2 Kwabasekhorinte 2

1 Ngakho ngenza isinqumo engqondweni yami ukuba ngingenzi olunye uhambo olubuhlungu lokuza kini.

But, so far as I am concerned, I have resolved not to have a painful visit the next time I come to see you.

2 Ngoba nxa ngilibangela usizi, ngubani omunye ozangithokozisa ngaphandle kwenu lina esengilibangele usizi?

For if I of all men give you pain, who then is there to gladden my heart, but the very persons to whom I give pain?

3 Ngaloba ngokunjalo ukuze kuthi ekufikeni kwami ngingadaniswa yilabo obekumele bangithokozise. Ngalethemba lonke, ukuba lonke lizathokoza kanye lami.

And I write this to you in order that when I come I may not receive pain from those who ought to give me joy, confident as I am as to all of you that my joy is the joy of you all.

4 Ngoba ngalilobela ngokukhathazeka okukhulu lobuhlungu benhliziyo njalo langezinyembezi ezinengi, hatshi ukuba ngilizwise ubuhlungu kodwa ukuba ngilazise ngokuzika kothando lwami kini.

For with many tears I write to you, and in deep suffering and depression of spirit, not in order to grieve you, but in the hope of showing you how brimful my heart is with love for you.

5 Nxa kukhona obange usizi, kalubanganga kimi kangako, kodwa ngenye indlela ulubange kini lonke, ukuze kungedlulisi amalawulo.

Now if any one has caused sorrow, it has been caused not so much to me, as in some degree--for I have no wish to exaggerate--to all of you.

6 Isijeziso asinikwe ngabanengi simlingene.

In the case of such a person the punishment which was inflicted by the majority of you is enough.

7 Esikhundleni salokhu, kumele limthethelele njalo limduduze, ukuze angagajelwa lusizi olukhulu.

So that you may now take the opposite course, and forgive him rather and comfort him, for fear he should perhaps be driven to despair by his excess of grief.

8 Ngakho ngiyalincenga ukuba liluqinise futhi uthando lwenu kuye.

I beg you therefore fully to reinstate him in your love.

9 Isizatho sokulilobela kwakuyikuba ngibone ukuthi lingamelana lobunzima njalo lilalele ezintweni zonke.

For in writing to you I have also this object in view--to discover by experience whether you are prepared to be obedient in every respect.

10 Nxa lithethelela omunye umuntu, lami ngiyamthethelela. Njalo lokho esengikuthethelele, nxa kwakukhona okwakumele kuthethelelwe, ngithethelele phambi kukaKhristu ngenxa yenu,

When you forgive a man an offence I also forgive it; for in fact what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has always been for your sakes in the presence of Christ,

11 ukuze uSathane angasiqilibezeli. Ngoba amacebo akhe siyawazi.

for fear Satan should gain an advantage over us. For we are not ignorant of his devices.

12 Ekuyeni kwami eTrowasi ukuyatshumayela ivangeli likaKhristu njalo ngathola ukuthi iNkosi yayingivulele umnyango,

Now when I came into the Troad to spread there the Good News about the Christ, even though in the Lord's providence a door stood open before me,

13 ngangilokhe ngingelakho ukuthula emoyeni wami ngoba ngingamtholanga umzalwane wami uThithu khonale. Ngakho ngavalelisa ngasengisedlulela eMasedoniya.

yet, obtaining no relief for my spirit because I did not find our brother Titus, I bade them farewell and went on into Macedonia.

14 Kodwa-ke, kabongwe uNkulunkulu, yena osikhokhelela kokuphela njengabathunjiweyo ekunqobeni kukaKhristu njalo esenza sithele iphunga elimnandi lokumazi ezindaweni zonke.

But to God be the thanks who in Christ ever heads our triumphal procession, and by our hands waves in every place that sweet incense, the knowledge of Him.

15 Ngoba kuNkulunkulu siliphunga elimnandi likaKhristu phakathi kwalabo abasindiswayo lalabo ababhubhayo.

For we are a fragrance of Christ grateful to God in those whom He is saving and in those who are perishing;

16 Komunye siliphunga elibi lokufa; komunye siliphunga elimnandi lokuphila. Ngubani olingene umsebenzi lo na?

to the last-named an odor of death predictive of death, and to the others an odor of life predictive of life. And for such service as this who is competent?

17 Thina kasihambi sithengisa ilizwi likaNkulunkulu njengabanengi. Kodwa kuKhristu siyakhuluma phambi kukaNkulunkulu ngobuqotho, njengabantu abathunywe nguNkulunkulu.

We are; for, unlike most teachers, we are not fraudulent hucksters of God's Message; but with transparent motives, as commissioned by God, in God's presence and in communion with Christ, so we speak.