KwabaseKholose 4
1 Makhosi, nikani izisebenzi okulungileyo lokulingeneyo, lisazi ukuthi lani lileNkosi emazulwini.
Masters, do what is right and fair by your slaves, for you know that you also have a Master – in heaven.
2 Khuthalani emkhulekweni, lilinde kuwo ngokubonga;
Devote yourselves to prayer. Give your whole mind to it, and also offer thanksgiving;
3 likhuleke ngesikhathi esifananayo ngathi futhi, ukuthi uNkulunkulu asivulele umnyango welizwi, ukukhuluma imfihlo kaKristu, lami engibotshwe ngenxa yayo;
and at the same time pray for us, so that God may give us an opening for our message, so that we may speak of the truths hidden in the Christ – the truths for which I am in chains!
4 ukuthi ngiyibonakalise, njengalokhu ngifanele ukukhuluma.
Then I will make them known, as I ought to do.
5 Hambani ngenhlakanipho mayelana labangaphandle, lihlenga isikhathi.
Show tact in your behaviour to the outside world, making the most of every opportunity.
6 Ilizwi lenu kalihlale emuseni, linambitheke ngetshwayi, ukuze lazi ukuthi kulifanele njani ukuphendula lowo lalowo.
Let your conversation always be kindly, but not bland, season it, as it were, with salt; be aware in each case of the answer you should be giving.
7 Konke okumaqondana lami uzalitshela uTikiko, umzalwane othandekayo lesikhonzi esithembekileyo lesisebenzi kanye lathi eNkosini;
Our dear friend, Tychicus, will tell you all about me. He is a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Master’s cause.
8 engimthume kini kukho lokhu, ukuze azi indaba zenu lokuthi aduduze inhliziyo zenu;
I send him to you expressly that you may learn our circumstances, and that he may give you encouragement.
9 kanye loOnesimo umzalwane othembekileyo lothandekayo, owakini. Bazalazisa konke okulapha.
With him will be Onesimus, our dear faithful friend, who is one of yourselves. They will tell you all that is going on here.
10 Uyalibingelela uAristako oyisibotshwa kanye lami, loMarko umzawakhe kaBarnabasi, elemukela imilayo ngaye; uba efika kini, memukeleni,
My fellow prisoner, Aristarchus, sends you his greeting, and Barnabas’s cousin, Mark, sends his. (You have received directions about him. If he comes to you, make him welcome.)
11 loJesu othiwa nguJustusi, owabokusoka; laba bodwa yizisebenzi kanye lami embusweni kaNkulunkulu, ababa yinduduzo kimi.
Joshua, who is called Justus, also sends his greeting. These are the only converts from Judaism who have worked with me for the kingdom of God; I have found them a great comfort.
12 Uyalibingelela uEpafra owakini, inceku kaKristu, elilwela emikhulekweni ngezikhathi zonke, ukuze lime liphelele ligcwaliswe entandweni yonke kaNkulunkulu.
Epaphras, who is one of yourselves, sends you his greeting. He is a servant of Christ Jesus, and is always most earnest in your behalf in his prayers, praying that you may stand firm, with a matured faith and with a sure conviction of all that is in accordance with God’s will.
13 Ngoba ngiyafakaza kuye ukuthi uyalitshisekela kakhulu labaseLawodikeya labaseHiyerapoli.
I can bear testimony to the deep interest he takes in you, as well as in the followers at Laodicea and at Hierapolis.
14 Uyalibingelela uLuka umelaphi othandekayo, loDema.
Luke, our dear doctor, sends you his greeting, and Demas sends his.
15 Bingelelani abazalwane abaseLawodikeya, loNimfa, lebandla elisemzini wakhe.
Give my greeting to the followers at Laodicea, and to Nymphe, and to the church that meets at her house.
16 Njalo nxa isifundiwe lincwadi phakathi kwenu, bonani ukuthi ifundwe lebandleni labeLawodikeya, njalo ukuthi lani liyifunde leyo evela eLawodikeya.
And when this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read before the church at Laodicea, and that you yourselves read the letter which will be forwarded from there.
17 Limtshele uArkipho lithi: Qaphela inkonzo oyemukele eNkosini, ukuthi uyiphelelise.
Give this message to Archippus – “Take care to discharge to the best of your ability the office to which you were appointed in the Master’s cause.”
18 Isibingelelo ngesami isandla esikaPawuli. Khumbulani izibopho zami. Umusa kawube lani. Ameni.
I, Paul, add this greeting in my own handwriting. Remember these chains of mine. God’s blessing be with you.
