2 Kwabasekhorinte 6

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

Working together with him, we also urge you not to receive 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, “In a favorable time I paid attention to you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” Look, now is the favorable time. Look, now is the day of salvation.

3 Kasikhubekisi ngalutho ngitsho, ukuze inkonzo ingasolwa;

We do not place a stumbling block in front of anyone, for we do not wish our ministry to be discredited.

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

Instead, we prove ourselves by all our actions, that we are God's servants. We are his servants in much endurance, affliction, distress, hardship,

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

beatings, imprisonments, riots, in hard work, in sleepless nights, in hunger,

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

in purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love.

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

We are his servants in the word of truth, in the power of God. We have the armor of righteousness for the right hand and for the left.

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

We work in honor and dishonor, in slander and praise. We are accused of being deceitful and yet we are truthful.

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

We work as if we were unknown and we are still well known. We work as dying and—see!—we are still living. We work as being punished for our actions but not as condemned to death.

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

We work as sorrowful, but we are always rejoicing. We work as poor, but we are making many rich. We work as having nothing and yet as possessing all things.

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

We have spoken the whole truth to you, Corinthians, and our heart is wide open.

12 Kalivinjelwanga yithi, kodwa livinjelwe emibilini yenu.

You are not restrained by us, but you are restrained in your own hearts.

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

Now in fair exchange—I speak as to children—open yourselves wide also.

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

Do not be tied together with unbelievers. For what association does righteousness have with lawlessness? For what fellowship does light have with darkness?

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

What agreement can Christ have with Beliar? Or what share does a believer have together 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 is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said: “I will dwell among them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

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

Therefore, “Come out from among them, and be set apart,” says the Lord. “Touch no unclean thing, and I will welcome you.

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

I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters,” says the Lord Almighty.