2 Corinthians 8
1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
Sesilazisa, bazalwane, umusa kaNkulunkulu ophiwe emabandleni eMakedoniya;
2 That in a great trial of affliction, the abundance of their joy, and their deep poverty, abounded to the riches of their liberality.
ukuthi ekulingweni okukhulu kwenhlupho, ukwengezelelwa kwentokozo yabo lobuyanga babo obujulileyo bengezelela enothweni yokuphana kwabo.
3 For to [their] power, I bear testimony, and even beyond [their] power, [they were] willing of themselves;
Ngoba babekhululekile njengokwamandla abo, ngiyafakaza, langaphezu kwamandla abo,
4 Praying us with much entreaty, that we would receive the gift, and [take upon us] the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
ngesicelo esikhulu basincenga, ukuthi semukele isipho, lokuhlanganyela koncedo olungolwabangcwele;
5 And [this they did], not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us by the will of God:
njalo kakubanga njengoba sathemba, kodwa bazinikela kuqala eNkosini, lakithi ngentando kaNkulunkulu.
6 So that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.
Kwaze kwathi sakhuthaza uTitosi ukuthi, njengalokhu wayeseqalile phambili, ngokunjalo awuqede futhi kini lumusa.
7 Therefore, as ye abound in every [thing], [in] faith and utterance, and knowledge, and [in] all diligence, and [in] your love to us, [see] that ye abound in this grace also.
Kodwa njengalokhu lisengezelela kukho konke, ekholweni, lelizwini, lelwazini, lekukhuthaleni konke, lethandweni lwenu kithi, ukuze lakulumusa lengezelele.
8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
Kangikhulumi njengokulawula, kodwa ngokutshiseka kwabanye, njalo ngihlola ubuqotho bothando lwenu.
9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
Ngoba liyawazi umusa weNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu, ukuthi lanxa wayenothile, waba ngumyanga ngenxa yenu, ukuze ngobuyanga bakhe lina linothe.
10 And in this I give [my] advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.
Lakulokhu ngipha umbono; ngoba lokhu kuluncedo kini, abaqala phambili nyakenye, kungeyisikwenza kuphela, kodwa lokufisa;
11 Now therefore finish the doing [of it]; that as [there was] a readiness to will, so [there may be] a performance also out of that which ye have.
kodwa khathesi-ke qedani futhi ukwenza, ukuze, njengalokhu kukhona ukukhuthalela ukufisa, ngokunjalo kukhona lokuqedisa ngalokho elilakho.
12 For if there is first a willing mind, [it is] accepted according to what a man hath, [and] not according to what he hath not.
Ngoba uba kukhona ukufisa, umuntu uyemukeleka ngalokho alakho, kungeyisikho ngalokho angelakho.
13 For [I mean] not that other men should be eased, and you burdened:
Ngoba kungeyisikuthi abanye babe lenkululeko, lina-ke libe lohlupho; kodwa ngokulingana, okwalesisikhathi isengezo senu sibe ngesenswelo yabo,
14 But by an equality, [that] now at this time your abundance [may be a supply] for their want, that their abundance also may be [a supply] for your want: that there may be equality:
ukuze kuthi lesengezo sabo sibe ngesenswelo yenu, ukuze kube khona ukulingana,
15 As it is written, He that [had gathered] much had nothing over; and he that [had gathered] little had no want.
njengokulotshiweyo ukuthi: Owabutha okunengi, kabanga lokusalayo; lowabutha okuncinyane kasilelanga.
16 But thanks [be] to God, who put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.
Kodwa kabongwe uNkulunkulu ofaka inkuthalo efananayo ngani enhliziyweni kaTitosi,
17 For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went to you.
ukuthi isibili wemukela isikhuthazo, kodwa etshiseka kakhulu, wasuka waya kini ngesifiso sakhe.
18 And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise [is] in the gospel throughout all the churches;
Njalo sithuma kanye laye umzalwane, odumo lwakhe evangelini ludabule emabandleni wonke;
19 And not [that] only, but who was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and [declaration of] your ready mind:
kungeyisilokhu kuphela, kodwa ukhethiwe futhi ngamabandla ukuthi asiphelekezele lalo umusa owasetshenzwa yithi kube ludumo lwale iNkosi, lekubonakalisweni kokukhuthala kwenu;
20 Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:
sivikela lokhu, hlezi umuntu asisole kulesisengezo esisetshenzwe yithi;
21 Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
sinakekela okuhle kungekho phambi kweNkosi kuphela kodwa laphambi kwabantu.
22 And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have often proved [to be] diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which [I have] in you.
Sasesithuma kanye labo umzalwane wethu, esimfice ezintweni ezinengi kanengi ekhuthele, kodwa khathesi ukhuthele kakhulukazi ngenxa yokulithemba okukhulu.
23 If [any inquire] concerning Titus, [he is] my partner and fellow-helper concerning you: or our brethren [be inquired of], [they are] the messengers of the churches, [and] the glory of Christ.
Kumbe ngoTitosi, ungumhlanganyeli lesisebenzi kanye lami kini; loba abazalwane bethu, bayizithunywa zamabandla, bayinkazimulo kaKristu.
24 Wherefore show ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.
Ngakho bonakalisani kubo ubufakazi bothando lwenu labokuzincomela kwethu lina, laphambi kwamabandla.
