2 Kwabasekhorinte 6

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

As fellow-workers, then, with him, we also exhort you that ye 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 saith: “In an accepted time I heard thee, and in the day of salvation I helped thee;” Behold, now is the accepted time, behold, now is the day of salvation; )

3 Kasikhubekisi ngalutho ngitsho, ukuze inkonzo ingasolwa;

giving no occasion for stumbling in anything, that the ministry may not be blamed;

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

but as God's ministers recommending ourselves in all things, in much endurance, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

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

in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings;

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

in pureness, in knowledge, in long-suffering, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in love unfeigned,

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

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

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

through honor and dishonor, through evil report and good report; as deceivers, and true;

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

as unknown, and well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;

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, and possessing all things.

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

Our mouth is open to you, O Corinthians, our heart is enlarged.

12 Kalivinjelwanga yithi, kodwa livinjelwe emibilini yenu.

Ye have not a narrow place in my heart, but ye have a narrow place for me in yours.

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

So then in return, I speak to you as children, let your hearts be enlarged.

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

Be not strangely yoked with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? Or what communion hath light with darkness?

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

And what concord hath Christ with Beliar? Or what part hath 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.

And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God said: “I will dwell among 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,

“Wherefore come out from the midst of them, and be separated, saith the Lord, and touch not anything unclean;” “and I will receive you,

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

and will be to you a father, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”