KwabaseFiliphi 2
1 Nxa kukhona okukhuthazayo ngokuhlangana loKhristu, nxa kulenduduzo evela ethandweni lwakhe, nxa kulobudlelwano loMoya, nxa kulozwelo lesihawu,
Since Christ encourages us, since he loves us and comforts us, since God’s Spirit fellowships with [us, and] since [Christ] is very merciful [DOU] to us,
2 phelelisani intokozo yami ngokuba ngqondo nye, lilothando lunye, limunye emoyeni njalo linjongo yinye.
make me completely happy [by doing the following things]: Agree with one another, love one another, be closely united with one another, and [live] harmoniously with one another [DOU].
3 Lingenzi lutho ngokuzikhukhumeza loba ukuziphakamisa okuyize. Kodwa ngokuthobeka khangelani abanye njengabangcono kulani
Never try to selfishly make yourselves more important than [others] nor boast [about what you are doing]. Instead, be humble, [and in particular], honor one another more than you honor yourselves.
4 lingazikhathaleli izifiso zenu lodwa kodwa likhathalele lezifiso zabanye.
Each one of you should not [only] be concerned about your own affairs. Instead, each of you should also be concerned (that you help/about the needs of) one another.
5 Ekuphilisaneni kwenu, isimo sengqondo yenu kumele sifanane lesikaKhristu uJesu,
You should think/act just like Christ Jesus [thought/acted].
6 Yena okwathi ngemvelo enguNkulunkulu, kacabanganga ukulingana loNkulunkulu kuyilutho olungafinyelelwa,
[Although] he has the same nature as God has, he did not insist on keeping all the privileges of being equal with God.
7 kodwa wazithoba, wathatha isimo senceku, yena elesimo somuntu.
Instead, he [willingly] gave up divine privileges. [Specifically], he became a human being and took the attitude of a servant. When he had become a human being,
8 Wathi ebunjwe wabonakala njengomuntu, wazehlisa walalela kwaze kwaba sekufeni, ukufa kwasesiphambanweni!
he humbled himself [even more. Specifically], he obeyed [God] even to the extent of [being willing to] die. [He was even willing to] be nailed to a cross, [to die as though he were a criminal].
9 Ngakho-ke, uNkulunkulu wamphakamisela endaweni ephezulu kakhulu, wamnika ibizo elingaphezu kwamabizo wonke,
As a result, God promoted him [to a] rank [that] is above every [other] rank.
10 ukuba amadolo wonke aguqe ebizweni likaJesu, ezulwini lasemhlabeni kanye langaphansi komhlaba,
[God did that] in order that every being [SYN] in heaven and on earth and under the earth should worship [MTY] Jesus,
11 lezindimi zonke zivume ukuthi uJesu Khristu uyiNkosi, kube ludumo lukaNkulunkulu uYise.
and in order that every person [SYN] should declare that Jesus Christ is Lord. [As a result of everyone doing that, they will] honor God, [his] Father.
12 Ngakho-ke, bangane bami abathandekayo, njengoba lihlezi lilalela kungayisikho ukuthi ngikhona kuphela kodwa ikakhulu nxa ngingekho, qhubekani lisebenzela ukusindiswa kwenu ngokwesaba langokuthuthumela
My dear friends, as you consider this, since you have always obeyed [God], each of you should very reverentially [DOU] try to do those things [that are proper for people whom God has] saved. [You should do those things] not only when I am with you. [Instead, you should try] even more [to do them] now when I am not with you.
13 ngoba nguNkulunkulu osebenzayo phakathi kwenu ukuba lifune njalo lenze okumthokozisayo.
[You are able to do these things], since God [himself] causes you to desire to do what he wants you to do, and he also enables you to do what he wants you to do.
14 Yenzani konke kungela kusola kumbe ukuphikisana
Do everything [God or your leaders ask you to do]. Never complain about what they want you to do, or argue with them.
15 ukuze libe ngabantwana bakaNkulunkulu abangelasici labahlambulukileyo, abamsulwa phakathi kwesizukulwane esonakeleyo lesixhwalileyo, lina elicwebezela phakathi kwaso liletha ukukhanya emhlabeni
Behave like that in order that you may be completely faultless [DOU] and may be perfect children of God [DOU] while you live in the midst of people who are wicked and do very wicked things [DOU]. As you live among them, show them clearly [MET] [the way they ought to behave], just like the sun, moon, and stars [show the road clearly to us] [SIM].
16 ligagadlela ilizwi lokuphila. Ngalokho ngizazincoma ngosuku lukaKhristu ukuthi kangigijimelanga kumbe ngasebenzela ize.
