1 Corinthians 4
1 Let a man, so, be reckoning of us, as officers of Christ, and stewards of sacred secrets of God.
Umuntu kanakane ngathi ngokunje, njengezisebenzi zikaKristu labaphathi bezimfihlo zikaNkulunkulu.
2 Here, furthermore, it is sought in stewards, that, faithful, one be found.
Futhi-ke, kuyadingeka ebaphathini, ukuthi umuntu aficwe ethembekile.
3 With me, however, it counteth for the very smallest thing, that, by you, I should be examined, or by a human day. Nay! I am not even examining myself,
Kodwa kimi kuyinto encinyane kakhulu ukuthi ngithonisiswe yini, kumbe ngokwahlulela kwabantu; kodwa lami kangizithonisisi.
4 For, of nothing, to myself, am I conscious: nevertheless, not hereby, am I declared righteous, but, he that doth examine me, is the Lord.
Ngoba kanginanzeleli lutho kimi, kanti kangilungisiswanga ngalokho; kodwa ongahlulelayo yiNkosi.
5 So then, not before the fitting time, be judging anything, —until the Lord shall come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and, then, the praise shall come to each one, from God.
Ngakho lingahluleli lutho isikhathi singakafiki, ize ifike iNkosi, ezaveza futhi ekukhanyeni izinto ezifihlakeleyo emnyameni, njalo iveze obala amacebo ezinhliziyo; njalo khona ngulowo lalowo ezakuba lokubongwa okuvela kuNkulunkulu.
6 But, these things, brethren, have I transferred unto myself and Apollos, for your sakes, that, in us, ye might learn [the lesson] —Not beyond the things that are written…! that ye do not puff yourselves up, individually, for this one against that.
Njalo lezizinto, bazalwane, ngiziqondanise lami loApolosi ngenxa yenu, ukuze lifunde kithi ukuthi lingakhumbuli phezu kokulotshiweyo, ukuze lingakhukhunyezwa omunye ngomunye limelane lomunye.
7 For who maketh thee to differ? and what hast thou which thou didst not receive? But, if thou didst even receive it, why dost thou boast, as though thou hadst not received it?
Ngoba ngubani okwenza ukuthi wehluke? Njalo kuyini olakho ongakwemukelanga? Njalo uba lawe wemukele, uzincomelani ngokungathi kawemukelanga?
8 Already, ye have become full, already, ye are become rich, —apart from us, ye are become kings! And I would indeed ye had become kings, that, we also, with you, might have together become kings!
Selisuthi, selinothile, libusile ngaphandle kwethu; yebo-ke kungathi ngabe liyabusa, ukuze lathi sibuse kanye lani.
9 For I think that, God, hath set forth, us the apostles, to be last of all, as men devoted to death, —in that, a spectacle, have we been made, unto the world, —both unto messengers and unto men.
Ngoba ngithi uNkulunkulu usimisile thina abaphostoli bokucina, sibe njengabamiselwe ukufa; ngoba senziwe umbukiso emhlabeni, lakuzo ingilosi, lebantwini.
10 We, are foolish for Christ’s sake, but, ye, prudent in Christ; we are weak, but, ye, mighty; ye, all-glorious, but, we, dishonoured.
Thina siyizithutha ngenxa kaKristu, kodwa lina lihlakaniphile kuKristu; thina sibuthakathaka, kodwa lina lilamandla; lina liyahlonitshwa, kodwa thina siyadelelwa.
11 Until the present hour, we both hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and are wanderers,
Kuze kube lihola lakhathesi silambile, somile, sihambaze, siyatshaywa ngenqindi, siyimihambuma,
12 And toil, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless, being persecuted, we hold on,
siyatshikatshika sisebenza ngezethu izandla; sithi sithukwa sibusise; sithi sizingelwa sibekezele;
13 Being defamed, we beseech: as the sweepings of the world have we become, the offscouring of all—until even now.
sithi sinyeywa sincenge; senziwa njengamanyala omhlaba, imfucuza yezinto zonke, kuze kube khathesi.
14 Not, to shame you, write I these things; but, as my beloved children, I admonish you.
Kangilibhaleli lezizinto ukuthi ngilithele inhloni, kodwa ngileluleka njengabantwana bami abathandekayo.
15 For, though myriads of tutors ye should have in Christ, yet not many fathers; for, in Christ Jesus, through means of the joyful message, I, begat you.
Ngoba lanxa lilabeluleki abayizinkulungwane ezilitshumi kuKristu, kodwa kalilaboyihlo abanengi; ngoba mina ngalizala kuKristu Jesu ngevangeli.
16 I beseech you, therefore, —become imitators of me.
Ngakho ngiyalincenga: Banini ngabalingisi bami.
17 For this cause, sent I unto you, Timothy, —who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who shall put, you, in mind of my ways which are in Christ [Jesus], even as, everywhere, in every assembly, I teach.
Ngalokho ngithume kini uTimothi, ongumntanami othandekayo lothembekileyo eNkosini, ozalikhumbuza ngenhambo zami ezikuKristu, njengoba ngifundisa endaweni zonke kulo lonke ibandla.
18 But, as though I were not coming unto you, some are puffed up!
Kodwa abanye bazikhukhumezile ngokungathi kangiyikuza kini.
19 Howbeit, I will come quickly unto you, —if, the Lord, please, —and will get to know—not the speech of them who are puffed up, but, the power;
Kanti ngizakuza kini masinyane, uba iNkosi ivuma, njalo ngizakwazi, hatshi ilizwi lalabo abazikhukhumezayo, kodwa amandla.
20 For, not in speech, is the kingdom of God, but, in power.
Ngoba umbuso kaNkulunkulu kawungelizwi kodwa ngamandla.
21 What will ye? that, with a rod, I should come unto you? or, with love, and a spirit of meekness?
Lifunani? Ngize kini ngenduku yini, kumbe ngothando lomoya ochumileyo?
