2 Kwabasekhorinte 9

1 Ngoba mayelana lokuncedisa okungokwabangcwele kakusweleki kimi ukulibhalela;

Now [I want to write] more about the gift [of money] [EUP] that [you and other believers are preparing to send] to the believers [in Judea province]. I do not [really] need to [continue writing to you about it],

2 ngoba ngiyazi ukukhuthala kwenu, engizincoma ngakho ngani kwabeMakedoniya, ukuthi iAkaya yayisizilungisele kusukela nyakenye; lokutshiseka okuvela kini kubavusile abanengi.

because I already know that you really want to help them. In fact, I have been boasting [about you], telling the [believers here in] Macedonia [province] that [you people in] Achaia [province] have been ready to help, since last year. As a result, because you are very eager to help [the believers in Judea province], you have made most of [the believers here in Macedonia province also want] to give [a gift].

3 Kodwa ngithume abazalwane, ukuze ukuzincoma kwethu ngani kungenziwa ize maqondana lalokhu; ukuze, njengokutsho kwami, libe lilungile;

However, I am sending Titus and the other two believers in order that [they will be able to help you finish collecting the money. Then when I and others arrive later, the people with me will see for themselves that] the things that I have been boasting about you are true [LIT]. [I want] you [to have your gift] ready [for us(exc) to take to Jerusalem], just like I have been telling others that you were ready.

4 hlezi mhlawumbe, nxa abeMakedoniya befika lami belifica lingalungiselanga, siyangeke thina (ukuze singatsho, lina) ngalesisibindi sokuzincoma.

When I come, if any of [the believers from] Macedonia come with me, [I do not want them to find that your gift is] [MTY, EUP] not ready. If that were [to happen], I would be very ashamed, and you yourselves would be even more ashamed.

5 Ngakho ngibona kufanele ukuthi ngikhuthaze abazalwane, ukuze baqale ukuza kini, njalo balungisele ngaphambili ukupha kwenu ngesihle okwakhulunywa ngakho mandulo, ukuthi lesi silungile, ngokunjalo njengesibusiso futhi kungenjengokuncitshana.

So that is why I felt that it was necessary to urge these [three] believers to go [and visit] you before I [come. In that way, they would be able to help you finish] collecting the generous gift [EUP] that had been promised by you {you had said you would give}. [If you do that, not only will] the gift be ready [by the time that we arrive, but everyone will see that you have given because you really want to give, and] not because anyone has forced you to give.

6 Lalokhu ukuthi, ohlanyela ingcosana, laye uzavuna ingcosana; lohlanyela ngokunengi, laye uzavuna ngokunengi.

Do not forget this: “[A farmer] who sows only a few [seeds] will not gather/reap a large [harvest], but the one who sows a lot [of seeds] will gather/reap a large [harvest] [MET].” [Similarly, if you give just a little to help others, God will give you only a few blessings. But if you give willingly and cheerfully to help people, you will receive in return many blessings from God].

7 Ngulowo lalowo njengalokhu azikhethela khona enhliziyweni; kungabi ngokokudonda kumbe ngokokubanjwa ngamandla; ngoba uNkulunkulu uyamthanda onikela ngentokozo.

Each of you should decide how much you [(sg)] should give, [and then give that amount]. You [(sg)] should not [be thinking to yourself], “[I really] do not want to give this money.” [And you(sg) should] not give [just] because someone tells [you to give. Instead, you should give willingly and cheerfully], because God loves those who give cheerfully.

8 Njalo uNkulunkulu ulamandla okulengezelela wonke umusa, ukuze, lilokwenela konke ezintweni zonke ngesikhathi sonke, lengezwe emisebenzini yonke emihle;

Moreover, God can enable you to [give to others cheerfully. If you give that way], God will [in return] give you many good blessings. He will do that so that at all times you will always have everything that you need. Indeed, you will have even more [than you need. As a result, you will be able to do] many more good things [to help others].

9 njengokulotshiweyo ukuthi: Uchithachithile, wanika abayanga; ukulunga kwakhe kuhlala kuze kube phakade. (aiōn g165)

[Those who give willingly and cheerfully will be rewarded like the man about whom] it is written {[about whom] (someone/the Psalmist) wrote} in the Scriptures, He generously [helps others], [he gives to those] who are poor. [God will remember] the good things that he did, [and reward him with] good things forever. (aiōn g165)

10 Njalo yena onika inhlanyelo kumhlanyeli, lesinkwa sokudla, kwangathi anganika akhulise inhlanyelo yenu, andise izithelo zokulunga kwenu;

[God always] gives seeds to farmers to plant, and also gives them food to eat. [So, similarly, God will] always make it possible for you to have enough money [MET], so that you will be able more and more to generously [help those who are needy].

11 linothiswe ezintweni zonke kukho konke ukuphana, okusebenza ngathi ukubongwa kuNkulunkulu;

[God] will [give you] many blessings in many different ways as a result of your generously [helping others]. Furthermore, [the] generous [gift that you are getting ready for] us [(exc) to take to the believers in Judea province] will cause [many people] to thank God.

12 ngoba umsebenzi walinkonzo kawugcwalisi kuphela inswelo zabangcwele, kodwa futhi wengeza ngokubongwa okunengi kuNkulunkulu;

[Also remember that] when you give money to [EUP] help God’s people, you not only give them what they need, but also, [because of that], [many people will] thank God very much [for you and for what you have done].

13 ngobufakazi balinkonzo badumisa uNkulunkulu ngokulalela kovumo lwenu ivangeli likaKristu, langokupha kwenu okukhulu kubo, lakubo bonke;

As a result of your giving [money to help others], they will praise God, not only because you have believed the good message about Christ, but also because you have [generously given some of your possessions] so that they and other [believers will all have] ([enough/their needs supplied]).

14 langomkhuleko wabo ngani, belilangatha ngomusa kaNkulunkulu ongelakulinganiswa phezu kwenu.

Also, when they pray for you, [asking God to bless you, they will remember how grateful they are] [IDM] that God [caused you to give] very willingly and cheerfully.

15 Njalo kabongwe uNkulunkulu ngenxa yesipho sakhe esingakhulumekiyo.

[Finally, we should all] thank God [because he gave us the greatest gift of all when he sent his Son to save/rescue us(inc)] ([from the guilt of our sin/from being punished for our sin]). That is a gift too wonderful for anyone to be able to tell about completely!