Kwabase-Efesu 3
1 Ngenxa yalokhu mina Pawuli, isibotshwa sikaKristu Jesu ngani abezizwe,
For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Jesus, the Christ, for the sake of you Gentiles –
2 uba kambe selizwile ngokuphathwa komusa kaNkulunkulu engawuphiwelwa lina,
For you have heard, I suppose, of the responsible charge with which God entrusted me for your benefit,
3 ukuthi njengesambulelo wangazisa imfihlo (njengalokhu ngabhala ngaphambili ngamafitshane,
and also that it was by direct revelation that the hidden purpose of God was made known to me, as I have already briefly told you.
4 okungalokhu, nxa lifunda, lingazi ulwazi lwami emfihlweni kaKristu);
And, by reading what I have written, you will be able to judge how far I understand this hidden purpose of God in Christ.
5 yona engaziswanga ezizukulwaneni ezinye ebantwaneni babantu, njengalokhu isiyembuliwe khathesi kubaphostoli bakhe abangcwele labaprofethi ngoMoya;
In former generations it was not made known to humanity, as fully as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to the apostles and prophets among Christ’s people –
6 ukuthi abezizwe babe yizindlalifa abahlanganyeli lomzimba ofananayo labahlanganyeli besithembiso sakhe kuKristu, ngevangeli,
That, by union with Christ Jesus and through the good news, the Gentiles are coheirs with us and members of one body, and that they share with us in God’s Promise.
7 engenziwa ngalo isikhonzi njengokwesipho somusa kaNkulunkulu engiwuphiwe ngokusebenza kwamandla akhe.
Of this good news I become an assistant, in virtue of the charge with which God entrusted me in the exercise of his power –
8 Kimi, engimncinyane kulomncinyane wabo bonke abangcwele, lowomusa ngawuphiwa, ukuthi ngitshumayele kwabezizwe ivangeli lenotho kaKristu engelakulinganiswa,
Yes, to me, who am less than the least of all Christ’s people, was this charge entrusted! – to tell the Gentiles the good news of the boundless wealth to be found in the Christ,
9 lokukhanyisela bonke ukuthi buyini ubudlelwano bemfihlo, ebifihliwe kusukela endulo kuNkulunkulu owadala izinto zonke ngoJesu Kristu, (aiōn g165)
and to make clear what is God’s way of working out that hidden purpose which from the first has been concealed in the mind of the Creator of all things; (aiōn g165)
10 ukuze khathesi emibusweni lemandleni endaweni zezulu yaziswe libandla inhlakanipho kaNkulunkulu ezinhlobonhlobo,
so that now to the archangels and to all the powers on high should be made known, through the church, the all-embracing wisdom of God,
in accordance with that purpose which runs through all the ages and which he has now accomplished in Jesus, the Christ, our Master. (aiōn g165)
12 esilesibindi kuye lokungena ngethemba, ngokholo lwakhe.
And in union with him, and through our trust in him, we find courage to approach God with confidence.
13 Ngakho ngiyacela ukuthi lingalahli ithemba enhluphekweni zami ngani, eziludumo lwenu.
Therefore I beg you not to be disheartened at the sufferings that I am undergoing for your sakes; for they redound to your honour.
14 Ngenxa yalokhu ngiguqa ngamadolo kuYise weNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu,
For this reason, then, I kneel before the Father –
15 okubizwa ngaye usendo lonke olusemazulwini lolusemhlabeni,
from whom all “fatherhood” in heaven and on earth derives its name –
16 ukuze alinike, njengokwenotho yobukhosi bakhe, liqiniswe ngamandla ngoMoya wakhe emuntwini ongaphakathi,
and pray that, in proportion to the wealth of his glory, he will strengthen you with his power by breathing his Spirit into your inmost soul,
17 ukuze uKristu ahlale ngokholo enhliziyweni zenu; ligxilile lisekelwe ethandweni,
so that the Christ, through your faith, may make his home within your hearts in love; and I pray that you, now firmly rooted and established, may, with all Christ’s people,
18 ukuze libe lamandla sibili okuqedisisa kanye labo bonke abangcwele, ukuthi kuyini ububanzi lobude lokutshona lokuphakama,
have the power to comprehend in all its width and length and height and depth,
19 lokwazi uthando lukaKristu olwedlula ulwazi, ukuze ligcwaliswe ngokugcwala konke kukaNkulunkulu.
and to understand – though it surpasses all understanding – the love of the Christ; and so be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Njalo kuye, olamandla phezu kwakho konke okwenza okwedlula ngokwengezelelweyo kwesikucelayo kumbe esikunakanayo, njengamandla asebenza kithi,
To him who, through his power which is at work within us, is able to do far more than anything that we can ask or conceive –
