1 KuThimothi 4

1 UMoya-ke utsho ngokucacileyo ukuthi ngezikhathi zokucina abanye bazahlehlela nyovane ekholweni, balalele omoya abaduhisayo lemfundiso zamadimoni,

Now the Spirit (pneuma) speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, (pneuma) and doctrines of devils;

2 ekuzenziseni kwabaqambimanga, betshiswe kwezabo izazela ngensimbi etshisayo,

Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

3 besalela ukuthathana, bezila ukudla uNkulunkulu akudalileyo ekwemukelweni lokubonga ngabakholwayo labazi iqiniso;

Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God has created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

4 ngoba sonke isidalwa sikaNkulunkulu sihle, kakulahlwa lutho, uba lwemukelwa kanye lokubonga;

For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

5 ngoba luyangcweliswa ngelizwi likaNkulunkulu langomkhuleko.

For it is sanctified by the word (logos) of God and prayer.

6 Uba ubeluleka lezizinto abazalwane uzakuba yisikhonzi esihle sikaJesu Kristu, wondliwe emazwini okholo, lawemfundiso enhle oyilandelayo ngokunanzelela.

If you put the brethren in remembrance of these things, you shall be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words (logos) of faith and of good doctrine, unto which you have attained.

7 Kodwa wale inganekwane ezimbi lezezalukazi. Uzejwayeze ukukhonza uNkulunkulu;

But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself rather unto godliness.

8 ngoba ukwejwayeza umzimba kulokusiza okuncinyane; kodwa ukukhonza uNkulunkulu kusiza ezintweni zonke, kulesithembiso sempilo yalamuhla lezayo.

For bodily exercise profits little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

9 Lithembekile ilizwi njalo lifanele konke ukwemukelwa.

This is a faithful saying (logos) and worthy of all acceptation.

10 Ngoba ngalokho lathi siyasebenza nzima futhi siyathukwa ngoba sithembele kuNkulunkulu ophilayo onguMsindisi wabo bonke abantu, ikakhulu wabakholwayo.

For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

11 Laya ngalezizinto ufundise.

These things command and teach.

12 Kungabi lamuntu odelela ubutsha bakho, kodwa woba yisibonelo kwabakholwayo elizwini, ekuhambeni, ethandweni, emoyeni, ekholweni, ekuhlambulukeni.

Let no man despise your youth; but be you an example of the believers, in word, (logos) in conversation, in love, (agape) in spirit, (pneuma) in faith, in purity.

13 Ngize ngifike, nanzelela ekubaleni, ekulayeni, ekufundiseni.

Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

14 Ungadeleli isiphiwo esikuwe, owasiphiwa ngesiprofetho kanye lokubekwa izandla zobudala.

Neglect not the gift that is in you, which was given you by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

15 Nakana ngalezizinto, ube kulezizinto, ukuze ukuqhubeka kwakho kubonakale phakathi kwabo bonke.

Meditate upon these things; give yourself wholly to them; that your profiting may appear to all.

16 Zinanzelele wena lemfundiso. Hlala kulezizinto; ngoba ngokwenza lokho uzazisindisa wena kanye lalabo abakuzwayo.

Take heed unto yourself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this you shall both save yourself, and them that hear you.