Tell them how [to] have eternal life. I [ask that you do that] in order that on the day Christ [returns] I may be able to rejoice [MTY], that I did not labor [DOU] so hard among you in vain.
17 Kodwa lanxa ngithululwa njengomnikelo wokunathwa phezu komhlatshelo lenkonzo evela ekukholweni kwenu, ngiyathaba ngithokoza lani lonke.
Perhaps [the Roman authorities] will execute me, [and my blood will pour out] [MET] [as the] wine pours out when the priest offers it to God [MET]. [For your part], you believe [in Christ firmly]. As a result, you have given yourselves completely to God in order that you might do what he wills [MET], [just like a priest] offers a sacrifice [completely to God] [MET]. [Because I dedicate myself wholly to God] together with you, even if [they are about to execute me], I will greatly rejoice [DOU], [because I am giving myself wholly to God], and because you all [are giving yourselves wholly to God].
18 Ngakho-ke, lani njalo thabani lithokoze lami.
Similarly, you too should rejoice [because you are giving yourselves wholly to God], and you should rejoice because I [am giving myself wholly to God].
19 Ngiyethemba eNkosini uJesu ukuba ngizathuma uThimothi kini masinyane ukuba lami ngithokoze lapho ngisamukela izindaba ngani.
My relationship with the Lord Jesus [leads me] to confidently expect that [he will enable me] to send Timothy to you soon, in order that [his telling you the news about me will encourage you. But] I also expect that [his returning to me and] telling me the news about you will encourage me.
20 Kangilaye omunye onjengaye, othakazelela inhlalakahle yenu ngobuqotho.
[Keep in mind that] I have no one [else] like him who genuinely cares for you.
21 Ngoba abantu bonke bazifunela okwabo, hatshi okukaJesu Khristu.
All the others [whom I have considered that I might send to you] are concerned [only] about their own matters. They are not concerned about what Jesus Christ [considers important].
22 Kodwa lina liyakwazi ukuthi uThimothi usezifakazele ngoba njengendodana eloyise usesebenze lami emsebenzini wevangeli.
But you know that Timothy has proved that he [serves the Lord and others faithfully. You know] that he has served [the Lord closely together] with me in [proclaiming to people] the message about Christ as though he were [SIM] my son and I were his [own] father.
23 Ngakho-ke, ngithemba ngizamthuma masinyane lapho sengibonile ukuba izinto zingihambela njani.
So then he is the one I confidently expect to send [to you] as soon as I know what will happen to me.
24 Njalo ngiyathemba eNkosini ukuthi lami uqobo ngizakuza masinyane.
And I am confident that I will soon be released {[the authorities will soon release me]} [so that] the Lord will enable me also to come/go [to you] soon.
25 Kodwa ngibona kufanele ukuthi ngimthume kini futhi u-Ephafrodithusi, umzalwane wami, obambisane lami umsebenzi lolibutho kanye lami, oyisithunywa senu futhi, elamthumayo ukuthi angisize ngendingeko zami.
I have concluded that it is [really] necessary that I send Epaphroditus [back] to you. He is a fellow believer and my fellow worker, and he [endures difficulties together with me] [MET], [just like] soldiers [endure difficulties together]. You sent him [to me] in order that he might help me when I was needy [EUP].
26 Ngoba uyalilangatha lonke njalo ukhathazekile njengoba lezwa ukuthi wayegula.
[But I have concluded that I must send him back to you] because he has been longing to see you all. Furthermore, he has been [very] distressed because [he knows that] you heard that he had become sick.
27 Ngempela wayegula njalo waphose wafa. Kodwa uNkulunkulu waba lesihawu kuye, kungayisikho kuye kuphela kodwa lakimi ukuba angiphephise osizini phezu kosizi.
Indeed, he was so sick that he almost died. However, [he did not die]. Instead, God pitied him and he also pitied me, [and as a result he healed him. God pitied me] because he did not want me to be even more sorrowful than I already was.
28 Ngakho-ke, ngitshisekela kakhulu ukumthuma ukuze kuthi lapho limbona futhi lithokoze lami ngikhathazeke okunganeno.
So, I am sending him [back to you] as quickly as possible, in order that you may rejoice [when you see him again] and in order that I may be less sorrowful [than I was].
29 Mamukeleni eNkosini ngokuthokoza okukhulu njalo libahloniphe abantu abanjengaye
Welcome him very joyfully [just like believers] in [our] Lord [Jesus should welcome one another. While he was] working for Christ, he was helping me in place of you [because you were far away]. He knew that he might die as a result of helping me, and [truly] he nearly did die. So honor [him, and honor all] those who are like him.
30 ngoba waphosa wafela umsebenzi kaKhristu, wafaka impilo yakhe engozini ukuze angiphe usizo elingangiphanga lona.
