Kwabase-Efesu 3
1 Ngenxa yalokhu mina Pawuli, isibotshwa sikaKristu Jesu ngani abezizwe,
For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles, bow my knees in prayer.
2 uba kambe selizwile ngokuphathwa komusa kaNkulunkulu engawuphiwelwa lina,
Surely you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you,
3 ukuthi njengesambulelo wangazisa imfihlo (njengalokhu ngabhala ngaphambili ngamafitshane,
how God made the mystery known to me by revelation, just as I have written above in a few words.
4 okungalokhu, nxa lifunda, lingazi ulwazi lwami emfihlweni kaKristu);
When you read what I have written, you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
5 yona engaziswanga ezizukulwaneni ezinye ebantwaneni babantu, njengalokhu isiyembuliwe khathesi kubaphostoli bakhe abangcwele labaprofethi ngoMoya;
which in previous generations was not made known to the sons of men as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets.
6 ukuthi abezizwe babe yizindlalifa abahlanganyeli lomzimba ofananayo labahlanganyeli besithembiso sakhe kuKristu, ngevangeli,
This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of God's promise in Christ through the gospel.
7 engenziwa ngalo isikhonzi njengokwesipho somusa kaNkulunkulu engiwuphiwe ngokusebenza kwamandla akhe.
I became a servant of this gospel according to the gift of God's grace that was given to me by the working of his power.
8 Kimi, engimncinyane kulomncinyane wabo bonke abangcwele, lowomusa ngawuphiwa, ukuthi ngitshumayele kwabezizwe ivangeli lenotho kaKristu engelakulinganiswa,
This grace was given to me, the very least of all the saints, to preach among the Gentiles the good news of the boundless riches of Christ,
9 lokukhanyisela bonke ukuthi buyini ubudlelwano bemfihlo, ebifihliwe kusukela endulo kuNkulunkulu owadala izinto zonke ngoJesu Kristu, (aiōn g165)
and to bring to light for everyone the plan of the mystery that has been hidden for ages in God, who created all things through Jesus Christ. (aiōn g165)
10 ukuze khathesi emibusweni lemandleni endaweni zezulu yaziswe libandla inhlakanipho kaNkulunkulu ezinhlobonhlobo,
The purpose of bringing this to light is that, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms,
according to the eternal purpose that God has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord. (aiōn g165)
12 esilesibindi kuye lokungena ngethemba, ngokholo lwakhe.
Because of Christ and our faith in him, we have boldness and confident access to God.
13 Ngakho ngiyacela ukuthi lingalahli ithemba enhluphekweni zami ngani, eziludumo lwenu.
Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, which will bring you glory.
14 Ngenxa yalokhu ngiguqa ngamadolo kuYise weNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu,
For this reason I bow my knees in prayer before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 okubizwa ngaye usendo lonke olusemazulwini lolusemhlabeni,
from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.
16 ukuze alinike, njengokwenotho yobukhosi bakhe, liqiniswe ngamandla ngoMoya wakhe emuntwini ongaphakathi,
I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he would grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
17 ukuze uKristu ahlale ngokholo enhliziyweni zenu; ligxilile lisekelwe ethandweni,
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith,
18 ukuze libe lamandla sibili okuqedisisa kanye labo bonke abangcwele, ukuthi kuyini ububanzi lobude lokutshona lokuphakama,
as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may be able to fully comprehend, together with all the saints, how wide and long and deep and high
19 lokwazi uthando lukaKristu olwedlula ulwazi, ukuze ligcwaliswe ngokugcwala konke kukaNkulunkulu.
is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Njalo kuye, olamandla phezu kwakho konke okwenza okwedlula ngokwengezelelweyo kwesikucelayo kumbe esikunakanayo, njengamandla asebenza kithi,
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine, according to the power at work within us—
