2 KuThimothi 1

1 UPawuli umphostoli kaJesu Kristu ngentando kaNkulunkulu, njengokwesithembiso sempilo ekuKristu Jesu,

[I], Paul, [am writing this letter. I am] an apostle whom Christ Jesus chose so that I would do what God wanted. He chose me [to tell people that God] has promised [that they will] live [eternally] as a result of their having a close relationship with Christ Jesus.

2 kuTimothi, umntanami othandekayo: Umusa, isihawu, ukuthula okuvela kuNkulunkulu uBaba, loKristu Jesu iNkosi yethu.

[I am writing to you], Timothy, whom I love [as if you were] my own son. [I pray that] God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord will [continue to act] kindly to you, be merciful to you, and [cause you to have] inner peace,

3 Ngiyambonga uNkulunkulu, engimkhonzayo kusukela kubokhokho esazeleni esimhlophe, njengalokhu ngikukhumbula ngokungaphezi emikhulekweni yami ebusuku lemini,

I thank God [for all that he has done for you]. I serve him, and my ancestors [served him, too. I serve him] in a manner that I know to be right. [I thank him] while repeatedly I [pray for you] at night and during the day.

4 ngilangatha ukukubona, ngikhumbula inyembezi zakho, ukuze ngigcwaliswe ngentokozo,

[While I am thanking God for you], I very much want to see you because I remember how you cried [MTY] [when we separated. I want to see you] in order that I may be (filled with joy/very happy).

5 nxa ngibeka emkhumbulweni ukholo olungelakuzenzisa olukuwe, olwaluhlezi kugogo wakho uLoyisi kuqala lakunyoko uYunike, njalo ngithemba ukuthi lukhona lakuwe.

[I thank God because] I remember that you sincerely believe [in Christ Jesus]. First, your grandmother, Lois, and your mother, Eunice, [believed in him and], I am (convinced/very sure) that you also believe in him.

6 Ngenxa yalesisizatho ngiyakukhumbuza ukuthi uvuselele isipho sikaNkulunkulu, esikuwe ngokubekwa kwezandla zami.

Because [I am sure that you believe in him], I remind you to do fervently/wholeheartedly [MET] what God has (assigned for/appointed) you to do and what he has enabled you to do. [God] ([assigned for/appointed]) you to do it as a result of my putting my hands [on you to show/indicate that he had chosen you to do his work].

7 Ngoba uNkulunkulu kasinikanga umoya wobugwala, kodwa owamandla lowothando lowokuqonda.

Remember that God has put [his Spirit] within us. [His Spirit does not cause us to be] afraid. Instead, [he causes us to be] powerful [to work for God], and he helps us to love [others] and [to] control what we say and do.

8 Ngakho ungabi lanhloni ngobufakazi beNkosi yethu, loba ngami isibotshwa sayo; kodwa kumele uhlupheke kanye levangeli njengamandla kaNkulunkulu,

So never be ashamed/reluctant to tell others the message about our Lord. And do not [be ashamed] of me, [even though I am] a prisoner [because I preach about] him. Instead, [be willing to] suffer as I do as you proclaim the message about Christ. [Endure what you will suffer] by letting God empower [you to endure it].

9 owasisindisayo, njalo wasibiza ngobizo olungcwele, kungeyisikho njengemisebenzi yethu kodwa ngokwelakhe icebo langomusa, asinika wona kuKristu Jesu kungakafiki izibanga zezikhathi, (aiōnios g166)

[God] saved us and chose us to conduct our lives in a pure way. It was not our doing good deeds/actions [that caused him to do this for us—something] that we did not deserve. Instead, before (time began/he created the world) he purposed/planned to [be kind to us] as a result of what Christ Jesus [would do for us]. (aiōnios g166)

10 kodwa oselubonakaliswe khathesi ngokubonakala koMsindisi wethu uJesu Kristu, owachitha ukufa, waseletha ekukhanyeni impilo lokungabhubhi ngevangeli,

Now, as a result of our Savior Christ Jesus having come, it has been revealed {he has shown} [that he acts kindly toward us. Specifically, Christ Jesus] has declared that we [will not remain dead after we] die! He has also revealed that, as a result of [our hearing and accepting] the message [about Christ, we] will live [forever in bodies that will] not decay!

11 engamiselwa lona mina ukuba ngumtshumayeli lomphostoli lomfundisi wezizwe.

I was chosen {Christ chose me} to go as an apostle to many places and proclaim that message to people.

12 Ngenxa yalesisizatho lami ngiyahlupheka lezizinto, kodwa kangilanhloni; ngoba ngiyamazi engikholwe kuye, njalo ngileqiniso ukuthi ulamandla okulondoloza lokho engikubeke kuye kuze kufike lolosuku.

So, even though I suffer [here in this prison], I am not ashamed [of being here] (OR, I am very confident), because I know [Christ Jesus], the one whom I have trusted, and I am convinced/sure that he is able to keep safe the good message that he has entrusted to me (OR, the things that I have entrusted [to him]), and that he will reward me at the time [MTY] [when he comes again].

13 Bambelela kusibonelo samazwi aphilileyo owawezwayo kimi, ekholweni lethandweni olukuKristu Jesu.

Be sure that you tell others the same correct message that you heard from me. [And as you tell it], keep trusting [in Christ Jesus] and keep loving [others] as Christ Jesus [enables you to do].

14 Lokhu okuhle okuphathisiweyo kulondoloze ngoMoya oNgcwele ohlezi kithi.

Do not let anyone persuade you to change the [good message that] God has entrusted/given to you. Allow the Holy Spirit who lives in us to [direct what you say].

15 Uyakwazi lokhu, ukuthi bonke abaseAsiya bangihlamuka, okukubo uFigelo loHermogene.

You know that [almost] all [the believers] in Asia [province] have (turned away from/abandoned) me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.

16 Sengathi iNkosi inganika umusa indlu kaOnesiforo; ngoba wangivuselela kanengi, njalo wayengelanhloni ngeketane lami,

[But I pray that] the Lord will be kind to the family of Onesiphorus for the following reasons: Often he cheered me up and, [even though] I was a prisoner [MTY], he was not ashamed (of me/[to admit he was] my [friend]).

17 kodwa ekufikeni kwakhe eRoma, wangidingisisa kakhulu wasengithola;

On the contrary, when he came here to Rome, he diligently searched for me until he found me.

18 sengathi iNkosi ingamnika ukuthi athole isihawu eNkosini ngalolosuku; lokuthi zingaki izinto angenzela zona eEfesu, uyakwazi wena kuhle kakhulu.

[I pray that] the Lord will be kind to him on that day [MTY] [when he, the Lord, will judge people]. And how much Onesiphorus served [me] in Ephesus [city], you know very well.