1 KuThimothi 6

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

Let all who are under the yoke of slavery hold their own masters to be deserving of honour, so that the name of God and the Christian teaching may not be spoken against.

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

And those who have believing masters should not be wanting in respect towards them because they are their brethren, but should serve them all the more willingly because those who profit by the faithful service rendered are believers and are friends.

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

So teach and exhort. If any one is a teacher of any other kind of doctrine, and refuses assent to wholesome instructions--those of our Lord Jesus Christ--and the teaching that harmonizes with true godliness,

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

he is puffed up with pride and has no true knowledge, but is crazy over discussions and controversies about words which give rise to envy, quarrelling, revilings, ill-natured suspicions,

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

and persistent wranglings on the part of people whose intellects are disordered and they themselves blinded to all knowledge of the truth; who imagine that godliness means gain.

6 Kodwa ukukhonza uNkulunkulu lokwenela kuyinzuzo enkulu;

And godliness is gain, when associated with contentment;

7 ngoba kasizanga lalutho emhlabeni; kusobala ukuthi kasiyikusuka lalutho;

for we brought nothing into the world, nor can we carry anything out of it;

8 kodwa uba silokudla lezembatho sizakweneliswa yikho.

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

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

But people who are determined to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many unwise and pernicious ways which sink mankind in destruction and ruin.

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

For from love of money all sorts of evils arise; and some have so hankered after money as to be led astray from the faith and be pierced through with countless sorrows.

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

But you, O man of God, must flee from these things; and strive for uprightness, godliness, good faith, love, fortitude, and a forgiving temper.

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

Exert all your strength in the honourable struggle for the faith; lay hold of the Life of the Ages, to which you were called, when you made your noble profession of faith before many witnesses. (aiōnios g166)

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

I charge you--as in the presence of God who gives life to all creatures, and of Christ Jesus who at the bar of Pontius Pilate made a noble profession of faith--

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

that you keep God's commandments stainlessly and without reproach till the Appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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

For, as its appointed time, this will be brought about by the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

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

who alone possesses immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, and whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be eternal honour and power! Amen. (aiōnios g166)

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

Impress on those who are rich in the present age that they must not be haughty nor set their hopes on riches--that unstable foundation--but on God who provides us richly with all things for our enjoyment. (aiōn g165)

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

They must be beneficent, rich in noble deeds, open-handed and liberal;

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

storing up for themselves that which shall be a solid foundation for the future, that they may lay hold of the Life which is life indeed.

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

O Timothy, guard the truths entrusted to you, shunning irreligious and frivolous talk, and controversy with what is falsely called 'knowledge';

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

of which some have spoken boastfully in connexion with the true faith, and have erred. Grace be with you all.