Kwabase-Efesu 6

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

Ye children, be obedient unto your parents [in the Lord], for this is right:

2 Hlonipha uyihlo lonyoko, okungumlayo wokuqala olesithembiso,

Honour thy father and thy mother, —which indeed is the first commandment with promise,

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

That it may come to be, well with thee, and thou shalt be long-lived upon the land.

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

And ye fathers, be not provoking your children to anger, but be nourishing them up in the discipline and admonition of the Lord.

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

Ye servants, be obedient unto them who, after the flesh, are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto the Christ;

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

Not by way of eye-service as man-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God, from the soul,

7 lisebenza ngenhliziyo enhle kungathi kuseNkosini njalo kungeyisikho ebantwini;

with good will, rendering service—as unto the Lord, and not unto men;

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

Knowing that, each one, whatsoever he may do that is good, the same, shall he receive back from the Lord, whether bond or free.

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

And ye masters, the same things, be doing towards them, forbearing your threat—knowing that, both their and your Master, is in the heavens, and, respect of persons, there is none, with him.

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

For the rest, be empowering yourselves in the Lord, and in the grasp of his might:

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

Put on the complete armour of God, with a view to your having power to stand against the strategies of the adversary;

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

Because our struggle is not against blood and flesh, but, against the principalities, against the authorities, against the world-holders, of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenlies. (aiōn g165)

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

For this cause, take up the complete armour of God, in order that ye may receive power to withstand in the evil day, and, all things, having accomplished, to stand!

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

Stand therefore, —having girded your loins with truth, and put on the breastplate of righteousness,

15 njalo ligqokise inyawo zenu ngokulunga kwevangeli lokuthula;

And shod your feet with the readiness of the glad-message of peace;

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

With all, having taken up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall have power, all the ignited darts of the wicked one, to quench;

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

And, the helmet of salvation, welcome ye, and the sword of the spirit, which is what God hath spoken,

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

With all prayer and supplication, praying in every season, in spirit, and, thereunto, watching, with all perseverance and supplication, for all the saints, —

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

And on behalf of me; —that, unto me, may be given discourse in the opening of my mouth, with freedom of utterance, to make known the sacred secret [of the glad-message]

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

In behalf of which I am conducting an embassy in chains, that, therein, I may use freedom of utterance as it is needful for me to speak.

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

In order, however, that, ye also, may know the things which relate to me—what I am accomplishing, —all things, shall Tychicus make known unto you, [he] the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord,

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

Whom I have sent unto you for this very purpose, that ye may get to know the things concerning us, and he may encourage your hearts.

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

Peace unto the brethren, and love with faith, —from God our Father, and Lord Jesus Christ.

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

Favour be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptness.