you.
Livele selilakho konke elikufunayo! Selinothile! Selibe ngamakhosi, njalo ngaphandle kwethu! Yeka ukufisa kwami ukuthi ngabe laba ngamakhosi ukuze lathi sibe ngamakhosi kanye lani!
9 For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles the last, as exposed to death: that we may become a theater to the world, and to angels, and to men.
Ngoba kini kukhanya angathi thina abapostoli uNkulunkulu usibeke embukisweni ekucineni kodwendwe, njengalabo abagwetshelwe ukufa enkundleni. Senziwe umbukiso emhlabeni wonke, ezingilosini kanye lasebantwini.
10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are glorious, but we are dishonorable.
Thina siyizithutha ngenxa kaKhristu, kodwa lina lihlakaniphe kangaka kuKhristu! Thina sibuthakathaka lina lilamandla! Liyahlonitshwa, thina siyadelelwa.
11 until this hour we both hunger and thirst, and suffer for insufficient clothing, and are buffeted; and we tramp,
Kuze kube yilesisikhathi, siyalamba njalo some, simanikiniki, siyahlukuluzwa ngolunya, kasilamakhaya.
12 and we toil working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure it;
Sisebenza nzima ngezandla zethu. Nxa siqalekiswa, thina siyabusisa; lapho sihlukuluzwa, thina siyaqinisela;
13 being scandalized, we entreat: we have become as the offscourings of the world, the refuse of all things until now.
lapho sinyeywa, siphendula kuhle. Kuze kube yilesisikhathi sesibe ngamanyala omhlaba, izibi zomhlaba.
14 I do not write these things shaming you, but admonishing you as my beloved children.
Kangilobi lokhu ukuba ngiliyangise kodwa ukulixwayisa njengabantwabami abathandekayo.
15 For if you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, but you have not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
Lanxa lilabondli abazinkulungwane ezilitshumi kuKhristu, kalilabo oyihlo abanengi, ngoba kuJesu Khristu ngaba nguyihlo ngevangeli.
16 Therefore I exhort you, be ye imitators of me.
Ngakho ngiyalicela ukuba lenze njengami.
17 For this same thing I sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways which are in Christ Jesus, as I teach everywhere in every church.
Ngenxa yalesisizatho, ngilithumela uThimothi, indodana yami ethandekayo, ethembekileyo eNkosini. Uzalikhumbuza indlela yokuphila kwami kuJesu Khristu, evumelana lalokho engikufundisayo ezindaweni zonke, emabandleni wonke.
18 But some were inflated, as if I was not coming unto you.
Abanye benu sebezikhukhumeza, kungazathi kangizi kini.
19 But I will come to you quickly, if the Lord may will; and I will know not the word of those who have been puffed up, but the power.
Kodwa ngizakuza kini masinyane, nxa iNkosi ithanda, njalo lapho-ke angizukudinga kuphela ukwazi ukuthi lababantu abazikhukhumezayo bakhulumani, kodwa ukuba balamandla anjani.
20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
Ngoba umbuso kaNkulunkulu kawusindaba yokukhuluma kodwa eyamandla.
21 What do you wish? must I come unto you with the rod, or in divine love and the spirit of meekness?
Likhetha kuphi? Ngize kini lomqwayi wokuliqondisa, kumbe ngothando kanye lomoya othobekileyo na?
