1 KuThimothi 5
1 Ungamkhalimeli omdala, kodwa meluleke njengoyihlo; abatsha njengabafowenu;
Don’t rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father; the younger men as brothers;
2 abesifazana abadala njengonyoko; abesifazana abatsha njengabodadewenu, ekuhlambulukeni konke.
the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, in all purity.
3 Hlonipha abafelokazi abangabafelokazi isibili.
Honour widows who are widows indeed.
4 Kodwa uba umfelokazi othile elabantwana loba abazukulu, kabafunde kuqala ukuhlonipha indlu yakwabo, kabenanise umkhondo kubazali; ngoba lokhu kuhle kuyemukeleka phambi kukaNkulunkulu.
But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety towards their own family and to repay their parents, for this is acceptable in the sight of God.
5 Lowo-ke ongumfelokazi isibili osele yedwa uthembele kuNkulunkulu, uhlala ekunxuseni lemikhulekweni ebusuku lemini.
Now she who is a widow indeed and desolate, has her hope set on God and continues in petitions and prayers night and day.
6 Kanti lowo ozinikela ekuzithokoziseni, ufile ephila.
But she who gives herself to pleasure is dead while she lives.
7 Laya-ke ngalezizinto, ukuze bangasoleki.
Also command these things, that they may be without reproach.
8 Kodwa uba umuntu engondli abakibo, ikakhulu abendlu yakhe, uluphikile ukholo, futhi mubi kulongakholwayo.
But if anyone doesn’t 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,
Let no one be enrolled as a widow under sixty years old, having been 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.
being approved by good works, if she has brought up children, if she has been hospitable to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, and if she has diligently followed every good work.
11 Kodwa abafelokazi abatsha ubale; ngoba nxa sebelenkanuko ezimelana loKristu, bafuna ukwenda;
But refuse younger widows, for when they have grown wanton against Christ, they desire to marry,
12 balokulahlwa, ngoba bachithile ukholo lwabo lokuqala.
having condemnation, because they have rejected their first pledge.
13 Futhi-ke ngesikhathi esifananayo bafunda ukuvilapha bezula lezindlu, futhi bengavilaphi kuphela, kodwa babuye bahlebe bengena kokungeyisikho okwabo, bekhuluma okungafanelanga.
Besides, they also learn to be idle, going about from house to house. Not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.
14 Ngakho ngifisa ukuthi abafelokazi abatsha bende, bazale abantwana, baphathe umuzi wabo, banganiki isitha lathuba lokuthuka.
I desire therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children, rule the household, and give no occasion to the adversary for insulting.
15 Ngoba lakhathesi abanye sebephambuke balandela uSathane.
For already some have turned away after Satan.
16 Uba okholwayo owesilisa kumbe okholwayo owesifazana elabafelokazi, kabasize, njalo ibandla lingathwaliswa nzima, ukuze lisize abangabafelokazi isibili.
If any man or woman who believes has widows, let them relieve them, and don’t let the assembly be burdened, that it might relieve those who are widows indeed.
17 Abadala abaphatha kuhle bafanele ukuhlonitshwa ngokuphindiweyo, ikakhulu labo abasebenza nzima elizwini lekufundiseni;
Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially those who labour in the word and in teaching.
18 ngoba umbhalo uthi: Ungayifaki isayeke inkabi ebhulayo; futhi uthi: Isisebenzi sifanele iholo laso.
For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox when it treads out the grain.” And, “The labourer is worthy of his wages.”
19 Ungalemukeli icala elimelana lomdala, ngaphandle phambi kwabafakazi ababili kumbe abathathu.
Don’t receive an accusation against an elder except at the word of two or three witnesses.
20 Abonayo basole phambi kwabo bonke, ukuze abanye labo babe lokwesaba.
Those who sin, reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear.
21 Ngiyakulayisisa phambi kukaNkulunkulu leNkosi uJesu Kristu lengilosi ezikhethiweyo, ukuze uzigcine lezizinto ngokungaqumi ngaphambili, ungenzi lutho ngokubandlulula.
I command you in the sight of God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the chosen angels, that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by partiality.
22 Ungaphangisi ukubeka izandla phezu komuntu, futhi ungahlanganyeli ezonweni zabanye; uzigcine wena umsulwa.
Lay hands hastily on no one. Don’t be a participant in other people’s sins. Keep yourself pure.
23 Ungabe usanatha amanzi wodwa, kodwa sebenzisa iwayini elilutshwana, ngenxa yesisu sakho lemikhuhlane yakho futhifuthi.
Be no longer a drinker of water only, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.
24 Izono zabanye abantu zisobala, zibaqalela ukuya ekugwetshweni; kanti ezabanye ziyalandela.
Some men’s sins are evident, preceding them to judgement, and some also follow later.
25 Ngokunjalo lemisebenzi emihle isobala; laleyo eyehlukileyo ingeke ifihlakale.
In the same way also there are good works that are obvious, and those that are otherwise can’t be hidden.
