2 Kwabasekhorinte 12
1 Kumele ngiqhubeke ngizincoma. Lanxa kungelalutho oluzuzwayo, mina ngizaqhubeka ngemibono langezambulo ezivela eNkosini.
To boast, really, is not profitable for me, for I will come to visions and revelations of the LORD.
2 Mina ngazi umuntu okuKhristu okwathi ngeminyaka elitshumi lane eyedlulayo wathathwa wasiwa ezulwini lesithathu. Langabe kwakuphakathi komzimba loba ngaphandle komzimba kangikwazi, kwazi uNkulunkulu.
I have known a man in Christ, fourteen years ago—whether in the body I have not known, whether out of the body I have not known, God has known—such a one being snatched up to the third heaven;
3 Mina ngazi ukuthi umuntu lo loba phakathi komzimba kumbe ngaphandle komzimba, kangikwazi, kodwa uNkulunkulu uyazi,
and I have known such a man—whether in the body, whether out of the body, I have not known, God has known—
4 wahlwithwa wasiwa ePharadise. Wezwa izinto ezingakhulumekiyo, izinto umuntu angavunyelwa ukuzitsho.
that he was snatched up to the paradise, and heard unutterable sayings, that it is not possible for man to speak.
5 Ngazincoma ngomuntu onjalo, kodwa mina angiyikuzincoma, ngaphandle kwangobuthakathaka bami.
Of such a one I will boast, and of myself I will not boast, except in my weaknesses,
6 Lanxa ngingakhetha ukuzincoma, ngiyabe ngingesisithutha ngoba ngiyabe ngikhuluma iqiniso. Kodwa ngiyazibamba ukuze kungabikhona ozacabanga okunengi ngami kulalokho okufanele engikwenzayo loba engikutshoyo.
for if I may wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will say truth; but I refrain, lest in regard to me anyone may think anything above what he sees me, or hears anything of me;
7 Ukuze ngenqabele ukuzikhukhumeza ngenxa yalezizambulo ezinkulu kakhulukazi, ngahlatshwa ngameva emzimbeni wami, ayisithunywa sikaSathane, ukuba angihluphe.
and that by the exceeding greatness of the revelations I might not be exalted too much, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, that he might batter me, that I might not be exalted too much.
8 Ngalabhela eNkosini kathathu ukuba iwasuse kimi.
I called on the LORD three times concerning this thing, that it might depart from me,
9 Kodwa yathi kimi, “Umusa wami ukwanele ngoba amandla ami apheleliswa ebuthakathakeni.” Ngakho ngizazincoma kakhulu-ke ngokuthokoza ngobuthakathaka bami, ukuze amandla kaKhristu ahlale phezu kwami.
and He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness”; most gladly, therefore, will I rather boast in my weaknesses, that the power of the Christ may rest on me:
10 Yikho-nje, ngenxa kaKhristu, ngithokozela ubuthakathaka, izithuko, inhlupho, ukuhlukuluzwa lokukhathazeka. Ngoba nxa ngibuthakathaka, kulapho-ke ngilamandla.
for this reason I am well pleased in weaknesses, in damages, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses—for Christ; for whenever I may be weak, then I am powerful;
11 Sengenze ubuthutha, kodwa yini elingingenise kubo. Kade kufanele nginconywe yini ngoba kangiphansi okokucina “kubapostoli abaphezulu,” lanxa nje ngingasilutho.
I have become a fool—boasting; you compelled me; for I ought to have been commended by you, for I was behind the very chiefest apostles in nothing—even if I am nothing.
12 Izinto eziphawula umpostoli zigoqela izibonakaliso, izimanga kanye lezimangaliso ezenziwa phakathi kwenu ngokubekezela okukhulu.
The signs, indeed, of the apostle were worked among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds,
13 Laliphansi okunjani kulamanye amabandla, ngaphandle kokuthi angizange ngibe ngumthwalo kini. Ngithethelelani kulokhu!
for what is there in which you were inferior to the rest of the assemblies, except that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this injustice!
14 Khathesi sengilungele ukuba ngilethekelele okwesithathu njalo angiyikuba ngumthwalo kini ngoba engikufunayo akusimpahla yenu kodwa lina. Ikanti belo abantwana akumelanga banakekele abazali babo kodwa abazali yibo okumele banakekele abantwababo.
Behold, a third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you, for I do not seek yours, but you, for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children,
15 Ngakho ngizathokozela kakhulu ukuchitha konke engilakho ngenxa yenu lami futhi ngizinikele. Ngingalithanda kakhulu, lina lizangithanda kancane na?
and I will most gladly spend and be entirely spent for your souls, even if, loving you more abundantly, I am loved less.
16 Loba kunjalo, mina angibanga ngumthwalo kini. Kodwa mina njengomuntu ohlakaniphileyo, ngalibamba ngobuqili!
And be it [so], I did not burden you, but being crafty, I took you with guile;
17 Ngaliqilibezela yini ngomunye wabantu engabathuma kini na?
anyone of those whom I have sent to you—did I take advantage of you by him?
18 Ngacela uThithu ukuba eze kini njalo ngathuma lomzalwane wethu kunye laye. UThithu kazange aliqilibezele, waliqilibezela na? Kasisebenzanga ngamoya munye salandela indlela yinye na?
I begged Titus, and sent with [him] the brother; did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same Spirit? Did we not [walk] in the same steps?
19 Isikhathi sonke lesi kade licabanga ukuthi besizivikela kini na? Kade sikhuluma phambi kukaNkulunkulu njengabakuKhristu; njalo konke esikwenzayo, bazalwane abathandekayo, ngokokuliqinisa.
Again, [do] you think that we are making defense to you? We speak before God in Christ; and all things, beloved, [are] for your up-building,
20 Ngoba ngiyesaba ukuthi ekufikeni kwami angiyikulifica liyilokho engifuna libe yikho, mhlawumbe lani lingangifumani ngiyilokho elifuna ngibe yikho. Ngiyesaba ukuthi kungaba khona ukuxabana, umona, ukuthukuthela, imibango, isinyeyo, ukuhleba, ukuzikhukhumeza kanye lokuphithizela.
for I fear lest, having come, I may not find you such as I wish, and I may be found by you such as you do not wish, lest there be strifes, envyings, wraths, revelries, slanders, whisperings, puffings up, insurrections,
21 Ngiyesaba ukuthi ekufikeni kwami futhi uNkulunkulu wami uzangithoba phambi kwenu njalo ngizakuba lusizi ngabanengi abenze izono ngaphambilini njalo bengaphendukanga kulokho kungcola, isono sokufeba kanye lamanyala abangena kuwo.
lest again having come, my God may humble me in regard to you, and I may mourn many of those having sinned before, and having not changed their mind concerning the uncleanness, and whoredom, and licentiousness, that they practiced.
