1 UPhetro 2
1 Ngakho-ke, lahlani ububi bonke lenkohliso yonke, lokuzenzisa, lomona, kanye lesinyeyo senhlobo zonke.
Wherefore, laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil-speakings,
2 Njengabantwana abasanda kuzalwa, funani uchago lwakomoya oluhlambukileyo, ukuze likhuliswe yilo ekusindisweni kwenu,
As new-born babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
3 njengoba selibonile ukuthi iNkosi ilungile.
If indeed ye have tasted that the Lord [is] gracious.
4 Lapho lisiza kuye, iLitshe eliphilayo, elalahlwa ngabantu, kodwa elakhethwa nguNkulunkulu njalo liligugu kuye,
To whom coming [as to] a living stone, disallowed indeed by men, but chosen by God, [and] precious,
5 lani futhi, njengamatshe aphilayo lakhiwa laba yindlu yakomoya ukuba libe ngabaphristi abangcwele, linikela imihlatshelo yakomoya eyamukelekayo kuNkulunkulu ngoJesu Khristu.
Ye also, as living stones, are 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 also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner-stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
7 Kini lina abakholwayo, ilitshe leli liligugu. Kodwa kulabo abangakholwayo, “Ilitshe elalahlwa ngabakhi seliyilona ilitshe lekhoneni,”
To you therefore who believe [he is] precious: but to them who are disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, 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 offense, [even to them] who stumble at the word, being disobedient: to which also they were appointed.
9 Kodwa lina lingabantu abakhethiweyo, ubuphristi bobukhosi, isizwe esingcwele, abantu abangabakaNkulunkulu, ukuba limemezele indumiso yakhe yena owalibiza lisemnyameni ukuba lize ekukhanyeni kwakhe okumangalisayo.
But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous 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, abstain from fleshly lusts, 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 manner of life honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by [your] good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
13 Zehliseni ngenxa yeNkosi emibusweni yonke ebekwe phakathi kwabantu: loba enkosini, njengamandla amakhulu,
Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether to the king, as supreme;
14 loba kubabusi abathunywe yiyo ukuba bajezise labo abenza okubi kanye lokubonga labo abenza okulungileyo.
Or to governors, as to them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers, and for the praise of them that do well.
15 Ngoba kuyintando kaNkulunkulu ukuthi ngokwenza okulungileyo lizaqeda inkulumo yokungazi yabantu abayiziwula.
For so is the will of God, that with well-doing ye 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 using [your] liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
17 Tshengisani inhlonipho eqondileyo kwabanye. Thandani izimuli zabazalwane, lihloniphe umuntu wonke, mesabeni uNkulunkulu, lihloniphe umbusi.
Honor all [men]. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor 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] thank-worthy, if a man for conscience towards God endureth grief, 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, when ye are buffeted for your faults, ye bear it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer [for it], ye bear it patiently, this [is] acceptable with God.
21 Labizelwa lokhu, ngoba uKhristu walihluphekela, walitshiyela isibonelo ukuba lilandele ezinyathelweni zakhe.
For even to this were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
22 “Yena kenzanga sono, njalo akukho nkohliso eyatholakala emlonyeni wakhe.”
Who committed 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, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed [himself] to him that judgeth righteously:
24 “Yena ngokwakhe wathwala izono zethu” emzimbeni wakhe esiphambanweni ukuze siphephe ezonweni njalo siphilele ukulunga; “lisilisiwe ngamanxeba akhe.”
Who himself bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live to righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed.
25 Ngoba “lina lalinjengezimvu ezilahlekileyo,” kodwa khathesi selibuyele kuMalusi loMbonisi wemiphefumulo yenu.
For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
