2 KuThimothi 4

1 Ngakho mina ngiyalayisisa phambi kukaNkulunkulu, leNkosi uJesu Kristu, ozakwahlulela abaphilayo labafileyo, ekubonakaleni kwakhe lembusweni wakhe,

I solemnly charge you, in the sight of God and of Christ Jesus, who will one day judge the living and the dead — I charge you by his Appearing and by his Kingdom: —

2 tshumayela ilizwi, ulunge ngesikhathi esilungileyo, ngesikhathi esingalunganga, sola, ukhuze, weluleke, ekubekezeleni konke lemfundisweni.

Proclaim the Message, be ready in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, encourage, never failing to instruct with forbearance.

3 Ngoba kuzakuba lesikhathi lapho bengayikuvuma imfundiso ephilileyo, kodwa ngokowabo umhawu bazazibuthelelela abafundisi, belunywa zindlebe;

For a time will come when people will not tolerate sound teaching. They will follow their own wishes, and, in their itching for novelty, procure themselves a crowd of teachers.

4 njalo bazafulathelisa indlebe zabo eqinisweni, bazaphambukela ezinganekwaneni.

They will turn a deaf ear to the Truth, and give their attention to legends instead.

5 Kodwa wena qonda ezintweni zonke, ubekezelele inhlupheko, wenze umsebenzi womvangeli, ugcwalise inkonzo yakho.

But you, Timothy, must always be temperate. Face hardships; do the work of a Missionary; discharge all the duties of your Office.

6 Ngoba mina sengithululwe njengomnikelo wokunathwayo, lesikhathi sokusuka kwami sesifikile.

As for me, my life blood is already being poured out; the time of my departure is close at hand.

7 Ngilwile ukulwa okuhle, ngiqedile uhambo, ngilondolozile ukholo;

I have run the great Race; I have finished the Course; I have kept the Faith.

8 kusukela khathesi, ngibekelwe umqhele wokulunga, ezanginika wona ngalolosuku iNkosi, umahluleli olungileyo; kodwa kungeyisimi ngedwa, kodwa labo bonke abathanda ukubonakala kwayo.

And now the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just Judge, will give me on ‘That Day’ — and not only to me, but to all who have loved his Appearing.

9 Khuthala ukuza kimi masinyane;

Do your utmost to come to me soon;

10 ngoba uDema ungihlamukile, ethande umhlaba wakhathesi, waya eThesalonika; uKresena eGalathiya, uTitosi eDalmathiya. (aiōn g165)

for Demas, in his love for the world, has deserted me. He has gone to Thessalonica, Crescens to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. (aiōn g165)

11 ULuka yedwa ulami. Thatha uMarko ubuye laye; ngoba uloncedo kakhulu kimi enkonzweni.

There is no one but Luke with me. Pick up Mark on your way, and bring him with you, for he is useful to me in my work.

12 Kodwa uTikiko ngimthume eEfesu.

I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus.

13 Ulethe isembatho engasitshiya kuKarpo eTrowasi, nxa ubuya, lezingwalo, ikakhulu incwadi zesikhumba.

Bring with you, when you come, the cloak which I left at Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments.

14 UAleksandro umkhandi wethusi wangitshengisa okubi okunengi; sengathi iNkosi ingambuyisela njengokwemisebenzi yakhe;

Alexander, the coppersmith, showed much ill-feeling towards me. ‘The Lord will give him what his actions deserve.’

15 umxwaye lawe, ngoba wamelana kakhulukazi lamazwi ethu.

Do you also, be on your guard against him, for he is strongly opposed to our teaching.

16 Ekuziphenduleleni kwami kwakuqala kwakungekho muntu owangimelayo, kodwa bonke bangihlamuka; sengathi kungebalelwe kubo.

At my first trial no one stood by me. They all deserted me. May it never be counted against them!

17 Kodwa iNkosi yangimela, yangipha amandla, ukuze ngami ukutshumayela kupheleliswe, lezizwe zonke zizwe; ngasengikhululwa emlonyeni wesilwane,

But the Lord came to my help and strengthened me, in order that, through me, the proclamation should be made so widely that all the Gentiles should hear it; and I was rescued ‘out of the Lion’s mouth.’

18 njalo iNkosi izangikhulula kuwo wonke umsebenzi omubi, njalo izangisindisela umbuso wayo wezulu; kakube kuyo ubukhosi kuze kube phakade laphakade. Ameni. (aiōn g165)

The Lord will rescue me from all evil, and bring me safe into his Heavenly Kingdom. All glory to him for ever and ever! Amen. (aiōn g165)

19 Bingelela uPriska loAkwila, lendlu kaOnesiforo.

Give my greeting to Prisca and Aquila, and to the household of Onesiphorus.

20 UErastu wasala eKorinte; kodwa uTrofimu ngamtshiya eMilethu egula.

Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Thophimus ill at Miletus.

21 Khuthala ufike ubusika bungakafiki. UYubulu uyakubingelela, loPudeni, loLino, loKlawudiya, labo bonke abazalwane.

Do your utmost to come before winter. Eubulus, Pudens, Linus and Claudia send you their greetings, and so do all our Brothers.

22 INkosi uJesu Kristu kayibe lomoya wakho. Umusa kawube lani. Ameni.

May the Lord be with your soul. God bless you all.