KuThithusi 3

1 Bakhumbuze ukuthi bazehlisele ngaphansi kwababusi leziphathamandla, babalalele, balungele wonke umsebenzi omuhle,

Put them in mind to be subject to governments, and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work;

2 bangahlebi muntu, bangabi yizilwi, babekezele, batshengise bonke ubumnene ebantwini bonke.

to speak evil of no one; to be no fighters, but equitable, showing all meekness to all men.

3 Ngoba lathi kade sasiyiziphukuphuku, singalaleli, sikhohliswa, sisebenzela inkanuko lentokozo ezinenginengi, siphila ebubini lemoneni, sizondeka, sizondana.

For even we ourselves were formerly foolish, disobedient, erring, slavishly serving diverse inordinate desires and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

4 Kodwa lapho sekubonakele umusa lothando lukaNkulunkulu uMsindisi wethu kubantu,

But when the goodness and philanthropy of God our Saviour shone forth,

5 kungeyisikho okuvela ezenzweni zokulunga esazenzayo thina, kodwa njengokwesihawu sakhe wasisindisa, ngokugeziswa kokuzalwa kutsha lokuvuselelwa koMoya oNgcwele,

he saved us--not on account of works of righteousness which we had done--but according to his own mercy, through the bath of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Spirit;

6 owamthulula ngokwengezelelweyo phezu kwethu, ngoJesu Kristu uMsindisi wethu,

which he poured out on us richly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

7 ukuze silungisiswe ngomusa wakhe, sibe yizindlalifa ngokwethemba lempilo elaphakade. (aiōnios g166)

that being justified by his favor, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (aiōnios g166)

8 Lithembekile ilizwi, njalo ngithanda ukuthi uqinise isibili ngalezizinto, ukuze abakholwa kuNkulunkulu bakhuthalele ukuma emisebenzini emihle. Lezi yizinto ezinhle ezilosizo ebantwini;

This doctrine is true: and concerning these, I charge you to affirm strongly, that those who have believed in God, be studious to stand foremost in good works. These are things that are honorable and profitable to men.

9 kodwa xwaya imibuzo yobuthutha lendaba zosendo olokuzalana lombango lokuphikisana ngomlayo; ngoba kazisizi futhi ziyize.

But foolish questions, and genealogies, and strifes, and fightings about the law, resist; for they are unprofitable and vain.

10 Umuntu obhazukayo emva kwesilayo sokuqala lesesibili, mdele,

A factionist, after a first and second admonition, reject;

11 usazi ukuthi onjalo uphambukile, uyona, uyazilahla yena.

knowing that such a person is perverted, and sins, being self-condemned.

12 Nxa ngizathuma uArtema kuwe loba uTikiko, khuthala uze kimi eNikapoli; ngoba ngizimisele ukuhlala khona ebusika.

When I shall send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, make haste to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have determined to winter there.

13 Khuthala uncedise uZena isazumthetho loApolosi ekuhambeni kwabo, ukuze kungabi lalutho oluswelakalayo kubo.

Diligently help forward on their journey, Zenas, the lawyer, and Apollos, that nothing may be wanting to them.

14 Abakithi-ke labo kabafunde ukuma emisebenzini emihle yokudingekayo kusweleka, ukuze bangabi ngabangelazithelo.

And let ours also learn to stand foremost in good works, for necessary uses, that they may not be unfruitful.

15 Bonke abalami bayakubingelela. Bingelela abasithandayo ekholweni. Umusa kawube lani lonke. Ameni.

All who are with me salute you. Salute them who love us in the faith. Favor be with you all.