1 Corinthians 3
1 My fellow believers, [when I was with you previously], I was not able to teach you as [I would teach people who are controlled by the Holy] Spirit {[whom the Holy] Spirit [controls]}. Instead, [I had to teach you as I would teach] people whom their self-directed nature controls. [I taught very simple concepts to you who had recently believed] in Christ, [as a parent would speak very simple words] to a baby.
Nanye, bhamula bhasu na bhayala bhasu, nitalomele nemwe kuti lwa bhanu bhechinyamwoyo, nawe lwa bhanu bhechinyamubhili. Na lwa bhana bhalela mu Kristo.
2 I did not [teach] you [things that were difficult for you to understand, just like a woman does not] give [her baby] solid food [that the baby cannot chew and digest]. [And just like a woman] ([gives her baby milk/breast-feeds her baby]), [I taught you simple spiritual concepts], because at that time you were not able to understand difficult things. And you are still not able to understand difficult concepts,
Nabhanywesishe amata na jitali nyama, kulwokubha aliga mutemaliliye okulya jinyama. Na woli muchali kwimalilila.
3 because you are still controlled by your self-directed nature. Some of you are jealous and quarreling. (That shows that your self-directed nature is controlling you!/Does not that prove your self-directed nature is controlling you?) [RHQ] It shows that [you are acting like] unbelievers act.
Kulwokubha emwe muchali bhachinyamubhili. Kulwokubha lifubha no kwikuya okubhonekana agati yemwe. Angu, mutakwikala okulubhana no mubhili, na angu, mutakulibhata lwakutyo jibheile abhana bhanu?
4 By some of you saying, “I am [loyal to] Paul,” and others saying, “I am [loyal to] Apollos,” (you show that [you are acting like] unbelievers./does not it show that [you are acting like] unbelievers?) [RHQ]
Kulwokubha oumwi kaikati, “Enimulubha Paulo” Oundi kaikati “Enimulubha Apolo,” mutakwikala lwa bhana bhanu?
5 [So what you really ought to think about] Apollos and me [RHQ] is that we(dl) are merely men who serve God. As a result of our [telling you the message about Christ], you trusted in him. Both of us [(dl)] are merely doing the work that the Lord appointed us to do.
Apolo niga? na Paulo niga? Abhakosi bha unu mwikilisishe, bhuli unu Latabhugenyi ayanile okukola.
6 I was [the first one who preached God’s message to you. I was like] [MET] someone who plants seeds. [Later], Apollos [taught you more of God’s message. That was like] [MET] someone who waters plants [after they start to grow]. But it is God who [enables people to grow spiritually, just like he is the one who] causes [plants] to grow.
Anye nayambile, Apolo natako amanji, nawe Nyamuanga nakusha.
7 So [the person who first preaches God’s message to people is not important, and the person who later teaches people more of God’s message is not important, just like] [MET] it is not the person who plants [the seeds] or the person who waters [the plants] who is important. Instead, it is God, who causes plants to grow [and who causes people to grow spiritually, who is important].
Kulwejo, atalyati unu ayambile nolo unu ateeko amanji atana chona chona. Nawe ni Nyamuanga unu kakusha.
8 The person [who first preaches God’s message to people and the one who later teaches them more of God’s message] [MET] both (are [trying to reach the] same [goal]/have the same [purpose]). And [God] will reward each of them according to how they served him.
Woli unu kayamba na unu katako amanji bhona ni sawa, na bhuli umwi kalamila omuyelo okulubhana ne milimu jae.
9 Remember that Apollos and I are both working together for God. [You do not belong to us]. Just like a field [belongs to its owner, not to those who work in it], you belong to God, [not to us who work for him]. 1 Corinthians 3:9b-15 Also, a house belongs to its owner. [It does not belong to the man who built it. Similarly, God is the one to whom you belong].
Kulwokubha eswe chili bhakosi bha Nyamuanga, emwe ni migunda ja Nyamuanga, inyumba ya Nyamuanga.
10 [Just like] a skilled person puts a foundation in the ground [before he builds a house], as a result of God kindly helping me [MET], [I was the first one who declared the message about Christ to you. And, just like] others build a house on its foundation, there were [others who later taught you more about Christ]. But [just like each person who builds a house] must be careful about what materials he uses to build it [MET], each person [who teaches God’s truth must be careful about what he teaches].
Okusokana ne chigongo cha Nyamuanga chinu nayanibhwe kuti mumbaki mukulu, nateewo omusingi, no oundi nombaka ingulu yagwo. Nawe omunu nabhwe mulengelesi kutyo kombakako ingulu yae.
11 Just like people can put in [only] one foundation [for a house] [MET], [there is only one message that we can give to people. That message is about] Jesus Christ.
