1 KuThimothi 6

1 Bonke abangaphansi kwejogwe, izigqili, kabathi amakhosi abo afanele konke ukuhlonitshwa, ukuze ibizo likaNkulunkulu lemfundiso kungahlanjazwa;

All who are under the yoke of slavery should regard their masters as fully worthy of honor, so that God’s name and our teaching will not be discredited.

2 labalamakhosi akholwayo bangawadeleli, ngoba engabazalwane; kodwa kulalokhu kabawasebenzele, ngoba ekholwa njalo ethandeka, abahlanganyeli benzuzo. Fundisa njalo ukhuthaze lezizinto.

Those who have believing masters should not show disrespect because they are brothers, but should serve them all the more, since those receiving their good service are beloved believers. Teach and encourage these principles.

3 Uba kukhona ofundisa okwehlukileyo, njalo engavumelani lamazwi aphilileyo, aweNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu, lemfundiso evumelana lokukhonza uNkulunkulu,

If anyone teaches another doctrine and disagrees with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and with godly teaching,

4 uyazikhukhumeza, engazi lutho, kodwa ubulawa yinkani lemibuzo lokuphikisana ngamazwi, okuvela kukho umona, umbango, ukuthuka, imicabango emibi,

he is conceited and understands nothing. Instead, he has an unhealthy interest in controversies and semantics, out of which come envy, strife, abusive talk, evil suspicions,

5 ukuxabaxabana kwabantu abangqondo yabo yonakele, labalahlekelwe liqiniso, besithi ukukhonza uNkulunkulu kuyindlela yenzuzo. Zehlukanise labanjalo.

and constant friction between men of depraved mind who are devoid of the truth. These men regard godliness as a means of gain.

6 Kodwa ukukhonza uNkulunkulu lokwenela kuyinzuzo enkulu;

Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain.

7 ngoba kasizanga lalutho emhlabeni; kusobala ukuthi kasiyikusuka lalutho;

For we brought nothing into the world, so we cannot carry anything out of it.

8 kodwa uba silokudla lezembatho sizakweneliswa yikho.

But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.

9 Kodwa abafisa ukunotha bawela ekulingweni lemjibileni, lenkanukweni ezinengi zobuphukuphuku ezilimazayo, ezicwilisela abantu encithakalweni lekubhujisweni;

Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.

10 ngoba uthando lwemali luyimpande yakho konke okubi; abanye beyifisa, baduhile ekholweni, bazigwaza ngenhlungu ezinengi.

For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

11 Kodwa wena, O muntu kaNkulunkulu, balekela lezizinto; njalo udingisise ukulunga, ukwesaba uNkulunkulu, ukholo, uthando, ukubekezela, ubumnene.

But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.

12 Lwana ukulwa okuhle kokholo, ubambelele empilweni ephakade, owabizelwa kuyo, wavuma uvumo oluhle phambi kwabafakazi abanengi. (aiōnios g166)

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession before many witnesses. (aiōnios g166)

13 Ngiyakulaya phambi kukaNkulunkulu ophilisa konke, loKristu Jesu owafakaza uvumo oluhle phambi kukaPontiyusi Pilatu,

I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who made the good confession in His testimony before Pontius Pilate:

14 ukuthi ugcine umthetho ungelasici, ungasoleki, kuze kube sekubonakaleni kweNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu,

Keep this commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15 ozakubonakalisa ngezakhe izikhathi obusisiweyo loSomandla oyedwa, iNkosi yamakhosi, loMbusi wababusi,

which the blessed and only Sovereign One—the King of kings and Lord of lords—will bring about in His own time.

16 yena yedwa olokungafi, ohlala ekukhanyeni okungelakusondelelwa, akulamuntu ebantwini owambonayo, kumbe ongambona; okukuye udumo lamandla aphakade. Ameni. (aiōnios g166)

He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen. (aiōnios g166)

17 Laya abanothileyo emhlabeni wakhathesi ukuthi bangazigqaji, bangathembeli ekungaqondini kwenotho, kodwa kuNkulunkulu ophilayo osipha ngokunotha zonke izinto ukuze sithokoze, (aiōn g165)

Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy. (aiōn g165)

18 benze okuhle, banothe emisebenzini emihle, balungele ukupha, ukwabelana ngesihle,

Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share,

19 bazibekele isisekelo esihle sibekelwa okuzayo, ukuze babambe impilo elaphakade.

treasuring up for themselves a firm foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

20 O Timothi, londoloza kuhle okubekwe kuwe, uxwaye ukukhuluma okuyize okungcolileyo lokuphikisana kwalokho okuthiwa lulwazi kungeyisilo,

O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid irreverent, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of so-called “knowledge,”

21 okuthe abanye ngokukuvuma baduha ekholweni. Umusa kawube lawe. Ameni.

which some have professed and thus swerved away from the faith. Grace be with you all.