Philippians 1
1 To all Christ’s People at Philippi, with the Presiding Officers and Assistants, from Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus.
UPawuli loTimothi, izinceku zikaJesu Kristu, kubo bonke abangcwele kuKristu Jesu abaseFiliphi, kanye lababonisi labadikoni:
2 May God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ bless you, and give you peace.
Umusa kawube kini lokuthula okuvela kuNkulunkulu uBaba wethu leNkosini uJesu Kristu.
3 Every recollection that I have of you is a cause of thankfulness to God,
Ngiyambonga uNkulunkulu wami ekulikhumbuleni konke,
4 always, in every prayer that I offer for you all — my prayers are full of joy —
ngezikhathi zonke kuwo wonke umkhuleko wami ngani lonke ngincenga ngentokozo,
5 Because of the share that you have had in spreading the Good News, from the first day that you received it until now.
ngokuhlanganyela kwenu evangelini, kusukela osukwini lokuqala kuze kube khathesi;
6 For of this I am confident, that he who began a good work in you will complete it in readiness for the Day of Jesus Christ.
ngilethemba lakhona lokhu, ukuthi owaqalisa umsebenzi omuhle kini uzawuphelelisa kuze kube sosukwini lukaJesu Kristu;
7 And, indeed, I am justified in feeling thus about you all; because you have a warm place in my heart — you who all, both in my imprisonment and in the work of defending and establishing the Good News, shared my privilege with me.
njengoba kulungile kimi ukuthi ngikhumbule lokhu ngani lonke, ngoba ngilani enhliziyweni, ukuthi lekubotshweni kwami, lekuvikeleni lekuqiniseleni ivangeli, lina lonke lingabahlanganyeli bomusa wami.
8 God will bear me witness how I yearn over you all with the tenderness of Christ Jesus.
Ngoba uNkulunkulu ungumfakazi wami, wokuthi ngililangatha kangakanani lonke emibilini kaJesu Kristu.
9 And what I pray for is this — that your love may grow yet stronger and stronger, with increasing knowledge and all discernment,
Njalo ngikhuleka lokhu, ukuthi uthando lwenu luvame-ke lusanda ngokwanda elwazini lekuqedisiseni konke,
10 until you are able to appreciate all moral distinctions. And I pray, too, that you may be kept pure and blameless against the Day of Christ,
ukuze lizivume izinto ezinhle kakhulu, ukuze lihlambuluke lingasoleki kuze kube sosukwini lukaKristu,
11 bearing a rich harvest of that righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
ligcwaliswe ngezithelo zokulunga ezingoJesu Kristu, ebukhosini lodumo lukaNkulunkulu.
12 Brothers, I want you to realise that what has happened to me has actually served to forward the Good News.
Kodwa ngithanda ukuthi lazi, bazalwane, ukuthi izinto ezangehlelayo zenza kakhulu ukuqhutshelwa phambili kwevangeli;
13 It has even become evident, not only to all the Imperial Guard, but to every one else, that it is for Christ’s sake that I am in chains.
zize izibopho zami kuKristu zibonakale esigodlweni sonke lakwabanye bonke,
14 And besides this, most of our Brothers have gained confidence in the Lord through my chains, and now venture with far greater freedom to speak of God’s Message fearlessly.
labazalwane abanengi eNkosini, beqiniswe ngezibopho zami, sebelesibindi esikhulu sokukhuluma ilizwi ngokungesabi.
15 It is true that some do proclaim the Christ out of Jealousy and opposition; but there are others who proclaim him from good-will.
Abanye kambe batshumayela uKristu ngomona langombango, labanye kambe ngenhliziyo enhle;
16 The latter do it from love for me, knowing that I have been appointed to plead the cause of the Good News.
laba batshumayela uKristu ngokuphikisana, bengelaqiniso, besithi baletha ukuhlupheka ekubotshweni kwami;
17 The former spread the news of the Christ in a factious spirit, and not sincerely, thinking to add to the pain of my chains.
kodwa labo ngothando, besazi ukuthi ngimiselwe ukuvikela ivangeli.