Kulwokubha atalio undi unu katula okumbaka omusingi ogundi okukila gunu gumbakilwe, gunu guli Yesu Kristo.
12 Furthermore, people can build a house on its foundation [with materials that are valuable and do not burn easily, such as] gold, silver, and expensive jewels. Or they could build a house with [materials that are not valuable and that burn easily, such as] wood, hay, and straw.
Woli, labha oumwi mwimwe kombaka ingulu yae kwa jijaabhu, Jiela, amabhui go bhugusi bhunene, amati, obhunyasi, nolo amabhabhi,
13 Later it will become clear/evident what kind of material they used to build the house. [Similarly, when people teach others God’s truth], it will later become clear [what kind of things they taught]. [God] will make that clear/evident at the time [when he judges us] [MTY].
omulimu gwae gulisululwa, kwo bhwelu bhwa mumwisi bhuliisulula. Kulwokubha ilisululwa no mulilo. Omulilo gulilegeja obhwekisi bhwo mulimu gwa bhuli munu kutyo akolele.
14 When a fire [starts burning a house], it becomes clear whether the builders used [materials in their] work [that will burn, or materials that will not burn]. Similarly [MET], when God judges us, it will be clear whether we taught others things that were long-lasting and valuable or not. If [the materials that are used to] build a house [are materials that] do not burn, the builder will receive a reward [MET]. [Similarly, if we have taught others things that are valuable and long-lasting, God will give us a reward].
Labha chona chona chinu omunu chinu ombakile chikasigala, omwene alibhona omuyelo.
15 If [the things that we have taught] are not valuable and long-lasting [MET], [we will not get a reward]. We will be saved {[God] will save us} [from hell], but [that is all that we will get. We will be like a man who] escapes from a fire [without saving any of his possessions]. (questioned)
Nawe labha omulimu gwo munu gukalungula kwo mulilo, atalibhona muyelo. Nawe omwene alichungulwa, lwakutyo kasoka mumulilo.
16 You need to remember that God [is present among] you [(pl) as he was present in the] Temple [in Jerusalem]. [RHQ] God’s Spirit lives within you.
Mutakumenya ati emwe muli eyekalu lya Nyamuanga na ati Omwoyo gwa Nyamuanga gwikaye munda yemwe?
17 So, [just like] God will destroy anyone who tries to destroy his Temple, [he will destroy anyone who destroys the unity of a congregation. He will do that] because [he has set] you, [his people, apart for himself, just like he set] his Temple [apart for himself].
Labha omunu akalinyamula liyekalu lya Nyamuanga, Nyamuanga kamunyamula omunu uliya. Kulwokubha liyekalu lya Nyamuanga ni lyelu, na kutyo nemwe.
18 Some among you think that you are wise because unbelievers thought you were wise previously. Stop deceiving yourselves. [If you really want to be wise, by accepting what God considers to be wise] you should [be willing to let unbelievers consider that you are] foolish [IRO]. (aiōn g165)
Omunu atajakwijiga omwene, labha wona wona mwimwe ketogelati ali no bhwengeso ku mwanya gunu, nabhe lwo “mumumu” niwo kabha mwengeso. (aiōn g165)
19 You should do that because things that unbelievers [consider to be] [IRO] wise, God considers to be foolish. [We can learn from] the Scriptures [what God says about] that: Those who think that they are [IRO] wise, he messes up their plans by the mistakes they make!
Kulwokubha obhwengeso bhwa kuchalo chinu ni bhumumu imbele ya Nyamuanga, Kulwokubha jandikilwe, “Kakoma abho bhwengeso kubhulige lige bhwebhwe”
20 And [we can learn from] these words of Scripture, The Lord considers as useless the thoughts of [humans who think that they are] [IRO] wise.
Na lindi “Latabhugenyi kamenya obhwiganilisha bhwa bhengeso ati ni bhutamu tamu.”
21 So, stop boasting about [how good one Christian leader is or how good another Christian leader is]. All [of us(exc) exist as leaders only to help] you!
Kulwejo omunu ataja kwikuisha abhana bhanu! Kulwokubha ebhinu bhyona ni bhyemwe.
22 Specifically, do not boast about me, or about Apollos, or about Peter! Everything in the world exists to [benefit] you [believers]. Whether you live or whether you die, the things that are happening now or the things that will happen in the future, they are all to benefit you.
Labha ni Paulo, nolo Apolo, nolo Kefa, nolo echalo, nolo obhulame, nolo lufu, nolo bhinu bhinu bhilio, nolo bhinu bhilibhao. Byona ni bhyemwe.
23 [You should boast about] Christ, [not about your leaders, because] you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.
nemwe muli bha Kristo na Kristo niwa Nyamuanga.
