2 Kwabasekhorinte 6

1 Sisebenza-ke kanye laye, lathi siyalincenga ukuthi lingawemukeli ngeze umusa kaNkulunkulu;

As co-workers with him, we beseech you, that you receive not the grace of God in vain:

2 ngoba uthi: Ngesikhathi esihle ngikuzwile, langosuku losindiso ngakusiza; khangela, khathesi yisikhathi esihle isibili; khangela khathesi lusuku losindiso.

(for he says: I have heard thee in an acceptable time, and in the day of salvation I have helped thee. Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation: )

3 Kasikhubekisi ngalutho ngitsho, ukuze inkonzo ingasolwa;

for we put no stumbling-block in any man’s way, in order that this ministry may not be blamed;

4 kodwa kukho konke sizibonakalisa njengezikhonzi zikaNkulunkulu, ekubekezeleni okukhulu, ezinhluphekweni, ebunzimeni, encindezelweni,

but in all things we commend ourselves as the ministers of God, in much suffering, in afflictions, in distresses, in straits,

5 ekutshayweni, ekubotshweni, eziphithiphithini, ekusebenzeni nzima, ekungalalini, ekuzileni ukudla,

in stripes, in prisons, in commotions, in labors, in watchings, in fastings;

6 ekuhlambulukeni, elwazini, ekubekezeleni, ebubeleni, kuMoya oNgcwele, ethandweni olungazenzisiyo,

by purity, by knowledge, by long forbearance, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by love unfeigned,

7 elizwini leqiniso, emandleni kaNkulunkulu; ngezikhali zokulunga kwesokunene lakwesokhohlo,

by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

8 ngodumo langehlazo, ngokuthukwa langokudunyiswa; njengabakhohlisi, kanti abaqinisileyo;

by honor and dishonor, by evil report, and good report; as impostors, yet truthful;

9 njengabangaziwayo, kanti abaziwayo kakhulu; njengabafayo, kanti khangelani siyaphila; njengabalaywayo, kanti abangabulawayo;

as unknown, yet well-known; as dying, and behold, we live; as chastened, and yet not put to death;

10 njengabalosizi, kodwa abathokoza njalonjalo; njengabayanga, kodwa abanothisa abanengi; njengabangelalutho, kanti abalakho konke.

as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing all things.

11 Umlomo wethu uvulekele lina, beKorinte, inhliziyo yethu yenziwe banzi.

Corinthians, our mouth is opened to you, our heart is enlarged:

12 Kalivinjelwanga yithi, kodwa livinjelwe emibilini yenu.

you are not straitened in us, but you are straitened in your own affections.

13 Njalo ngokwenanana okufananayo (ngikhuluma njengebantwaneni), lani yenziwani banzi.

That you may repay me in like manner, (I speak as to children, ) be you also enlarged.

14 Lingabotshwa ngokungalingani ejogweni labangakholwayo; ngoba kulokuhlanganyela bani ukulunga lokungalungi? Kulokuhlanganyela bani ukukhanya lobumnyama?

Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? What communion has light with darkness?

15 Njalo uKristu ulokuzwana bani loBheliyali? Kumbe ulesabelo bani okholwayo longakholwayo?

What agreement has Christ with Belial? What connection has a believer with an unbeliever?

16 Njalo kulokuvumelana bani ithempeli likaNkulunkulu lezithombe? Ngoba lina lilithempeli likaNkulunkulu ophilayo, njengokutsho kukaNkulunkulu ukuthi: Ngizahlala kubo, ngizahamba phakathi kwabo; sengizakuba nguNkulunkulu wabo, bona-ke bazakuba ngabantu bami.

What has a temple of God in common with one of idols? For you are the temple of the living God, as God has said: I will dwell in them, and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

17 Ngakho phumani phakathi kwabo lehlukaniswe, itsho iNkosi, lingathinti okungcolileyo; mina-ke ngizalemukela,

For this reason, come out from among them, and separate yourselves, says the Lord, and touch not an unclean person, and I will receive you;

18 futhi ngizakuba nguBaba kini, lina selizakuba kimi ngamadodana lamadodakazi, itsho iNkosi uSomandla.

and I will be to you a father, and you shall be to me sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.