1 KuThimothi 5
1 Ungamkhalimeli omdala, kodwa meluleke njengoyihlo; abatsha njengabafowenu;
Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as to a father. Treat younger men as brothers,
2 abesifazana abadala njengonyoko; abesifazana abatsha njengabodadewenu, ekuhlambulukeni konke.
older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
3 Hlonipha abafelokazi abangabafelokazi isibili.
Honor the widows who are truly widows.
4 Kodwa uba umfelokazi othile elabantwana loba abazukulu, kabafunde kuqala ukuhlonipha indlu yakwabo, kabenanise umkhondo kubazali; ngoba lokhu kuhle kuyemukeleka phambi kukaNkulunkulu.
But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to show godliness to their own family and repay their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.
5 Lowo-ke ongumfelokazi isibili osele yedwa uthembele kuNkulunkulu, uhlala ekunxuseni lemikhulekweni ebusuku lemini.
The widow who is truly in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers.
6 Kanti lowo ozinikela ekuzithokoziseni, ufile ephila.
But she who lives for pleasure is dead even while she is still alive.
7 Laya-ke ngalezizinto, ukuze bangasoleki.
Give these instructions to the believers, so that they will be above reproach.
8 Kodwa uba umuntu engondli abakibo, ikakhulu abendlu yakhe, uluphikile ukholo, futhi mubi kulongakholwayo.
If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
9 Kangabalwa umfelokazi ongaphansi kweminyaka engamatshumi ayisithupha, umfazi owake wenda endodeni kanye,
A widow should be enrolled if she is at least sixty years old, the wife of one man,
10 onconywa ngemisebenzi emihle, uba ondle abantwana, uba engenise izihambi, uba egezise inyawo zabangcwele, uba esize abahluphekayo, uba ekhuthalele wonke umsebenzi omuhle.
and well known for good deeds such as bringing up children, entertaining strangers, washing the feet of the saints, imparting relief to the afflicted, and devoting herself to every good work.
11 Kodwa abafelokazi abatsha ubale; ngoba nxa sebelenkanuko ezimelana loKristu, bafuna ukwenda;
But refuse to enroll younger widows. For when their passions draw them away from Christ, they will want to marry,
12 balokulahlwa, ngoba bachithile ukholo lwabo lokuqala.
and thus will incur judgment because they are setting aside their first faith.
13 Futhi-ke ngesikhathi esifananayo bafunda ukuvilapha bezula lezindlu, futhi bengavilaphi kuphela, kodwa babuye bahlebe bengena kokungeyisikho okwabo, bekhuluma okungafanelanga.
At the same time they will also learn to be idle, going from house to house and being not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, discussing things they should not mention.
14 Ngakho ngifisa ukuthi abafelokazi abatsha bende, bazale abantwana, baphathe umuzi wabo, banganiki isitha lathuba lokuthuka.
So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their households, denying the adversary occasion for slander.
15 Ngoba lakhathesi abanye sebephambuke balandela uSathane.
For some have already turned aside to follow Satan.
16 Uba okholwayo owesilisa kumbe okholwayo owesifazana elabafelokazi, kabasize, njalo ibandla lingathwaliswa nzima, ukuze lisize abangabafelokazi isibili.
If any believing woman has dependent widows, she must assist them and not allow the church to be burdened, so that it can help the widows who are truly in need.
17 Abadala abaphatha kuhle bafanele ukuhlonitshwa ngokuphindiweyo, ikakhulu labo abasebenza nzima elizwini lekufundiseni;
Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
18 ngoba umbhalo uthi: Ungayifaki isayeke inkabi ebhulayo; futhi uthi: Isisebenzi sifanele iholo laso.
For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and, “The worker is worthy of his wages.”
19 Ungalemukeli icala elimelana lomdala, ngaphandle phambi kwabafakazi ababili kumbe abathathu.
Do not entertain an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
20 Abonayo basole phambi kwabo bonke, ukuze abanye labo babe lokwesaba.
But those who persist in sin should be rebuked in front of everyone, so that the others will stand in fear of sin.
21 Ngiyakulayisisa phambi kukaNkulunkulu leNkosi uJesu Kristu lengilosi ezikhethiweyo, ukuze uzigcine lezizinto ngokungaqumi ngaphambili, ungenzi lutho ngokubandlulula.
I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to maintain these principles without bias, and to do nothing out of partiality.
22 Ungaphangisi ukubeka izandla phezu komuntu, futhi ungahlanganyeli ezonweni zabanye; uzigcine wena umsulwa.
Do not be too quick in the laying on of hands and thereby share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
23 Ungabe usanatha amanzi wodwa, kodwa sebenzisa iwayini elilutshwana, ngenxa yesisu sakho lemikhuhlane yakho futhifuthi.
Stop drinking only water and use a little wine instead, because of your stomach and your frequent ailments.
24 Izono zabanye abantu zisobala, zibaqalela ukuya ekugwetshweni; kanti ezabanye ziyalandela.
The sins of some men are obvious, going ahead of them to judgment; but the sins of others do not surface until later.
25 Ngokunjalo lemisebenzi emihle isobala; laleyo eyehlukileyo ingeke ifihlakale.
In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even the ones that are inconspicuous cannot remain hidden.
