Kwabase-Efesu 6

1 Bantwana, lalelani abazali benu eNkosini; ngoba lokhu kulungile.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

2 Hlonipha uyihlo lonyoko, okungumlayo wokuqala olesithembiso,

“Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—

3 ukuze kube kuhle kuwe, njalo uphile isikhathi eside emhlabeni.

“that it may go well with you and you may live long on the earth.”

4 Lani bobaba, lingabathukuthelisi abantwana benu, kodwa libondle emlayweni lemfundisweni yeNkosi.

And fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of Sovereign.

5 Zisebenzi, lalelani amakhosi enu ngokwenyama, ngokwesaba langokuthuthumela, ebuqothweni benhliziyo zenu, njengakuKristu;

Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ;

6 kungeyisikho ngenkonzo yamehlo njengabathokozisa abantu, kodwa njengezisebenzi zikaKristu, zisenza intando kaNkulunkulu ngenhliziyo,

not only when being watched, to please men, but as slaves of the Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

7 lisebenza ngenhliziyo enhle kungathi kuseNkosini njalo kungeyisikho ebantwini;

serving with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to men,

8 lisazi ukuthi loba yini enhle ngulowo lalowo angayenza, enjalo uzayemukela eNkosini, loba eyisigqili, loba engokhululekileyo.

knowing that whatever good each one does, he will receive the same again from the Lord, whether he is slave or free.

9 Lani makhosi, yenzani izinto ezifananayo kuzo, liyekele ukuzisongela; lisazi ukuthi leyenu iNkosi isemazulwini, njalo ukubandlulula umuntu kakukho kuyo.

And masters, be the same way towards them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.

10 Elokucina, bazalwane bami, qinani eNkosini, lebuninimandleni bamandla ayo.

Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.

11 Hlomani izikhali zonke zikaNkulunkulu, ukuze libe lamandla okumelana lobuqili bukadiyabhola;

Put on the full armor of God so as to be able to stand firm against the stratagems of the devil.

12 ngoba kasibindani legazi lenyama, kodwa lemibuso, lamandla, lababusi balumhlaba wobumnyama balesisikhathi, lemimoya yamabutho obubi ezindaweni zamazulu. (aiōn g165)

Because, our wrestling match is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the authorities, against the world-rulers of the darkness of this age, against the malignant spirits in the heavenly realms. (aiōn g165)

13 Ngakho hlomani izikhali zonke zikaNkulunkulu, ukuze libe lamandla okugxila osukwini olubi, lokuze kuthi lapho seliqede konke, lime.

That is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, to stand firm, with everything in place.

14 Ngakho manini, inkalo zenu zibotshiwe ngeqiniso, lifake isivikelo sesifuba sokulunga,

So stand firm, having belted your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

15 njalo ligqokise inyawo zenu ngokulunga kwevangeli lokuthula;

and having shod your feet with the readiness of the Gospel of the peace;

16 phezu kwakho konke selithethe isihlangu sokholo, elizakuba lamandla okucitsha ngaso yonke imitshoko evuthayo yomubi.

above all, having taken up the shield of the faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the malignant one;

17 Njalo thathani ikhowa losindiso, lenkemba kaMoya, eyilizwi likaNkulunkulu,

also, grasp the helmet of the salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is God's Word spoken;

18 ngawo wonke umkhuleko lonxuso likhuleka isikhathi sonke kuMoya, lakulokhu lilinde ngesineke sonke lonxuso ngabangcwele bonke,

praying at all times in the Spirit, using every prayer and petition, yes being watchful to this end with all perseverance and petition for all the saints

19 langami, ukuze ngiphiwe ilizwi ekuvuleni umlomo wami ngesibindi ukuze ngazise imfihlo yevangeli,

—on my behalf too, that when I open my mouth utterance may be given to me with boldness, to make known the mystery of the Gospel,

20 engiyisithunywa ngalo esisemaketaneni, ukuze ngikhulume ngesibindi kulo, njengoba kungifanele ukuthi ngikhulume.

for which I am an ambassador in chains; that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to do.

21 Kodwa ukuze lani lazi izinto eziqondana lami, engikwenzayo, uzalitshela konke uTikiko umzalwane othandekayo lesikhonzi esithembekileyo eNkosini;

Now that you also may know my affairs, how I am doing, Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything;

22 engimthume kini ngakhona lokhu, ukuze lazi izinto eziqondana lathi, lokuthi aduduze inhliziyo zenu.

whom I have sent to you for this very purpose: that you may know our circumstances and that he may comfort your hearts.

23 Ukuthulakakube kubazalwane, lothando kanye lokholo oluvela kuNkulunkulu uBaba leNkosini uJesu Kristu.

Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and Sovereign Jesus Christ.

24 Umusa kawube kubo bonke abathanda iNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu ngokungonakaliyo. Ameni.

The grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love. Amen.