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,

“Honour 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 be well with you, and you may live long on the earth.”

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

You fathers, don’t provoke your children to wrath, but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

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

Servants, be obedient to those who according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as to Christ,

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

not in the way of service only when eyes are on you, as men pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,

7 lisebenza ngenhliziyo enhle kungathi kuseNkosini njalo kungeyisikho ebantwini;

with good will doing service 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 thing each one does, he will receive the same good again from the Lord, whether he is bound or free.

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

You masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with him.

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

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

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

Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

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

For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (aiōn g165)

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

Therefore put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

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

Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

15 njalo ligqokise inyawo zenu ngokulunga kwevangeli lokuthula;

and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace,

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

above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one.

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

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

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

with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints.

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

Pray for me, that utterance may be given to me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Good News,

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

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

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

But that you also may know my affairs, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make known to you all things.

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

I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know our state 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 the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love. Amen.