< KwabaseKholose 4 >
1 Makhosi, nikani izigqili zenu okulungileyo lokufaneleyo ngoba liyakwazi ukuthi lani lileNkosi ezulwini.
Masters, deal justly and equitably with your slaves, knowing that you too have a Master in Heaven.
2 Zinikeleni ekukhulekeni ngokuqaphela langokubonga.
Be earnest and unwearied in prayer, being on the alert in it and in your giving of thanks.
3 Lisikhulekele lathi futhi ukuba uNkulunkulu avulele ilizwi lethu umnyango ukuze sitshumayele imfihlakalo kaKhristu engayibotshelwayo.
And pray at the same time for us also, that God may open for us a door for preaching, for us to tell the truth concerning Christ for the sake of which I am even a prisoner.
4 Khulekelani ukuba ngiyitshumayele ngokucaca okufanele ngikwenze.
Then I shall proclaim it fully, as it is my duty to do.
5 Hlakaniphani kulokho elikwenzayo kwabangaphandle lisebenzisa amathuba wonke ngokugcweleyo.
Behave wisely in relation to the outside world, buying up your opportunities.
6 Ingxoxo yenu kayihlale igcwele umusa, ifakwe itswayi ukuze likwazi ukuphendula umuntu wonke.
Let your language be always seasoned with the salt of grace, so that you may know how to give every man a fitting answer.
7 UThikhikhasi uzalitshela izindaba zonke ngami. Ungumzalwane othandekayo, umfundisi othembekileyo loyinceku eNkosini.
Tychicus, our much-loved brother, a trusty assistant and fellow servant with us in the Lord's work, will give you every information about me.
8 Ngimthuma kini ngenjongo enxwanele ukuthi lazi ngomumo wethu lokuthi akhuthaze inhliziyo zenu.
And for this very purpose I send him to you that you may know how we are faring; and that he may cheer your hearts.
9 Ubuya lo-Onesimasi, umzalwane wethu othembekileyo lothandekayo njalo ongomunye wenu. Bazalitshela konke okwenzakala lapha.
And with him I send our dear and trusty brother Onesimus, who is one of yourselves. They will inform you of everything here.
10 U-Aristakhasi engibotshwe laye loMakho umzawakhe kaBhanabhasi bayalibingelela. (Selamukela iziqondiso ngaye; angabuya kini limamukele.)
Aristarchus my fellow prisoner sends greeting to you, and so does Barnabas's cousin Mark. You have received instructions as to him; if he comes to you, give him a welcome.
11 UJesu othiwa nguJustusi laye uyalibingelela. Laba yibo kuphela abangamaJuda kulabo engisebenzela umbuso kaNkulunkulu labo njalo sebebonakalise ukuthi bayinduduzo kimi.
Jesus, called Justus, also sends greeting. These three are Hebrew converts. They alone among such have worked loyally with me for the Kingdom of God--they are men who have been a comfort to me.
12 U-Ephafrasi ongomunye wenu lenceku kaKhristu uJesu uyalibingelela. Uhlezi elikhulekela kakhulu ukuba liqine kuyo yonke intando kaNkulunkulu liphelele njalo lithembile.
Epaphras, who is one of yourselves, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, sends greetings to you, always wrestling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand firm--Christians of ripe character and of clear conviction as to everything which is God's will.
13 Ngiyamfakazela ukuthi uyalisebenzela kakhulu lina kanye lalabo abaseLodikheya leHiyerapholisi.
For I can bear witness to the deep interest he takes in you and in the brethren at Laodicea and in those at Hierapolis.
14 Umngane wethu othandekayo uLukha ongudokotela, loDemasi bayalibingelela.
Luke, the dearly-loved physician, salutes you, and so does Demas.
15 Ngibingelelelani abazalwane abaseLodikheya loNimfa kanye lebandla endlini yakhe.
Christian greetings to the brethren at Laodicea, especially to Nymphas, and to the Church that meets at their house.
16 Emva kokuba incwadi le seliyifundelwe, bonani ukuthi iyafundwa lasebandleni laseLodikheya lokuthi lani libale incwadi evela eLodikheya.
And when this Letter has been read among you, let it be read also in the Church of the Laodiceans, and you in turn must read the one I am sending to Laodicea.
17 Tshelani u-Akhiphasi lithi: “Bona ukuba uyawuqeda umsebenzi owamukele eNkosini.”
And tell Archippus to discharge carefully the duties devolving upon him as a servant of the Lord.
18 Mina Phawuli, ngiloba ukuvalelisa lokhu ngesami isandla. Khumbulani ukubotshwa kwami. Umusa kawube lani.
I Paul add with my own hand this final greeting. Be mindful of me in my imprisonment. Grace be with you.