Revelation 3
1 “Write [this message] to the leader [MET] of the congregation in Sardis [city]: ‘I am saying these things [to you. I am] the one who can give [to people] all the power of God’s Spirit (OR, in whom is the Spirit of God who has all kinds of power; OR, [who has God’s Spirit, who is symbolized as] seven spirits), and [I am the one] who has the seven stars. I know everything that you have done. You [(pl)] appear to be alive [spiritually], but [you are so weak spiritually it is as though] you are dead [MET].
“Ingilosi yebandla laseSadisi ilobele uthi: La ngamazwi akhe lowo ophethe omoya abayisikhombisa bakaNkulunkulu kanye lezinkanyezi eziyisikhombisa. Ngiyazazi izenzo zakho; ulodumo lokuba ngophilayo, kodwa ufile.
2 [Become aware of your spiritual need as though you were] awaking [from sleep] [MET], and strengthen [yourself spiritually, because you are so useless that you are like someone who is] about to die [MET]. [You must do this] because I know that my God considers that nothing that you do is satisfactory.
Vuka! Qinisa okuseleyo osekuseduze lokufa, ngoba izenzo zakho angizifumananga ziphelele emehlweni kaNkulunkulu.
3 So then, keep remembering [God’s message, what] you accepted when you heard it. Obey it continually, and turn away from your sinful behavior. If [you do not become aware of your spiritual need and turn away from your] [MET] [sinful behavior], I will come to you [when you are not expecting me], as a thief [comes] [SIM]. You will never know at what time I will come to [judge] you.
Ngakho, khumbula okwamukeleyo lokuzwileyo; kulalele, uphenduke. Kodwa nxa ungavuki, ngizakuza njengesela njalo kawusoze wazi ukuthi ngizafika kuwe ngasiphi isikhathi.
4 Nevertheless, [there] in Sardis you have a few members who [have not been doing what is wrong. It is as though they] have not soiled their garments [MET]. As a result, because they are worthy [to live with me], they will live with me [and will be pure in every way] [MET], [like people who are dressed] in [pure] white [clothing].
Kodwa ulabantu abalutshwana eSadisi abangangcolisanga izigqoko zabo. Bazahamba lami begqoke ezimhlophe, ngoba bazifanele.
5 Everyone who conquers [Satan] I will dress in these same white garments [MET] (OR, will be [pure in every way as though they are] dressed in these white garments), and I will never erase their names from the book [that contains the names of the people who have eternal] life. Instead, as my Father and his angels are listening, I will acknowledge that they [MTY] [belong to me].
Lowo onqobayo uzagqoka ezimhlophe njengabo. Ibizo lakhe kangisoze ngilesule encwadini yokuphila, kodwa ibizo lakhe ngizalivuma phambi kukaBaba lezingilosi zakhe.
6 Everyone who wants to understand [MTY] must listen carefully to the message that [God’s] Spirit speaks to the congregations.’”
Lowo olendlebe, akezwe okutshiwo nguMoya emabandleni.”
7 “Write [this message] to the leader [MET] of the congregation in Philadelphia [city]: ‘I am saying these things [to you. I am] God’s Holy One, the True One. [Just like King] David had authority [MTY] [to allow people to enter the ancient city of Jerusalem, so I have the authority to allow people to enter] my kingdom. [I am] the one who opens [doors] so that no one can close them, and who closes doors so that no one can open them.
“Ingilosi yebandla laseFiladelifiya ilobele uthi: La ngamazwi akhe lowo ongcwele loqotho, ophethe isihluthulelo sikaDavida. Akuvulileyo kakho ongakuvala; lakuvalileyo kakho ongakuvula.
8 I know everything you have done. Be aware that I have opened a door before you, a door that no one can close. [I know that although] there are not [many believers] (OR, much [spiritual] strength) [MTY] [in your congregation], you have obeyed what I say, and you have not denied [that you believe in] me [MTY].
Ngiyazazi izenzo zakho. Khangela phambi kwakho sengibeke umnyango okungelamuntu ongawuvala. Ngiyakwazi ukuthi ulamandla amancinyane, kodwa ilizwi lami uligcinile njalo ibizo lami kawuliphikanga.
9 [I am aware that] some of your people meet together with those who [follow/worship] Satan. They claim to be Jews, but I know that they are not true Jews. They are lying. I will cause them to come to you and to bow down [humbly] at your feet and to acknowledge that I love you.
Ngizakwenza labo abangabesinagogu likaSathane, abathi bangamaJuda bona bengayisiwo, kodwa beqamba amanga beze kuwe bawele phansi ngasezinyaweni zakho bavume ukuthi ngikuthandile.
10 Because you have paid attention to the message to endure patiently [when you suffered], I will keep you [safe from those who will try to harm you spiritually] during the period/time that is about to come. At that time [God will cause rebellious people] on the earth to suffer, in order that I can determine [whether they will turn away from their sins or not].
