KwabaseRoma 13
1 Wonke umphefumulo awuzehlisele ngaphansi kwamandla aphezulu; ngoba kakukho amandla ngaphandle kwavela kuNkulunkulu; lamandla akhona amiswe nguNkulunkulu.
Every one should be in the higher authorities; for there is no authority apart from God. The authorities that now exist have been appointed by God.
2 Ngakho omelana lamandla, umelana lesimiso sikaNkulunkulu; lalabo abamelana lawo bazazithathela ukulahlwa.
Therefore the man who rebels against authority is opposing the divine ordinances; and those who withstand will bring judgment on themselves.
3 Ngoba ababusi kabesabeki emisebenzini emihle, kodwa kwemibi. Njalo uyathanda yini ukungesabi amandla? Yenza okuhle, njalo uzakuba lodumo kuwo;
For rulers are no terror to good deeds, but to evil. Would you be fearless of the ruler’s authority? Do what is good, and you will have his praise.
4 ngoba uyinceku kaNkulunkulu ukuze kube kuhle kuwe. Kodwa nxa usenza okubi, yesaba; ngoba inkemba kayiphatheli ize. Ngoba uyinceku kaNkulunkulu, ungumphindiseli wolaka kulowo owenza okubi.
For the ruler is God’s minister appointed for your good. But if you are a wrong-doer, be afraid; he does not carry the sword to no purpose; he is God’s servant, appointed to vengeance upon the guilty.
5 Ngakho kumele ukuthi uzehlise, kungabi ngenxa yolaka kuphela, kodwa langenxa yesazela.
Wherefore you must needs be in subjection, not only because of fear, but also for conscience sake.
6 Ngoba ngenxa yalokho lithela lomthelo; ngoba bayizinceku zikaNkulunkulu, ezikhuthalela khona lokho.
This too, is the reason why you pay taxes; because the authorities are ministers of God’s service, attending continually upon this very thing.
7 Ngakho phanini bonke okufaneleyo; umthelo kofanele umthelo; inkokhelo kofanele inkokhelo; ukwesatshwa kofanele ukwesatshwa; udumo kofanele udumo.
Render to all their dues; taxes to whom taxes, customs to whom customs, respect to whom respect, and homage to whom homage is due.
8 Lingabi lamlandu kumuntu, ngaphandle kowokuthandana; ngoba othanda omunye, ugcwalisile umlayo.
Never owe any one anything save the debt of brotherly love; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the Law.
9 Ngoba lokhu ukuthi: Ungafebi, ungabulali, ungebi, ungafakazi amanga, ungabi lomhawu; loba-ke kukhona lawuphi umlayo, kuhlanganiswa kulelilizwi, kulokhu: Wothanda umakhelwane wakho njengalokhu uzithanda wena.
For the Law which says, Thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt do no murder, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness, thou shalt not covet, and whatever other commandment there be - is all summed up in this one saying, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
10 Uthando kalwenzi okubi kumakhelwane; ngakho uthando luyikugcwaliseka komlayo.
Love never wrongs his neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilment of the Law.
11 Njalo lokhu, lisazi isikhathi, ukuthi sekulihola lokuthi sivuke ebuthongweni; ngoba usindiso selusondele kithi kulesikhathi esakholwa ngaso.
Carry out these injunctions because you know the crisis that we are in, that now it is high time for you to awake out of sleep; for now is our salvation nearer than when we first believed.
12 Ubusuku budlulile, usuku selusondele; ngakho asikhuphe imisebenzi yobumnyama, sihlome izikhali zokukhanya.
The night is far spent; The day is at hand. Let is therefore take off the deeds of darkness, Let us put on the armor of light.
13 Asihambe ngokufaneleyo, njengasemini, kungabi ngokuminza langokudakwa, kungabi semacansini lokungcola, kungabi ngokuxabana langomona.
Let us live honestly, as in the day, Not in reveling and drunkenness, Not in lust and licentiousness, Not is strife and jealousy;
14 Kodwa yembathani iNkosi uJesu Kristu, linganakekeli inyama, ngezinkanuko.
But clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, And make no provisions for your earthly nature And the gratification of its lusts.
