2 Kwabasekhorinte 8
1 Sesilazisa, bazalwane, umusa kaNkulunkulu ophiwe emabandleni eMakedoniya;
Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
2 ukuthi ekulingweni okukhulu kwenhlupho, ukwengezelelwa kwentokozo yabo lobuyanga babo obujulileyo bengezelela enothweni yokuphana kwabo.
That in a great trial of affliction, the abundance of their joy, and their deep poverty, abounded to the riches of their liberality.
3 Ngoba babekhululekile njengokwamandla abo, ngiyafakaza, langaphezu kwamandla abo,
For to [their] power, I bear testimony, and even beyond [their] power, [they were] willing of themselves;
4 ngesicelo esikhulu basincenga, ukuthi semukele isipho, lokuhlanganyela koncedo olungolwabangcwele;
Praying us with much entreaty, that we would receive the gift, and [take upon us] the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
5 njalo kakubanga njengoba sathemba, kodwa bazinikela kuqala eNkosini, lakithi ngentando kaNkulunkulu.
And [this they did], not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us by the will of God:
6 Kwaze kwathi sakhuthaza uTitosi ukuthi, njengalokhu wayeseqalile phambili, ngokunjalo awuqede futhi kini lumusa.
So that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.
7 Kodwa njengalokhu lisengezelela kukho konke, ekholweni, lelizwini, lelwazini, lekukhuthaleni konke, lethandweni lwenu kithi, ukuze lakulumusa lengezelele.
Therefore, as ye abound in every [thing], [in] faith and utterance, and knowledge, and [in] all diligence, and [in] your love to us, [see] that ye abound in this grace also.
8 Kangikhulumi njengokulawula, kodwa ngokutshiseka kwabanye, njalo ngihlola ubuqotho bothando lwenu.
I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
9 Ngoba liyawazi umusa weNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu, ukuthi lanxa wayenothile, waba ngumyanga ngenxa yenu, ukuze ngobuyanga bakhe lina linothe.
For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
10 Lakulokhu ngipha umbono; ngoba lokhu kuluncedo kini, abaqala phambili nyakenye, kungeyisikwenza kuphela, kodwa lokufisa;
And in this I give [my] advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.
11 kodwa khathesi-ke qedani futhi ukwenza, ukuze, njengalokhu kukhona ukukhuthalela ukufisa, ngokunjalo kukhona lokuqedisa ngalokho elilakho.
Now therefore finish the doing [of it]; that as [there was] a readiness to will, so [there may be] a performance also out of that which ye have.
12 Ngoba uba kukhona ukufisa, umuntu uyemukeleka ngalokho alakho, kungeyisikho ngalokho angelakho.
For if there is first a willing mind, [it is] accepted according to what a man hath, [and] not according to what he hath not.
13 Ngoba kungeyisikuthi abanye babe lenkululeko, lina-ke libe lohlupho; kodwa ngokulingana, okwalesisikhathi isengezo senu sibe ngesenswelo yabo,
For [I mean] not that other men should be eased, and you burdened:
14 ukuze kuthi lesengezo sabo sibe ngesenswelo yenu, ukuze kube khona ukulingana,
But by an equality, [that] now at this time your abundance [may be a supply] for their want, that their abundance also may be [a supply] for your want: that there may be equality:
15 njengokulotshiweyo ukuthi: Owabutha okunengi, kabanga lokusalayo; lowabutha okuncinyane kasilelanga.
As it is written, He that [had gathered] much had nothing over; and he that [had gathered] little had no want.
16 Kodwa kabongwe uNkulunkulu ofaka inkuthalo efananayo ngani enhliziyweni kaTitosi,
But thanks [be] to God, who put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.
17 ukuthi isibili wemukela isikhuthazo, kodwa etshiseka kakhulu, wasuka waya kini ngesifiso sakhe.
For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went to you.
18 Njalo sithuma kanye laye umzalwane, odumo lwakhe evangelini ludabule emabandleni wonke;
And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise [is] in the gospel throughout all the churches;
19 kungeyisilokhu kuphela, kodwa ukhethiwe futhi ngamabandla ukuthi asiphelekezele lalo umusa owasetshenzwa yithi kube ludumo lwale iNkosi, lekubonakalisweni kokukhuthala kwenu;
And not [that] only, but who was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and [declaration of] your ready mind:
20 sivikela lokhu, hlezi umuntu asisole kulesisengezo esisetshenzwe yithi;
Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:
21 sinakekela okuhle kungekho phambi kweNkosi kuphela kodwa laphambi kwabantu.
Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
22 Sasesithuma kanye labo umzalwane wethu, esimfice ezintweni ezinengi kanengi ekhuthele, kodwa khathesi ukhuthele kakhulukazi ngenxa yokulithemba okukhulu.
And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have often proved [to be] diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which [I have] in you.
23 Kumbe ngoTitosi, ungumhlanganyeli lesisebenzi kanye lami kini; loba abazalwane bethu, bayizithunywa zamabandla, bayinkazimulo kaKristu.
If [any inquire] concerning Titus, [he is] my partner and fellow-helper concerning you: or our brethren [be inquired of], [they are] the messengers of the churches, [and] the glory of Christ.
24 Ngakho bonakalisani kubo ubufakazi bothando lwenu labokuzincomela kwethu lina, laphambi kwamabandla.
Wherefore show ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.
