KwabaseFiliphi 1

1 UPawuli loTimothi, izinceku zikaJesu Kristu, kubo bonke abangcwele kuKristu Jesu abaseFiliphi, kanye lababonisi labadikoni:

Paul and Timothy, slaves of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:

2 Umusa kawube kini lokuthula okuvela kuNkulunkulu uBaba wethu leNkosini uJesu Kristu.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and Sovereign Jesus Christ.

3 Ngiyambonga uNkulunkulu wami ekulikhumbuleni konke,

I thank my God every time I remember you;

4 ngezikhathi zonke kuwo wonke umkhuleko wami ngani lonke ngincenga ngentokozo,

in all my prayers for all of you I always pray with joy,

5 ngokuhlanganyela kwenu evangelini, kusukela osukwini lokuqala kuze kube khathesi;

because of your partnership in the Gospel from the first day until now,

6 ngilethemba lakhona lokhu, ukuthi owaqalisa umsebenzi omuhle kini uzawuphelelisa kuze kube sosukwini lukaJesu Kristu;

being certain of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will complete it until the Day of Jesus Christ;

7 njengoba kulungile kimi ukuthi ngikhumbule lokhu ngani lonke, ngoba ngilani enhliziyweni, ukuthi lekubotshweni kwami, lekuvikeleni lekuqiniseleni ivangeli, lina lonke lingabahlanganyeli bomusa wami.

just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the Gospel you all are partakers with me of the Grace.

8 Ngoba uNkulunkulu ungumfakazi wami, wokuthi ngililangatha kangakanani lonke emibilini kaJesu Kristu.

God is my witness how I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.

9 Njalo ngikhuleka lokhu, ukuthi uthando lwenu luvame-ke lusanda ngokwanda elwazini lekuqedisiseni konke,

This is what I pray: that your love may abound yet more and more in real knowledge and full discernment,

10 ukuze lizivume izinto ezinhle kakhulu, ukuze lihlambuluke lingasoleki kuze kube sosukwini lukaKristu,

for you to identify the things that really matter; that you may be sincere and blameless until the Day of Christ,

11 ligcwaliswe ngezithelo zokulunga ezingoJesu Kristu, ebukhosini lodumo lukaNkulunkulu.

having been filled with the fruits of righteousness that are through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

12 Kodwa ngithanda ukuthi lazi, bazalwane, ukuthi izinto ezangehlelayo zenza kakhulu ukuqhutshelwa phambili kwevangeli;

Now I want you to know, brothers, that the events against me have actually turned out for the advancement of the Gospel:

13 zize izibopho zami kuKristu zibonakale esigodlweni sonke lakwabanye bonke,

as a result, it has become evident to the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that I am in chains for Christ;

14 labazalwane abanengi eNkosini, beqiniswe ngezibopho zami, sebelesibindi esikhulu sokukhuluma ilizwi ngokungesabi.

also, most of the brothers in Sovereign have been influenced by my chains to be much bolder, to speak the Word fearlessly.

15 Abanye kambe batshumayela uKristu ngomona langombango, labanye kambe ngenhliziyo enhle;

To be sure, some are even preaching Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of good will;

16 laba batshumayela uKristu ngokuphikisana, bengelaqiniso, besithi baletha ukuhlupheka ekubotshweni kwami;

the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, thinking to add to my affliction while in chains,

17 kodwa labo ngothando, besazi ukuthi ngimiselwe ukuvikela ivangeli.

but the latter out of love, knowing that I am set here for the defense of the Gospel.

18 Kuyini pho? Loba kunjalo kuyo yonke indlela, loba ekuzenziseni, kumbe eqinisweni, uKristu uyatshunyayelwa; kulokhu-ke ngiyathokoza, yebo ngizathokoza futhi.

No problem: in every way, be it in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice—yes, and will rejoice.

19 Ngoba ngiyazi ukuthi lokhu kuzaphendukela kimi esindisweni ngomkhuleko wenu, langokwelekelela kukaMoya kaJesu Kristu,

You see, I know that this will turn out for my deliverance (through your supplication and the support of the Spirit of Jesus Christ)

20 njengokulindela okukhulu lethemba lami, ukuthi kangiyikuyangiswa ngalutho, kodwa ngesibindi sonke, njengesikhathi sonke, lakhathesi uKristu uzakhuliswa emzimbeni wami, loba ngempilo, kumbe ngokufa.

according to my earnest expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame in anything but be truly bold, so that now as always Christ will be glorified in my person, whether by life or by death

21 Ngoba kimi ukuphila kunguKristu, lokufa kuyinzuzo.

—to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

22 Kodwa uba ukuphila enyameni kuyisithelo somsebenzi kimi, lengizakukhetha kangikwazi.

Now if I am to live on in the flesh it will mean fruitful labor for me, so I do not know what to choose.

23 Ngoba ngiminyezelwe ngokubili; ngilesifiso sokusuka lokuba loKristu, okungcono kakhulukazi;

I am torn between the two: I have the desire to depart and be with Christ (far better),

24 kodwa ukuhlala enyameni kuyasweleka kakhulu ngenxa yenu.

but to remain in the flesh is more necessary, because of you.

25 Njalo ngilalelithemba ngiyazi ukuthi ngizakuba khona, ngihlale lani lonke, ekuqhubekeni kwenu lentokozweni yokholo,

So having been persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith,

26 ukuze ukuzincoma kwenu ngami kwengezwe kuKristu Jesu kimi, ngobukhona bami kini futhi.

so that your rejoicing over me may be more abundant in Christ Jesus, through my coming to you again.

27 Kuphela hambani ngokufanele ivangeli likaKristu, kuze kuthi, loba ngifika ngilibona, loba ngingekho, ngizwe indaba zenu, zokuthi limi emoyeni munye, ngangqondonye lilwela ukholo lwevangeli ndawonye,

Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you, or am absent, I may hear about you that you stand firm in one spirit, striving together for the faith of the Gospel with one soul,

28 njalo lingethuswa ngalutho ngabaphikisayo; okuyisibonakaliso kubo sokubhubha, kodwa kini esosindiso, njalo lokhu kuvela kuNkulunkulu;

and not being intimidated in any way by your opponents: to them this is an indicator of ruin, but to you of deliverance, and that from God.

29 ngoba lanikwa ngesihle esikhundleni sikaKristu, kungeyisikho ukukholwa kuye kuphela, kodwa lokumhluphekela;

For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe into Him, but also to suffer for His sake,

30 lilokulwa okufananayo njengalokho elakubona kimi, lelikuzwa kimi khathesi.

having the same struggle that you saw in me and now hear to be in me.