18 But what of that? Only that in some way or other, either with assumed or with real earnestness, Christ is being made known; and at that I rejoice.
Kuyini pho? Loba kunjalo kuyo yonke indlela, loba ekuzenziseni, kumbe eqinisweni, uKristu uyatshunyayelwa; kulokhu-ke ngiyathokoza, yebo ngizathokoza futhi.
19 Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that, through your prayers and through a rich supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, ‘all this will make for my Salvation.’
Ngoba ngiyazi ukuthi lokhu kuzaphendukela kimi esindisweni ngomkhuleko wenu, langokwelekelela kukaMoya kaJesu Kristu,
20 And this will fulfil my earnest expectation and hope that I shall have no cause for shame, but that, with unfailing courage, now as hitherto, Christ will be honoured in my body, whether by my life or by my death,
njengokulindela okukhulu lethemba lami, ukuthi kangiyikuyangiswa ngalutho, kodwa ngesibindi sonke, njengesikhathi sonke, lakhathesi uKristu uzakhuliswa emzimbeni wami, loba ngempilo, kumbe ngokufa.
21 for to me life is Christ, and death is gain.
Ngoba kimi ukuphila kunguKristu, lokufa kuyinzuzo.
22 But what if the life here in the body — if this brings me fruit from my labours? Then which to choose I cannot tell! I am sorely perplexed either way!
Kodwa uba ukuphila enyameni kuyisithelo somsebenzi kimi, lengizakukhetha kangikwazi.
23 My own desire is to depart and be with Christ, for this would be far better.
Ngoba ngiminyezelwe ngokubili; ngilesifiso sokusuka lokuba loKristu, okungcono kakhulukazi;
24 But, for your sakes, it may be more needful that I should still remain here in the body.
kodwa ukuhlala enyameni kuyasweleka kakhulu ngenxa yenu.
25 Yes, I am confident that this is so, and therefore I am sure that I shall stay, and stay near you all, to promote your progress and joy in the Faith;
Njalo ngilalelithemba ngiyazi ukuthi ngizakuba khona, ngihlale lani lonke, ekuqhubekeni kwenu lentokozweni yokholo,
26 so that, when you once more have me among you, you, in your union with Christ Jesus, may find in me fresh cause for exultation.
ukuze ukuzincoma kwenu ngami kwengezwe kuKristu Jesu kimi, ngobukhona bami kini futhi.
27 Under all circumstances let your lives be worthy of the Good News of the Christ: so that, whether I come and see you, or whether I hear of your affairs at a distance, I may know that you are standing firm, animated by one spirit, and joining with one heart in a common struggle for the Faith taught by the Good News,
Kuphela hambani ngokufanele ivangeli likaKristu, kuze kuthi, loba ngifika ngilibona, loba ngingekho, ngizwe indaba zenu, zokuthi limi emoyeni munye, ngangqondonye lilwela ukholo lwevangeli ndawonye,
28 without ever shrinking from your opponents. To them this will be a sign of their Destruction and of your Salvation — a sign from God.
njalo lingethuswa ngalutho ngabaphikisayo; okuyisibonakaliso kubo sokubhubha, kodwa kini esosindiso, njalo lokhu kuvela kuNkulunkulu;
29 For, on behalf of Christ, you have had the privilege granted you, not only of trusting in him, but also of suffering on his behalf.
ngoba lanikwa ngesihle esikhundleni sikaKristu, kungeyisikho ukukholwa kuye kuphela, kodwa lokumhluphekela;
30 You will be engaged in the same hard struggle as that which you once saw me waging, and which you hear that I am waging still.
lilokulwa okufananayo njengalokho elakubona kimi, lelikuzwa kimi khathesi.