Njengoba ugcine umlayo wami ukuba ubekezele ngesineke, lami ngizakugcina esikhathini sokulingwa esizafika emhlabeni wonke ukuhlola labo abahlala emhlabeni.
11 I am coming soon. [So] continue believe firmly the [message] that you have received, in order that no one may cause you to lose the reward [that God has reserved for] you.
Ngiyeza masinyane. Bambelela kulokho olakho, ukuze kungabikhona othatha umqhele wakho.
12 I will make everyone who conquers [Satan secure]. They will stand in the temple of my God, [they will stand firm like] [MET] pillars, and they will remain there forever. I will mark them with the name of my God, [showing that they belong to him. I will also mark them] with the name of the city of my God, [showing that they will live there. That city is] the New Jerusalem, the city that my God will cause to descend down from heaven. [I will also mark them] with my new name, [showing that they belong to me].
Lowo onqobayo ngizamenza abe yinsika ethempelini likaNkulunkulu. Kasoze asuke kulo futhi. Ngizaloba phezu kwakhe ibizo likaNkulunkulu wami kanye lebizo ledolobho likaNkulunkulu wami, iJerusalema elitsha, elehlela phansi liphuma ezulwini livela kuNkulunkulu wami; njalo ngizaloba phezu kwakhe lebizo lami elitsha.
13 Everyone who wants to understand [MTY] must listen carefully to the message that [God’s] Spirit speaks to the congregations.’”
Lowo olendlebe, akezwe okutshiwo nguMoya emabandleni.”
14 “Write [this message] to the leader [MET] of the congregation in Laodicea [city: ‘I] am saying these things [to you. I am] the one who (guarantees [everything that God’s promises/] that [he] will do [all that he has promised]) [MET]. I am the one who testifies [about God] reliably and accurately. I am the one who God used to create [everything].
“Ingilosi yebandla laseLodikheya ilobele uthi: La ngamazwi ka-Ameni, ufakazi othembekileyo loqotho, umbusi wendalo kaNkulunkulu.
15 I know everything that you have done: You [neither deny that you trust in me nor love/obey me zealously/wholeheartedly. You are like water that is] neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot!
Ngiyazazi izenzo zakho, ukuthi kawuqandi njalo kawutshisi. Ngifisa ukuthi ngabe uyilokhu loba lokhuyana.
16 Because you are neither enthusiastic about me nor concerned about your lack of spiritual growth [MET], I am about to [reject] you [MET], [as if] I were spitting [lukewarm water] out of my mouth.
Ngakho-ke, njengoba ubuthukuthuku, ungatshisi njalo ungaqandi, sekuseduze ukuba ngikukhafule emlonyeni wami.
17 You are saying, “[Because we have all that we need spiritually], we are [like] rich [people who] have acquired a lot of wealth. We lack nothing!” But you do not realize that you are [lacking in so many ways spiritually that you are like] [MET] people who are very wretched and pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.
Wena uthi, ‘Nginothile; sengazuza inotho njalo kangisweli lutho.’ Kodwa kawunanzeleli ukuthi uyahlupheka, ulusizi, ungumyanga, uyisiphofu njalo unqunu.
18 I advise you [to obtain from me all that you need spiritually, as though you were] buying from me gold that has been refined by fire {that fire has refined}, in order that you may be [truly] rich [MET] [spiritually. Let me make you righteous, as though you were] [MET] buying from me white garments in order that you might wear clothes instead of being naked and ashamed. [Let me help you to perceive spiritual things, as though] [MET] you were buying from me eye salve to put in your eyes in order that you might see.
Ngiyakucebisa ukuba uthenge kimi igolide elihlanjululwe emlilweni ukuze unothe; ugqoke izigqoko ezimhlophe ukuze uvale ubunqunu bakho obulihlazo, lamafutha okugcoba amehlo akho ukuze ubone.
19 [Since] I rebuke and correct all those whom I affectionately love, earnestly stop your sinful behavior.
Labo engibathandayo ngiyabakhuza ngibajezise. Ngakho-ke, woba lokutshiseka uphenduke.
20 Be aware that [I invite each one of you to respond to me] as though [MET] I [was] standing [waiting] at [your] door and knocking. I will come to all those who hear my voice and respond to me, and I [will fellowship] with them [as friends do when they] eat together [MET].
Mina ngilapha! Ngimi emnyango ngiqoqoda. Nxa kukhona ozwa ilizwi lami avule umnyango, ngizangena ngidle laye, laye adle lami.
21 I will permit everyone who conquers [Satan] to sit [and rule] with me on my throne, just like I conquered [Satan] and now sit [and rule] beside my Father on his throne.
Lowo onqobayo, ngizamnika ilungelo lokuhlala lami esihlalweni sami sobukhosi, njengoba lami nganqoba ngasengihlala loBaba esihlalweni sakhe sobukhosi.
22 Everyone who wants to understand [MTY] must listen carefully to the message that [God’s] Spirit speaks to the congregations.’”
Lowo olendlebe, akezwe okutshiwo nguMoya emabandleni.”
