2 Kwabasekhorinte 12
1 Qiniso ukuzincoma kakusizi lutho kimi; ngoba ngizakuya kumibono lezembulo zeNkosi.
I must boast! It is unprofitable; but I will pass to visions and revelations given by 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 union with Christ, who, fourteen years ago — whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows — was caught up (this man of whom I am speaking) to the third Heaven.
3 Ngiyamazi-ke umuntu onjalo (loba emzimbeni, loba ngaphandle komzimba, kangazi; uNkulunkulu uyazi),
And I know that this man — whether in the body or separated from the body I do not know; God knows —
4 ukuthi wahluthulwa wasiwa eParadise, wezwa amazwi angakhulumekiyo, angavunyelwa muntu ukuwakhuluma.
Was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable things of which no human being may tell.
5 Ngizazincoma ngonjalo, kodwa ngami uqobo kangiyikuzincoma, ngaphandle kobuthakathaka bami.
About such a man I will boast, but about myself I will not boast except as regards my weaknesses.
6 Ngoba uba bengingathanda ukuzincoma, bengingazukuba yisithutha; ngoba ngizakhuluma iqiniso, kodwa ngiyayekela, hlezi umuntu acabange ngami okungaphezu kwalokho angibona ngiyikho, kumbe akuzwa kimi,
Yet if I choose to boast, I shall not be a fool; for I shall be speaking no more than the truth. But I refrain, lest any one should credit me with more than he can see in me or hear from me, and because of the marvellous character of the revelations.
7 futhi ukuze ngingaphakanyiswa kakhulukazi ngobukhulukazi bezembulo, nganikwa ameva enyameni, isithunywa sikaSathane, ukungidutshuza, ukuze ngingaziphakamisi kakhulukazi.
It was for this reason, and to prevent my thinking too highly of myself, that a thorn was sent to pierce my flesh — an instrument of Satan to discipline me — so that I should not think too highly of myself.
8 Ngalokho nganxusa iNkosi kathathu ukuze kusuke kimi.
About this I three times entreated the Lord, praying that it might leave me.
9 Yasisithi kimi: Umusa wami ukwanele; ngoba amandla ami apheleliswa ebuthakathakeni. Ngakho ngizazincoma ngentokozo enkulu ebuthakathakeni bami, ukuze amandla kaKristu ahlale phezu kwami.
But his reply has been — ‘My help is enough for you; for my strength attains its perfection in the midst of weakness.’ Most gladly, then, will I boast all the more of my weaknesses, so that the strength of the Christ may overshadow me.
10 Ngakho ngiyathokoza ebuthakathakeni, ekuthukweni, ekubanjweni ngamandla, ekuzingelweni, ekukhathazekeni, ngenxa kaKristu; ngoba nxa ngibuthakathaka, khona ngilamandla.
That is why I delight in weakness, ill-treatment, hardship, persecution, and difficulties, when borne for Christ. For, when I am weak, then it is that I am 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 been “playing the fool!” It is you who drove me to it. For it is you who ought to have been commending me! Although I am nobody, in no respect did I prove inferior to the most eminent Apostles.
12 Isibili impawu zomphostoli zenziwa phakathi kwenu ekubekezeleni konke, ngezibonakaliso lezimangaliso lemisebenzi yamandla.
The marks of the true Apostle were exhibited among you in constant endurance, as well as by signs, by marvels, and by miracles.
13 Ngoba kuyini elaba ngaphansi ngakho kwamanye amabandla, ngaphandle kokuthi mina uqobo kangibanga ngumthwalo kini? Ngithethelelani lokhukungalungi.
In what respect, I ask, were you treated worse than the other Churches, unless it was that, for my part, I refused to become a burden to you? Forgive me the wrong I thus did you!
14 Khangelani, sengilungele ukuza kini ngokwesithathu, njalo kangizukuba ngumthwalo kini; ngoba kangifuni okwenu, kodwa lina; ngoba abantwana kabafanele ukudlinzekelela abazali, kodwa abazali abantwana.
Remember, this is the third time that I have made every preparation to come to see you, and I shall refuse to be a burden to you; I want, not your money, but you. It is not the duty of children to put by for their parents, but of parents to put by for their children.
15 Mina-ke ngizachitha ngentokozo njalo ngizachithelwa imiphefumulo yenu, lanxa ngilithanda okwengezelelweyo kakhulu, ngithandwa kancinyane.
For my part, I will most gladly spend, and be spent, for your welfare. Can it be that the more intensely I love you the less I am to be loved?
16 Kodwa kunjalo, mina kangibanga ngumthwalo kini; kodwa ngingumhugi, ngalibamba ngobuqili.
You will admit that I was not a burden to you but you say that I was “crafty” and caught you “by a trick”!
17 Ngaliqilibezela yini ngomunye walabo engabathuma kini?
Do you assert that I took advantage of you through 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, and I sent our Brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Did not we live in the same Spirit, and tread in the same footsteps?
19 Licabanga futhi ukuthi siyaziphendulela yini kini? Sikhuluma phambi kukaNkulunkulu sikuKristu; kodwa konke lokhu, bathandekayo, kungokokwakhiwa kwenu.
Have you all this time been fancying that it is to you that we are making our defence? No, it is in the sight of God, and in union with Christ, that we are speaking. And all this, dear friends, is to build up your characters;
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 am afraid that perhaps, when I come, I may find that you are not what I want you to be, and, on the other hand, that you may find that I am what you do not want me to be. I am afraid that I may find quarrelling, jealousy, ill-feeling, rivalry, slandering, back-biting, self-assertion, and disorder.
21 hlezi ekufikeni kwami futhi uNkulunkulu wami angithobise phakathi kwenu, njalo ngililele abanengi abonileyo ngaphambili, njalo abangaphendukanga kukho ukungcola lobufebe lamanyala abakwenzileyo.
I am afraid lest, on my next visit, my God may humble me in regard to you, and that I may have to mourn over many who have long been sinning, and have not repented of the impurity, immorality, and sensuality, in which they have indulged.
