2 Bakolinto 13
1 Ubu ebulwendo bwakame bwacitatu kwisa uko. Mabala a Lesa alambangeti, “Mulandu uliwonse ushininkishiwe ne bakamboni babili nambi batatu.”
[In the Scriptures it is stated that when one person] accuses [another of wrongdoing, you must not believe his] accusation [right away]. [First, you must listen to at least] two or three people who actually saw what happened. [So keep in mind that] this will be the third time that I will visit you!
2 Mpondalesa uko mubulwendo bwakame bwacibili ndalamucenjesha kwambeti ninkape cisubulo uliyense labulunga kuleka bwipishi. Nambi ndikuno kutali nenjamwe nsombi ndamucenjeshenga cimocimo.
When I visited you the second time, I warned you [that I was going to punish all the wrongdoers among you]. [And now] I am [warning you] again while I am still away [from you]. When I visit you this third time, I will punish those who were sinning [at the time when I visited you] before [and who are still sinning], and I will [punish] the others [who have been sinning since then, if they have not stopped their sinful behavior].
3 Nimukabe nebukamboni bwesulila mbomulayandanga kwishibeti Klistu lambanga kupitila muli njame. Nsombi ukute ngofu shakendi pakati penu!
Because you have demanded that I prove to you that Christ is speaking [to you when] I [speak to you, I will show you that I speak to you as his apostle. Christ] does not approve of your sinful behavior. On the contrary, he will powerfully [discipline you].
4 Nambi walaboneketi wabula ngofu mpwalikupopwa pa lusanda, nsombi cino cindi nimuyumi kupitila mungofu sha Lesa. Neco nenjafwe tukute tuliya ngofu muli endiye, nsombi nitukabe ne buyumi pamo nendiye kupitila mungofu sha Lesa, pakusebensa ncito yetu pakati penu.
[It is true that] Christ [seemed to be] weak when he was crucified {when [people] killed him by nailing him to the cross}. But [it is also true that] he [now] lives because God [worked] powerfully [to bring him back to life. Similarly], as I [serve] God, I also am a weak human [being as Christ was]. But I also [have a close relationship with] Christ [who is now alive again]. And with his [authority] I will use God’s power [to discipline] you.
5 Kamulicencetani mubone namuli mu lushomo. Panyuma pa kulicenceta mobene nimuboneti Klistu uli muli njamwe. Nomba na mucaneti Klistu nkalipo mulinjamwe, mwishibeti mulalilwa.
Each of you should ask yourself: “[Do I] believe [God’s message about Christ?]” Each of you should [examine yourselves to] make sure that you truly do [believe] in Christ [and so truly belong to him], and that [his Spirit lives] in you [(pl)]. When you examine yourselves [in that way], I am sure that you will [RHQ] say [to me], “Yes, of course we [belong to] Christ.”
6 Nomba ndashometi mucisheti ntafwe beshikwalilwa sobwe.
I am [also] certain that you will know that I [belong to Christ, just like you do].
7 Tulapailinga kuli Lesa kwambeti mucileke kwinsa byaipa, nteko kwambeti twapaileco afwe tuboneketi balulama sobwe, nsombi nikwambeti amwe mwinse caina, nambi afwe tucaniketi tulalilwanga.
But [because I do not want to have to punish you], I am praying to God that he will help you not to do anything evil [that would cause me to have to punish you. I pray this], not in order that when people [who say that I am not your apostle] realize [that my ministry among you has been very successful, they will have to agree] that I do have authority from Christ. Instead, [I pray this because I want] you to do what is right, even though that might mean that [my opponents would think] that I do not have authority from Christ, [since I would not have an opportunity to show my authority to discipline you].
8 Twense katutalwananga ne cancine ncine sobwe, nsombi katucikonkelanga.
[If you do what is right, I will not discipline you], [because it would] not [be right for me to do that if you are conducting your lives the way you should, like] God’s true [message says that you should. What God asks me to do is to help people to know and obey his] true [message].
9 Twakondwa nambi tuliya ngofu, nsombi amwe mukute ngofu. Neco tulapailingeti mube bakwana mulushomo.
I am happy [whenever] you are strongly [trusting and obeying Christ, and because of that I do not have to use my authority to discipline you. It does not matter to me if that makes people think that I do not have any authority]. Truly, what I am praying for is that [God] will [help] you to completely change your conduct.
10 Ndalembelengalimo ibi bintu kantananjisa uko kwambeti kantakaboneka kuba wayuma moyo. Ndakasebenseshenga ngofu shakame sha bwendeleshi nshendalapewa ne Mwami. Ndalapewa ishi ngofu shabwendeleshi kwambeti ndimunyafwe ntesho shakumulyataula sobwe.
That is why I am writing these things while I am still away from you. [What I want is that] when I visit you, [you will already be conducting your lives as God wants you to], and so I will not have to [discipline you] severely, as the [Lord Jesus Christ gave me] the authority to do. The authority that I have from the Lord is to help you to become [spiritually] mature believers, not to cause you to stop [trusting in him].
11 Pacino cindi mobanse bame ndeti kamutangalani, kamwinsani byaina, kamusamalani mbyendamwambili. Nyumfwanani ne kwikala mulumuno mwense. Lesa walumuno ne lusuno abe nenjamwe.
Finally, my fellow believers, [I say to you], be joyful. Completely [change how you conduct your lives], and do what I have urged you [to do]. Be united in what you think [about the matters about which I have written to you]. Live peacefully [with each other. If you do those things], God, who [enables you to] love [each other] and be peaceful, will bless [MTY] you.
12 Panani mitende nekushonshotana kwaswepa.
Greet each other affectionately as [fellow members] of God’s family [should].
13 Bantu bonse ba Lesa balamupanga mitende Ndapailinga ndeti Mwami Yesu Klistu amubele nkumbo nekumuleleka.
All God’s people [here] send you greetings.
14 Inkumbo sha Mwami Yesu Klistu ne lusuno lwa Lesa kayi ne Mushimu Uswepa bibe nenjamwe mwense.
[I pray that] the Lord Jesus Christ will act kindly [toward] all of you, in ways that you do not deserve, that God will [show all of you how much he] loves you, and that the Holy Spirit [will cause you to have good] fellowship [with him and with each other].
