1 KuThimothi 4
1 UMoya-ke utsho ngokucacileyo ukuthi ngezikhathi zokucina abanye bazahlehlela nyovane ekholweni, balalele omoya abaduhisayo lemfundiso zamadimoni,
Now the Spirit says explicitly that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceiving spirits and to things taught by demons
2 ekuzenziseni kwabaqambimanga, betshiswe kwezabo izazela ngensimbi etshisayo,
—through hypocritical liars whose own consciences have been cauterized,
3 besalela ukuthathana, bezila ukudla uNkulunkulu akudalileyo ekwemukelweni lokubonga ngabakholwayo labazi iqiniso;
who forbid to marry and to eat foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and really know the truth.
4 ngoba sonke isidalwa sikaNkulunkulu sihle, kakulahlwa lutho, uba lwemukelwa kanye lokubonga;
For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,
5 ngoba luyangcweliswa ngelizwi likaNkulunkulu langomkhuleko.
because it is consecrated through the Word of God and prayer.
6 Uba ubeluleka lezizinto abazalwane uzakuba yisikhonzi esihle sikaJesu Kristu, wondliwe emazwini okholo, lawemfundiso enhle oyilandelayo ngokunanzelela.
If you instruct the brothers in these things you will be a good servant of Jesus Christ, brought up in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have faithfully followed.
7 Kodwa wale inganekwane ezimbi lezezalukazi. Uzejwayeze ukukhonza uNkulunkulu;
But reject godless myths and old-wives' tales; rather, exercise yourself toward godliness.
8 ngoba ukwejwayeza umzimba kulokusiza okuncinyane; kodwa ukukhonza uNkulunkulu kusiza ezintweni zonke, kulesithembiso sempilo yalamuhla lezayo.
Now physical exercise has some value, but godliness has value in all things, holding promises for both this present life and the one to come.
9 Lithembekile ilizwi njalo lifanele konke ukwemukelwa.
Here is a trustworthy word, worthy of total acceptance
10 Ngoba ngalokho lathi siyasebenza nzima futhi siyathukwa ngoba sithembele kuNkulunkulu ophilayo onguMsindisi wabo bonke abantu, ikakhulu wabakholwayo.
(which is also why we labor and suffer reproach): We have set our hope on the living God, who is ‘Savior of all men’, especially of those who believe.
11 Laya ngalezizinto ufundise.
Command and teach these things.
12 Kungabi lamuntu odelela ubutsha bakho, kodwa woba yisibonelo kwabakholwayo elizwini, ekuhambeni, ethandweni, emoyeni, ekholweni, ekuhlambulukeni.
Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
13 Ngize ngifike, nanzelela ekubaleni, ekulayeni, ekufundiseni.
Until I come give attention to public reading [of Scripture], to exhortation, to teaching.
14 Ungadeleli isiphiwo esikuwe, owasiphiwa ngesiprofetho kanye lokubekwa izandla zobudala.
Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was ‘given’ to you through prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the body of elders.
15 Nakana ngalezizinto, ube kulezizinto, ukuze ukuqhubeka kwakho kubonakale phakathi kwabo bonke.
Cultivate these things; give yourself wholly to them, so that your progress may be evident to all.
16 Zinanzelele wena lemfundiso. Hlala kulezizinto; ngoba ngokwenza lokho uzazisindisa wena kanye lalabo abakuzwayo.
Take pains with yourself and the doctrine; persevere in those things, because by doing so you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
