2 Kwabasekhorinte 12

1 Qiniso ukuzincoma kakusizi lutho kimi; ngoba ngizakuya kumibono lezembulo zeNkosi.

It is indeed not expedient for me to boast; I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

2 Ngiyamazi umuntu ekuKristu sekudlule iminyaka elitshumi lane (loba emzimbeni kangazi, loba ngaphandle komzimba kangazi, uNkulunkulu uyazi), ukuthi lonje wahluthulelwa ezulwini lesithathu.

I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago, —whether in the body, I know not, or whether out of the body, I know not; God knoweth, —such a one caught up even to the third heaven.

3 Ngiyamazi-ke umuntu onjalo (loba emzimbeni, loba ngaphandle komzimba, kangazi; uNkulunkulu uyazi),

And I know such a man, whether in the body, or without the body, I know not; God knoweth, —

4 ukuthi wahluthulwa wasiwa eParadise, wezwa amazwi angakhulumekiyo, angavunyelwa muntu ukuwakhuluma.

that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

5 Ngizazincoma ngonjalo, kodwa ngami uqobo kangiyikuzincoma, ngaphandle kobuthakathaka bami.

Of such a one I will boast; but of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities.

6 Ngoba uba bengingathanda ukuzincoma, bengingazukuba yisithutha; ngoba ngizakhuluma iqiniso, kodwa ngiyayekela, hlezi umuntu acabange ngami okungaphezu kwalokho angibona ngiyikho, kumbe akuzwa kimi,

For if I should desire to boast, I should not be a fool; for I should say the truth; but I forbear, lest any one should think of me above what he seeth me to be, or what he heareth from me.

7 futhi ukuze ngingaphakanyiswa kakhulukazi ngobukhulukazi bezembulo, nganikwa ameva enyameni, isithunywa sikaSathane, ukungidutshuza, ukuze ngingaziphakamisi kakhulukazi.

And that I might not be too much lifted up by the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to buffet me, that I might not be too much lifted up.

8 Ngalokho nganxusa iNkosi kathathu ukuze kusuke kimi.

In respect to this I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me;

9 Yasisithi kimi: Umusa wami ukwanele; ngoba amandla ami apheleliswa ebuthakathakeni. Ngakho ngizazincoma ngentokozo enkulu ebuthakathakeni bami, ukuze amandla kaKristu ahlale phezu kwami.

and he said to me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather boast in my weaknesses, that the strength of Christ may abide upon me.

10 Ngakho ngiyathokoza ebuthakathakeni, ekuthukweni, ekubanjweni ngamandla, ekuzingelweni, ekukhathazekeni, ngenxa kaKristu; ngoba nxa ngibuthakathaka, khona ngilamandla.

Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses in behalf of Christ; for when I am weak, then am I strong.

11 Sengize ngaba yisithutha, ngizincoma; yini elingicindezeleyo; ngoba bekufanele ukuthi mina ngivezwe yini; ngoba kangisilelanga ngalutho kulabo abaphostoli abaqakathekileyo sibili, lanxa ngingesilutho.

I have become a fool; it is ye that compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing was I behind the very foremost apostles, though I am nothing.

12 Isibili impawu zomphostoli zenziwa phakathi kwenu ekubekezeleni konke, ngezibonakaliso lezimangaliso lemisebenzi yamandla.

Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you with all endurance, by signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

13 Ngoba kuyini elaba ngaphansi ngakho kwamanye amabandla, ngaphandle kokuthi mina uqobo kangibanga ngumthwalo kini? Ngithethelelani lokhukungalungi.

For what is there in which ye were at disadvantage when compared with other churches, except that I myself was not a charge to you? Forgive me this wrong.

14 Khangelani, sengilungele ukuza kini ngokwesithathu, njalo kangizukuba ngumthwalo kini; ngoba kangifuni okwenu, kodwa lina; ngoba abantwana kabafanele ukudlinzekelela abazali, kodwa abazali abantwana.

Behold, I am ready to come to you this third time, and I will not be a charge to you; for I seek not yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

15 Mina-ke ngizachitha ngentokozo njalo ngizachithelwa imiphefumulo yenu, lanxa ngilithanda okwengezelelweyo kakhulu, ngithandwa kancinyane.

And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more I love you, the less I am loved.

16 Kodwa kunjalo, mina kangibanga ngumthwalo kini; kodwa ngingumhugi, ngalibamba ngobuqili.

But be it so; I at least was not a charge to you; but yet, being crafty, I caught you with guile.

17 Ngaliqilibezela yini ngomunye walabo engabathuma kini?

Did I make gain of you by any of those whom I have sent to you?

18 Ngacela uTitosi, ngasengithuma kanye laye umzalwane; uTitosi waliqilibezela yini? Kasihambanga yini ngomoya munye? Ngitsho ngezinyathelo zinye yini?

I urged Titus to go to you, and with him I sent the brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?

19 Licabanga futhi ukuthi siyaziphendulela yini kini? Sikhuluma phambi kukaNkulunkulu sikuKristu; kodwa konke lokhu, bathandekayo, kungokokwakhiwa kwenu.

Have ye been thinking this long time that we are defending ourselves to you? It is before God in Christ that we are speaking; but all things, beloved, for your edification.

20 Ngoba ngilovalo hlezi mhlawumbe ekufikeni kwami ngizalifica lingenjengalokho engikuthandayo, lami ngificwe yini ngingenjengalokho elikuthandayo; hlezi mhlawumbe kube khona ukuxabana, umona, ulaka, umbango, ukuhleba, ukunyeya, ukuzikhukhumeza, iziphithiphithi;

For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and lest I too shall be found by you such as ye would not; lest there be wranglings, envying, wraths, rivalries, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults;

21 hlezi ekufikeni kwami futhi uNkulunkulu wami angithobise phakathi kwenu, njalo ngililele abanengi abonileyo ngaphambili, njalo abangaphendukanga kukho ukungcola lobufebe lamanyala abakwenzileyo.

and lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many of those who have sinned already, and did not repent of the uncleanness, and fornication, and lasciviousness, which they committed.