1 KwabaseKhorinte 8
1 Mayelana lokudla okunikelwe ezithombeni: Siyakwazi ukuthi sonke silolwazi. Ulwazi luyakhukhumeza, kodwa uthando luyakha.
Now as to things which have been sacrificed to idols. This is a subject which we already understand--because we all have knowledge of it. Knowledge, however, tends to make people conceited; it is love that builds us up.
2 Umuntu ocabanga ukuthi wazi ulutho kakazi lutho njengoba efanele ukwazi.
If any one imagines that he already possesses any true knowledge, he has as yet attained to no knowledge of the kind to which he ought to have attained;
3 Kodwa umuntu othanda uNkulunkulu, uNkulunkulu uyamazi lowomuntu.
but if any one loves God, that man is known by God.
4 Ngakho-ke, mayelana lokudla okunikelwe ezithombeni: Siyakwazi ukuthi “Isithombe kasisilutho emhlabeni” kanye lokuthi “UNkulunkulu munye kuphela kakho omunye.”
As to eating things which have been sacrificed to idols, we are fully aware that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no God but One.
5 Ngoba lanxa kulabonkulunkulu abatshiwoyo, langabe ezulwini loba emhlabeni (njengoba impela kulabonkulunkulu abanengi lamakhosi amanengi),
For if so-called gods do exist, either in Heaven or on earth--and in fact there are many such gods and many such lords--
6 kodwa kithi kuloNkulunkulu oyedwa kuphela, uYise, okwavela kuye izinto zonke njalo okunguye esimphilelayo; njalo kuleNkosi eyodwa kuphela, uJesu Khristu, izinto zonke zeza ngaye njalo esiphila ngaye.
yet we have but one God, the Father, who is the source of all things and for whose service we exist, and but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom we and all things exist.
7 Kodwa akusimuntu wonke okwaziyo lokhu. Abanye abantu balokhu bejayele izithombe kuze kuthi lapho besidla ukudla okunjalo, bacabange ukuthi kunikelwe esithombeni njalo njengoba isazela sabo sibuthakathaka, siyangcoliswa.
But all believers do not recognize these facts. Some, from force of habit in relation to the idol, even now eat idol sacrifices as such, and their consciences, being but weak, are polluted.
8 Kodwa ukudla akusisondezi eduzane loNkulunkulu; kasilahlekelwa yilutho nxa singadli, njalo kasizuzi lutho nxa sisidla.
It is true that a particular kind of food will not bring us into God's presence; we are neither inferior to others if we abstain from it, nor superior to them if we eat it.
9 Kodwa qaphelani ukuba ukusebenza kwamalungelo enu akubi yisikhubekiso kwababuthakathaka.
But take care lest this liberty of yours should prove a hindrance to the progress of weak believers.
10 Ngoba nxa umuntu olesazela esibuthakathaka ebona lina elilalolulwazi lisidla ethempelini lesithombe, kambe kazukuba lesibindi sokudla okunikelwe ezithombeni na?
For if any one were to see you, who know the real truth of this matter, reclining at table in an idol's temple, would not his conscience (supposing him to be a weak believer) be emboldened to eat the food which has been sacrificed to the idol?
11 Ngakho umzalwane lo, uKhristu amfelayo, uchithwa yikwazi kwenu.
Why, your knowledge becomes the ruin of the weak believer--your brother, for whom Christ died!
12 Nxa lisenza isono kubazalwane benu kanje lilimaza isazela sabo esibuthakathaka, lenza isono kuKhristu.
Moreover when you thus sin against the brethren and wound their weak consciences, you are, in reality, sinning against Christ.
13 Ngakho-ke, nxa engikudlayo kusenza umzalwane wami awele esonweni, angiyikudla inyama futhi, ukuze ngingamwisi. (aiōn g165)
Therefore if what I eat causes my brother to fall, never again to the end of my days will I touch any kind of animal food, for fear I should cause my brother to fall. (aiōn g165)
