1 UPhetro 2
1 Ngakho-ke, lahlani ububi bonke lenkohliso yonke, lokuzenzisa, lomona, kanye lesinyeyo senhlobo zonke.
Wherefore laying away all malice, and all guile, and dissimulations, and envies, and all detractions,
2 Njengabantwana abasanda kuzalwa, funani uchago lwakomoya oluhlambukileyo, ukuze likhuliswe yilo ekusindisweni kwenu,
As newborn babes, desire the rational milk without guile, that thereby you may grow unto salvation:
3 njengoba selibonile ukuthi iNkosi ilungile.
If so be you have tasted that the Lord is sweet.
4 Lapho lisiza kuye, iLitshe eliphilayo, elalahlwa ngabantu, kodwa elakhethwa nguNkulunkulu njalo liligugu kuye,
Unto whom coming, as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen and made honourable by God:
5 lani futhi, njengamatshe aphilayo lakhiwa laba yindlu yakomoya ukuba libe ngabaphristi abangcwele, linikela imihlatshelo yakomoya eyamukelekayo kuNkulunkulu ngoJesu Khristu.
Be you also as living stones built up, a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
6 Ngoba emibhalweni kuthiwa: “Khangelani, ngibeka ilitshe eZiyoni, ilitshe lekhoneni elikhethiweyo eliligugu, njalo lowo okholwa kuye akayikuyangiswa.”
Wherefore it is said in the scripture: Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious. And he that shall believe in him, shall not be confounded.
7 Kini lina abakholwayo, ilitshe leli liligugu. Kodwa kulabo abangakholwayo, “Ilitshe elalahlwa ngabakhi seliyilona ilitshe lekhoneni,”
To you therefore that believe, he is honour: but to them that believe not, the stone which the builders rejected, the same is made the head of the corner:
8 njalo, “Ilitshe elikhubekisa abantu ledwala elibenza bawe.” Bayakhubeka ngoba badelela ilizwi okuyikho njalo abakumiselweyo.
And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of scandal, to them who stumble at the word, neither do believe, whereunto also they are set.
9 Kodwa lina lingabantu abakhethiweyo, ubuphristi bobukhosi, isizwe esingcwele, abantu abangabakaNkulunkulu, ukuba limemezele indumiso yakhe yena owalibiza lisemnyameni ukuba lize ekukhanyeni kwakhe okumangalisayo.
But you are a chosen generation, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people: that you may declare his virtues, who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
10 Lake langabi ngabantu, kodwa khathesi selingabantu bakaNkulunkulu; lake laswela isihawu; kodwa khathesi selithole isihawu.
Who in time past were not a people: but are now the people of God. Who had not obtained mercy; but now have obtained mercy.
11 Bangane abathandekayo, ngiyalincenga, njengabezizweni lezihambi emhlabeni ukuba lizile izinkanuko zesono ezilwa lemiphefumulo yenu.
Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, to refrain yourselves from carnal desires which war against the soul,
12 Philani impilo elungileyo phakathi kwabangakholwayo ukuze kuthi lanxa besithi lenza okubi, babone izenzo zenu ezilungileyo badumise uNkulunkulu mhla esiza kithi.
Having your conversation good among the Gentiles: that whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by the good works, which they shall behold in you, glorify God in the day of visitation.
13 Zehliseni ngenxa yeNkosi emibusweni yonke ebekwe phakathi kwabantu: loba enkosini, njengamandla amakhulu,
Be ye subject therefore to every human creature for God’s sake: whether it be to the king as excelling;
14 loba kubabusi abathunywe yiyo ukuba bajezise labo abenza okubi kanye lokubonga labo abenza okulungileyo.
Or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of the good:
15 Ngoba kuyintando kaNkulunkulu ukuthi ngokwenza okulungileyo lizaqeda inkulumo yokungazi yabantu abayiziwula.
For so is the will of God, that by doing well you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
16 Philani njengabantu abakhululekileyo, kodwa lingasebenzisi inkululeko yenu njengezaba lokufihla ububi; philani njengezinceku zikaNkulunkulu.
As free, and not as making liberty a cloak for malice, but as the servants of God.
17 Tshengisani inhlonipho eqondileyo kwabanye. Thandani izimuli zabazalwane, lihloniphe umuntu wonke, mesabeni uNkulunkulu, lihloniphe umbusi.
Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
18 Zigqili, zehliseni emakhosini enu ngenhlonipho yonke, hatshi kuphela kulawo alungileyo lalozwelo, kodwa lakulawo alolaka.
Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
19 Ngoba kuyabongeka nxa umuntu eqinisela ebuhlungwini bokuhlupheka okungafanelanga ngoba uyazi ngoNkulunkulu.
For this is thankworthy, if for conscience towards God, a man endure sorrows, suffering wrongfully.
20 Kodwa kuba ludumo njani kini nxa litshayelwa ukwenza okungalunganga njalo likubekezelela? Kodwa nxa lihlukuluzelwa ukwenza okuhle njalo likubekezelela, lokhu kuyancomeka phambi kukaNkulunkulu.
For what glory is it, if committing sin, and being buffeted for it, you endure? But if doing well you suffer patiently; this is thankworthy before God.
21 Labizelwa lokhu, ngoba uKhristu walihluphekela, walitshiyela isibonelo ukuba lilandele ezinyathelweni zakhe.
For unto this are you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example that you should follow his steps.
22 “Yena kenzanga sono, njalo akukho nkohliso eyatholakala emlonyeni wakhe.”
Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.
23 Kwathi bemthethisa, yena kaphindiselanga; lapho ehlupheka, kazange asonge. Kodwa wathembeka kulowo owahlulela ngokulunga.
Who, when he was reviled, did not revile: when he suffered, he threatened not: but delivered himself to him that judged him unjustly.
24 “Yena ngokwakhe wathwala izono zethu” emzimbeni wakhe esiphambanweni ukuze siphephe ezonweni njalo siphilele ukulunga; “lisilisiwe ngamanxeba akhe.”
Who his own self bore our sins in his body upon the tree: that we, being dead to sins, should live to justice: by whose stripes you were healed.
25 Ngoba “lina lalinjengezimvu ezilahlekileyo,” kodwa khathesi selibuyele kuMalusi loMbonisi wemiphefumulo yenu.
For you were as sheep going astray; but you are now converted to the shepherd and bishop of your souls.
