KuThithusi 3

1 Khumbuza abantu ukuba bazehlisele ngaphansi kwababusi, labaphathi, lokuba balalele, lokuba balungele ukwenza loba kuyini okuhle,

Remind them to respect and obey the rulers and authorities, to be ready for every kind of good work, to slander no one, to avoid quarrelling,

2 lokunganyeyi muntu, lokuba lokuthula kanye lozwelo, kanye lokubonakalisa ukuzithoba okuqotho ebantwini bonke.

to be reasonable, and under all circumstances to show a gentle spirit with all.

3 Ngesinye isikhathi lathi sake saba yiziwula, singalaleli, sikhohliswa njalo sithunjwe zinhlobo zonke zenkanuko kanye lenjabulo. Saphila phakathi kwenzondo lomhawu, sizondwa njalo sizondana.

There was a time when we ourselves were foolish, disobedient, misled, enslaved to all kinds of desires and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hating ourselves and hating one another.

4 Kodwa kwathi umusa lothando lukaNkulunkulu uMsindisi wethu sekubonakele,

But, when the kindness of God our Saviour and his love for humanity appeared, he saved us,

5 wasisindisa, hatshi ngenxa yezinto ezilungileyo esasizenzile kodwa ngenxa yesihawu sakhe. Wasisindisa ngokugeziswa kokuzalwa kutsha kanye lokuvuselelwa nguMoya oNgcwele

not as the result of any righteous actions that we had done, but due to his mercy. He saved us though the washing of rebirth and renewal by the power of the Holy Spirit,

6 amthela kakhulu phezu kwethu ngoJesu Khristu uMsindisi wethu

which he poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour –

7 ukuze kuthi sesilungiswe ngumusa wakhe, sibe zindlalifa silethemba lokuphila okulaphakade. (aiōnios g166)

so that, having been put right with God through his grace, we become heirs to the hope of eternal life. (aiōnios g166)

8 Leli yilizwi eliqotho. Njalo ngithanda ukuba izinto lezi uzigcizelele ukuze kuthi labo abathembele kuNkulunkulu bananzelele ukuzinikela ekwenzeni okuhle. Izinto lezi zinhle kakhulu njalo zilosizo ebantwini bonke.

This saying is trustworthy! And it is on these subjects that I want you to lay special emphasis, so that those who have learned to trust in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing good. Such subjects are excellent in themselves, and of benefit to all.

9 Kodwa xwaya impikiswano yobuwula lezindaba zosendo kanye lemibango lengxabano mayelana lomthetho ngoba lokhu akulasizo njalo kuyize.

But have nothing to do with foolish controversies, or with genealogies, or with quarrels, or fights about the Law. They are useless and futile.

10 Umuntu oxabanisayo mlaye kanye, uphinde umlaye okwesibili. Emva kwalokho mxwaye.

If someone is causing divisions among you then, after giving them a second warning, excuse yourself from them.

11 Ungaba leqiniso ukuthi umuntu onjalo uxhwalile njalo uyisoni; nguye ozilahlayo yena ngokwakhe.

You can be sure that such a person has forsaken the truth and is in the wrong. They stand self-condemned.

12 Ngingaze ngithumele u-Athemasi kumbe uThikhikhasi kuwe, kumele uzame ngamandla akho wonke ukuza kimi eNikhopholisi ngoba sengizimisele ukuhlala khona ebusika.

As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, join me as quickly as possible at Nicopolis, for I have arranged to spend the winter there.

13 Yenza konke ongakwenza ukuba usize uZenasi igqwetha kanye lo-Apholo ohanjweni lwabo ubone ukuba balakho konke abakuswelayo.

Do your best to help Zenas, the teacher of the Law, and Apollos, on their way, and see that they want for nothing.

14 Abantu bakithi kumele bafunde ukuzinikela ekwenzeni okuhle ukuze bagcwalise izinswelo zansuku zonke njalo bangaphili impilo eyize.

Let all our people learn to devote themselves to doing good, so as to meet the most pressing needs, and that their lives may not be unfruitful.

15 Bonke abalami bayakubingelela. Bingelela labo abasithandayo ekukholweni. Umusa kawube lani lonke.

All who are with me here send you their greeting. Give my greeting to our friends in the faith. God bless you all.