2 Kwabasekhorinte 6
1 Sisebenza-ke kanye laye, lathi siyalincenga ukuthi lingawemukeli ngeze umusa kaNkulunkulu;
Working together, we entreat also that you do not 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, “At an acceptable time I listened to you. In a day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation.
3 Kasikhubekisi ngalutho ngitsho, ukuze inkonzo ingasolwa;
We give no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our service may not be blamed,
4 kodwa kukho konke sizibonakalisa njengezikhonzi zikaNkulunkulu, ekubekezeleni okukhulu, ezinhluphekweni, ebunzimeni, encindezelweni,
but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God: in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,
5 ekutshayweni, ekubotshweni, eziphithiphithini, ekusebenzeni nzima, ekungalalini, ekuzileni ukudla,
in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labours, in watchings, in fastings,
6 ekuhlambulukeni, elwazini, ekubekezeleni, ebubeleni, kuMoya oNgcwele, ethandweni olungazenzisiyo,
in pureness, in knowledge, in perseverance, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love,
7 elizwini leqiniso, emandleni kaNkulunkulu; ngezikhali zokulunga kwesokunene lakwesokhohlo,
in the word of truth, in the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
8 ngodumo langehlazo, ngokuthukwa langokudunyiswa; njengabakhohlisi, kanti abaqinisileyo;
by glory and dishonour, by evil report and good report, as deceivers and yet true,
9 njengabangaziwayo, kanti abaziwayo kakhulu; njengabafayo, kanti khangelani siyaphila; njengabalaywayo, kanti abangabulawayo;
as unknown and yet well known, as dying and behold—we live, as punished 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 yet possessing all things.
11 Umlomo wethu uvulekele lina, beKorinte, inhliziyo yethu yenziwe banzi.
Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians. Our heart is enlarged.
12 Kalivinjelwanga yithi, kodwa livinjelwe emibilini yenu.
You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections.
13 Njalo ngokwenanana okufananayo (ngikhuluma njengebantwaneni), lani yenziwani banzi.
Now in return—I speak as to my children—you also open your hearts.
14 Lingabotshwa ngokungalingani ejogweni labangakholwayo; ngoba kulokuhlanganyela bani ukulunga lokungalungi? Kulokuhlanganyela bani ukukhanya lobumnyama?
Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship do righteousness and iniquity have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?
15 Njalo uKristu ulokuzwana bani loBheliyali? Kumbe ulesabelo bani okholwayo longakholwayo?
What agreement does Messiah have with Belial? Or what portion does a believer have 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 agreement does a temple of God have with idols? For you are a temple of the living God. Even as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk in 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 amongst them, and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you.
18 futhi ngizakuba nguBaba kini, lina selizakuba kimi ngamadodana lamadodakazi, itsho iNkosi uSomandla.
I will be to you a Father. You will be to me sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty.”
