1 UPhetro 2
1 Ngakho lahlani ububi bonke lobuqili bonke lokuzenzisa lomhawu lokuhleba konke,
Wherefore, laying aside all malice, and all guile and hypocrisies, and envyings, and all evil speaking;
2 njengezingane ezisanda ukuzalwa, fisani uchago olungaqungwanga lwelizwi, ukuze likhuliswe ngalo,
as newborn babes, earnestly desire the unadulterated milk of the word, that you may grow by it.
3 uba-ke selinambithile ukuthi iNkosi ilomusa.
Because, indeed, you have tasted that the Lord is good;
4 Elizayo kuyo, ilitshe eliphilayo, elaliwa isibili ngabantu, kodwa kuNkulunkulu likhethiwe, liligugu,
to whom coming, as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, and precious;
5 lani njengamatshe aphilayo lakhiwe indlu yokomoya, ubupristi obungcwele, ukuze linikele imihlatshelo yokomoya eyemukelekayo kuNkulunkulu ngoJesu Kristu.
you, also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual temple, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices, most acceptable to God, through Jesus Christ.
6 Ngakho kukhona lembhalweni ukuthi: Khangela ngiyabeka eSiyoni ilitshe lengonsi, elikhethiweyo eliligugu; lokholwa kuye kasoze ayangeke.
Wherefore, it is contained in the scripture, "Behold I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: whoever trusts in it, shall not be ashamed."
7 Ngakho kini elikholwayo uligugu; kodwa kwabangalaleliyo, ilitshe abakhi abalalayo, leli selibe yinhloko yengonsi,
To you, then, who trust, it is precious; but to unbelieving-- a stone which the builders rejected, which has become the head of the corner--
8 lelitshe lokukhubekisa, ledwala lokuwisa; abakhubeka elizwini, bengalaleli; okuyikho labo ababekumiselwe;
a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense. Those who stumble at the word, are disobedient unbelievers, to which, therefore, they were appointed:
9 kodwa lina liluhlanga olukhethiweyo, ubupristi bobukhosi, isizwe esingcwele, abantu abatholiweyo, ukuze litshumayele jikelele ukulunga kwalowo owalibiza livela emnyameni laya ekukhanyeni kwakhe okumangalisayo;
but you are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people; that you should declare the perfections of him who has called you from darkness into his marvelous light:
10 elalikade lingeyisibo abantu, kodwa khathesi lingabantu bakaNkulunkulu; elalingahawukelwanga, kodwa khathesi selihawukelwe.
who formerly were not a people, but now are a people of God; who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
11 Bathandekayo, ngiyalincenga njengabemzini lezihambi ukuthi lizithinte enkanukweni zenyama, ezilwa lomphefumulo;
Beloved, I beseech you, as sojourners and travelers, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.
12 lilokuhamba okuhle phakathi kwabezizwe, ukuze kuthi, ekulihlebeni njengabenzi bobubi, ezenzweni ezinhle abazibonileyo bangadumisa uNkulunkulu osukwini lokuhanjelwa.
Have your behavior comely, among the Gentiles, that, whereas, they speak against you, as evil doers, having beheld your good works, they may glorify God, in the day of visitation.
13 Ngakho zehliseleni ngaphansi kwaso sonke isimiso sabantu ngenxa yeNkosi; loba kuyinkosi, njengebusayo;
Be subject, therefore, to every human establishment for the Lord's sake; whether to the king, as supreme;
14 loba kubabusi, njengabathunywe yiyo ekujezisweni kwabenzi bobubi, kodwa kube lodumo lwabenzi bokuhle.
or to governor, as those sent by him for the punishment, indeed, of evil doers; but for the praise of them who do good.
15 Ngoba injalo intando kaNkulunkulu, ukuthi ngokwenza okuhle lifake isayeke emlonyeni wokungazi kwabantu abayizithutha;
For so is the will of God, that, by doing good, you put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.
16 njengabakhululekileyo, kodwa lingabi lenkululeko njengesigubuzelo sobubi, kodwa njengezigqili zikaNkulunkulu.
Live as freemen, yet do not use your freedom as a covering of wickedness; but as the servants of God.
17 Hloniphani bonke. Thandani ubuzalwane. Mesabeni uNkulunkulu. Hloniphani inkosi.
Treat all men with respect: love the brotherhood: fear God: honor the king.
18 Zinceku, zehliseleni ngaphansi kwamakhosi ngokwesaba konke, kungeyisikho kulawo alungileyo lamnene kuphela, kodwa lakulawo angaqondanga.
Let household servants be subject to their masters, with all reverence; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
19 Ngoba lokhu kungumusa, uba umuntu ethwala izinhlupheko ngenxa yesazela kuNkulunkulu, ehlupheka ngokungafanelanga.
For this is acceptable, if any one, from conscience of God, sustain sorrows, suffering unjustly.
20 Ngoba kulenzuzo bani, uba lisona beselitshaywa libekezela? Kodwa uba lisenza okuhle njalo lihlupheke libekezela, lokhu kungumusa kuNkulunkulu.
But what praise is due, if, when you commit faults and are buffeted, you bear it patiently? Yet if, when you do well, and suffer, you bear it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
21 Ngoba labizelwa lokho, ngoba uKristu laye wasihluphekela, esitshiyela isibonelo, ukuze lilandele izinyathelo zakhe;
Besides, to this you were called; for even Christ suffered for us, leaving us a pattern, that you should follow his footsteps;
22 ongenzanga isono, lenkohliso kayificwanga emlonyeni wakhe;
who did not sin, neither was guile found in his mouth;
23 owathi ethukwa kazaphindisela ngokuthuka, ehlupheka kazasongela, kodwa wazinikela kulowo owahlulela ngokulunga;
who, when he was reviled, did not revile in return; when he suffered he did not threaten, but committed his cause to him who judges righteously--
24 yena ngokwakhe owathwala izono zethu emzimbeni wakhe esihlahleni, ukuze kuthi, sesifile esonweni, siphile ekulungeni; okungemivimvinya yakhe lisilisiwe.
who himself bore away our sins in his own body, on the tree; that we, being freed from sins, should live to righteousness; by whose stripes you are healed.
25 Ngoba lalinjengezimvu ezilahlekayo; kodwa khathesi selibuyele kuMelusi loMbonisi wemiphefumulo yenu.
For you were as sheep going astray, but are now returned to the Shepherd, and Overseer of your souls.
