Kwabase-Efesu 6
1 Bantwana lalelani abazali benu eNkosini ngoba lokhu kulungile.
The children: obey your parents in the LORD, for this is right;
2 “Hlonipha uyihlo lonyoko,” okungumlayo wakuqala olesithembiso,
honor your father and mother,
3 “ukuze kukulungele lokuba ube lempilo ende emhlabeni.”
which is the first command with a promise, “That it may be well with you, and you may live a long time on the land.”
4 Bobaba, lingabathukuthelisi abantwana benu kodwa bondleni ngokufundisa langokulaya kweNkosi.
And the fathers: do not provoke your children, but nourish them in the instruction and admonition of the LORD.
5 Zisebenzi, lalelani amakhosi enu asemhlabeni ngenhlonipho langokwesaba, langobuqotho benhliziyo, ngendlela elingalalela ngayo uKhristu.
The servants: obey the masters according to the flesh with fear and trembling, in the simplicity of your heart, as to the Christ;
6 Lingawalaleli ukuba liwathokozise nje kuphela nxa elikhangele kodwa njengezisebenzi zikaKhristu, lisenza intando kaNkulunkulu kuvela ezinhliziyweni zenu.
not with eye-service as men-pleasers, but as servants of the Christ, doing the will of God out of [your] soul,
7 Sebenzani ngenhliziyo yonke kube sengathi lisebenzela iNkosi hatshi abantu
serving with goodwill, as to the LORD, and not to men,
8 ngoba liyakwazi ukuthi iNkosi izakupha umuntu wonke umvuzo ngenxa yokuhle akwenzayo loba eyisigqili kumbe ekhululekile.
having known that whatever good thing each one may do, this he will receive from the LORD, whether servant or freeman.
9 Lani makhosi phathani izigqili zenu ngendlela efanayo. Lingazisongeli njengoba likwazi ukuthi lowo oyiNkosi yazo leyenu usezulwini njalo akukho ubandlululo kuye.
And the masters! Do the same things to them, letting threatening alone, having also known that your Master is in the heavens, and favor by appearance is not with Him.
10 Ekucineni, qinani eNkosini lasemandleni ayo amakhulu.
As to the rest, my brothers, be strong in the LORD, and in the power of His might;
11 Fakani isihlangu esipheleleyo sikaNkulunkulu ukuze lenelise ukumelana lamacebo kaSathane.
put on the whole armor of God, so you are able to stand against the schemes of the Devil,
12 Ngoba kasilwi lenyama legazi kodwa silwa lababusi, lemibuso kanye lamandla omhlaba lo ogcwele ubumnyama, silwe njalo lamabutho emimoya emibi emibusweni yasemazulwini. (aiōn g165)
because our wrestling is not with flesh and blood, but with the principalities, with the authorities, with the world-rulers of the darkness of this age, with the spiritual [forces] of evil in the heavenly [places]; (aiōn g165)
13 Ngakho-ke, fakani isihlangu esipheleleyo sikaNkulunkulu ukuze kuthi lapho usuku lobubi lufika libe lamandla okuma kuthi lalapho selenze konke, lime.
because of this take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the day of the evil, and having done all things—to stand.
14 Manini liqine, ibhanti leqiniso libotshelwe ngensimbi ezinkalweni zenu, lesihlangu sasesifubeni sokulunga sisendaweni yaso,
Stand, therefore, having your loins girded around in truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 lezinyawo zenu zigqokiswe zalungiselelwa ngokuvela evangelini lokuthula.
and having the feet shod in the preparation of the good news of peace;
16 Phezu kwakho konke lokhu, thathani ihawu lokukholwa elizacitsha ngalo yonke imitshoko yomubi evuthayo.
in all, having taken up the shield of faith, in which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one,
17 Thathani ingowane yokusindiswa lenkemba kaMoya eyilizwi likaNkulunkulu.
and receive the helmet of the salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
18 Khulekani ngoMoya ezikhathini zonke ngezinhlobo zonke zemikhuleko lezicelo. Lilalokhu emicabangweni, qaphelani liqhubeke kokuphela libakhulekela bonke abantu beNkosi abangcwele.
through all prayer and supplication praying at all times in the Spirit, and in this, watching in all perseverance and supplication for all the holy ones—
19 Lami lingikhulekele ukuba kokuphela lapho ngivula umlomo wami, ngiphiwe amazwi ukuze ngitshumayele ngesibindi imfihlakalo yevangeli,
and in behalf of me, that to me may be given a word in the opening of my mouth, in freedom, to make known the secret of the good news,
20 engingumeli walo ngibotshwe ngamaketane. Khulekani ukuba ngilitshumayele ngesibindi njengokumele ngikwenze.
for which I am an ambassador in a chain, that in it I may speak freely—as it is necessary for me to speak.
21 UThikhikhasi umzalwane othandekayo loyinceku ethembekileyo eNkosini uzalitshela konke ukuze lani lazi ukuba nginjani kanye lengikwenzayo.
And that you may know—you also—the things concerning me—what I do, Tychicus will make all things known to you, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the LORD,
22 Ngimthuma kini ngenjongo yokuthi likwazi ukuthi sinjani lokuthi alikhuthaze.
whom I sent to you for this very thing, that you might know the things concerning us, and that he might comfort your hearts.
23 Ukuthula kakube kubazalwane, lothando lokukholwa okuvela kuNkulunkulu uYise laseNkosini uJesu Khristu.
Peace to the brothers, and love, with faith, from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ!
24 Umusa kawube kubo bonke abayithandayo iNkosi yethu uJesu Khristu ngothando olungapheliyo.
The grace with all those loving our Lord Jesus Christ—undecayingly! Amen.
