2 Kwabasekhorinte 4
1 Ngakho-ke, lokhu silenkonzo le, njengoba senzelwa umusa, kasidinwa;
Therefore, since God in His mercy has given us this ministry, we do not lose heart.
2 kodwa sizilahlile izinto ezifihliweyo zehlazo, singahambi ebuqilini, singaphambanisi ilizwi likaNkulunkulu, kodwa ngokwenza obala iqiniso siyazibuka kuso sonke isazela sabantu phambi kukaNkulunkulu.
Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
3 Kodwa uba futhi ivangeli lethu lembesiwe, lembesiwe kulabo ababhubhayo;
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.
4 okubo unkulunkulu walelilizwe uphumputhekisile ingqondo zabangakholwayo, ukuze kungakhanyi kubo ukukhanya kwevangeli lenkazimulo kaKristu, ongumfanekiso kaNkulunkulu. (aiōn g165)
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (aiōn g165)
5 Ngoba kasizitshumayeli, kodwa uKristu Jesu iNkosi; njalo thina sizinceku zenu ngenxa kaJesu.
For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.
6 Ngoba uNkulunkulu owathi ukukhanya kukhanya kuvela ebumnyameni, ukhanyisile ezinhliziyweni zethu, ukupha ukukhanya kolwazi lwenkazimulo kaNkulunkulu ebusweni bukaJesu Kristu.
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 Kodwa silalo leligugu ezitsheni zebumba, ukuze ubuhlekazi bamandla bube ngobukaNkulunkulu, njalo bungaveli kithi;
Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us.
8 siyaminyezelwa inhlangothi zonke, kodwa kasibandezeleki; siyadideka, kodwa kasilahli ithemba;
We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
9 siyazingelwa, kodwa kasihlanyukwa; siwiselwa phansi, kodwa kasibhujiswa;
persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.
10 sihamba sithwele njalonjalo ukufa kweNkosi uJesu emzimbeni, ukuze lempilo kaJesu ibonakaliswe emzimbeni wethu.
We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
11 Ngoba thina esiphilayo sinikelwa njalonjalo ekufeni ngenxa kaJesu, ukuze lempilo kaJesu ibonakaliswe enyameni yethu efayo.
For we who are alive are always consigned to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal body.
12 Ngakho ukufa kusebenza kithi, kodwa impilo kini.
So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
13 Ngakho silalowomoya wokholo, njengokulotshiweyo ukuthi: Ngakholwa, ngakho ngakhuluma; lathi siyakholwa, ngakho lathi siyakhuluma;
And in keeping with what is written: “I believed, therefore I have spoken,” we who have the same spirit of faith also believe and therefore speak,
14 sisazi ukuthi lowo owayivusayo iNkosi uJesu uzasivusa lathi ngoJesu, asiveze kanye lani.
knowing that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in His presence.
15 Ngoba zonke izinto zingenxa yenu, ukuze umusa ovamileyo, ngokubonga kwabanengi, wengezelelwe kube ludumo lukaNkulunkulu.
All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is extending to more and more people may overflow in thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
16 Ngakho-ke kasidinwa, kodwa lanxa umuntu wethu wangaphandle ebhujiswa, kube kanti owangaphakathi wenziwa abe mutsha insuku ngensuku.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day.
