KWABASEROMA

1 UPawulu, inceku kaKristu Jesu, owabizelwa ukuba umphostoli, ohlukaniselwe izindaba ezinhle zikaNkulunkulu, + 2 azithembisa kusengaphambili ngabaprofethi bakhe emiBhalweni engcwele, 3 eziphathelene neNdodana yakhe, eyavela enzalweni* kaDavide + ngokwenyama,* 4 kodwa ngamandla omoya ongcwele, kwathiwa iyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu + ngokuvuka kwabafile +—yebo, uJesu Kristu iNkosi yethu. 5 Esamukela ngaye umusa omkhulu* nobuphostoli + ngenjongo yokuba abantu bazo zonke izizwe babe nokholo + futhi balalele, kukhazinyuliswe igama lakhe, 6 izizwe nani enibizwe phakathi kwazo ukuba nibe ngabakaJesu Kristu— 7 kubo bonke abaseRoma njengabathandekayo bakaNkulunkulu, ababizelwe ukuba babe ngabangcwele:

Kwangathi ningathola umusa omkhulu nokuthula okuvela kuNkulunkulu uBaba wethu naseNkosini uJesu Kristu.

8 Okokuqala, ngibonga uNkulunkulu wami ngoJesu Kristu ngokuphathelene nani nonke, ngoba ukholo lwenu kukhulunywa ngalo kulo lonke izwe. 9 Njengoba nje uNkulunkulu, enginikela kuye inkonzo engcwele ngomoya wami mayelana nezindaba ezinhle eziphathelene neNdodana yakhe, engakufakazela ukuthi ngihlale ngikhuluma ngani emithandazweni yami, + 10 ngincenga ukuba ekugcineni uma kungenzeka ngigcine ngikwazile ukuza kini uma kuyintando kaNkulunkulu. 11 Ngoba ngilangazelela ukunibona, ukuze ngidlulisele kini isipho esithile esivela kuNkulunkulu ukuze niqiniswe; 12 noma, kunalokho, ukuze sikhuthazane, + ngokholo lomunye nomunye, olwenu nolwami.

13 Kodwa bafowethu, angifuni ukuba ningazi ukuthi kaningi ngangifuna ukuza kini—kodwa bengilokhu ngingakwazi kuze kube manje—ukuze ngithole izithelo ezithile naphakathi kwenu njengoba nje ngizithola phakathi kwazo zonke ezinye izizwe. 14 Ngikweleta kokubili amaGreki nabezinye izizwe,* kokubili abahlakaniphile nabangenangqondo; 15 ngakho ngiyakulangazelela ukuba ngimemezele izindaba ezinhle nakini lapho eRoma. + 16 Ngoba anginamahloni ngezindaba ezinhle; + eqinisweni, zingamandla kaNkulunkulu ensindiso kuwo wonke umuntu onokholo, + kumJuda kuqala + nakumGreki futhi. + 17 Ngoba kuzo ukulunga kukaNkulunkulu kwembulwa ngokholo nangenxa yokholo, + njengoba nje kulotshiwe: “Kodwa olungile uyophila ngenxa yokholo.” +

18 Ngoba ulaka lukaNkulunkulu + luyembulwa luvela ezulwini nakho konke ukungamhloniphi uNkulunkulu nokungalungi kwabantu abacindezela iqiniso + ngendlela engalungile, 19 ngoba lokho okungase kwaziwe ngoNkulunkulu kubonakala ngokucacile phakathi kwabo, ngoba uNkulunkulu wakwenza kwacaca kubo. + 20 Ngoba izimfanelo zakhe ezingabonakali, okuwukuthi amandla akhe aphakade + nobuNkulunkulu bakhe, + zibonakala ngokucacile kusukela ekudalweni kwezwe kuye phambili, ngoba ziqondakala ngezinto ezenziwe, + kangangokuthi abanazaba. 21 Ngoba nakuba babemazi uNkulunkulu, abamkhazimulisanga njengoNkulunkulu futhi abambonganga, kodwa izingqondo zabo zazingelusizo lwalutho futhi babengenakho ukuqonda. + 22 Nakuba babethi bahlakaniphile, baba yiziwula 23 baphendula inkazimulo kaNkulunkulu ongenakonakala bayenza yaba into efana nomfanekiso womuntu onokonakala nezinyoni nezidalwa ezinezinyawo ezine nezilwane ezinwabuzelayo. *+

24 Ngakho-ke uNkulunkulu, ngokuvumelana nezifiso zezinhliziyo zabo, wabanikela ekungcoleni, ukuze imizimba yabo ihlaziswe phakathi kwabo. 25 Bakhetha ukukholelwa emangeni kunaseqinisweni likaNkulunkulu, bahlonipha* indalo futhi banikela inkonzo engcwele kuyo kunakuMdali, odunyiswa kuze kube phakade. Amen. 26 Yingakho uNkulunkulu abanikela enkanukweni yokuya ocansini eyichilo, + ngoba abesifazane babo bashintsha ukusetshenziswa kwabo kwemvelo bakwenza okuphambene nemvelo; + 27 ngokufanayo, nabesilisa bakuyeka ukusetshenziswa kwemvelo kowesifazane* basha kakhulu ekukhanukelaneni bodwa, abesilisa nabesilisa, + benza okuyichilo futhi bamukela kubo ngokwabo isijeziso* esigcwele, esasifanele isiphambeko sabo. +

28 Njengoba nje bengakubonanga kufaneleka ukwazi uNkulunkulu, uNkulunkulu wabanikela esimweni sengqondo esingamukeleki, ukuba benze izinto ezingafanele. + 29 Babegcwele konke ukungalungi, + ukukhohlakala, ukuhaha, *+ ububi, begcwele umona, + ukubulala, + ukuxabana, inkohliso, + inzondo, + bengabantu abayizinhlebi, 30 abakhuluma kabi ngabanye, + abazonda uNkulunkulu, abeyisayo, abazikhukhumezayo, abaqhoshayo, abahlela* izinto ezilimazayo, abangalaleli abazali, + 31 abangenakho ukuqonda, + abangathembeki ezivumelwaneni, abangenalo uthando, nabangenaso isihe. 32 Nakuba laba bewazi kahle umyalo olungile kaNkulunkulu—wokuthi labo abazenza umkhuba izinto ezinjalo bafanelwe ukufa +—abagcini nje ngokuqhubeka bezenza kodwa futhi bayabamukela nalabo abazenzayo.

2 Ngakho awunazaba wena muntu, noma ngabe ungubani, + uma wahlulela; ngenxa yokuthi lapho wahlulela omunye uzilahla wena, ngoba wena owahlulelayo wenza zona kanye lezo zinto. + 2 Manje siyazi ukuthi isahlulelo sikaNkulunkulu sivumelana neqiniso, simelene nalabo abenza izinto ezinjalo.

3 Kodwa ingabe wena muntu owahlulela labo abenza lezo zinto kuyilapho nawe uzenza, ucabanga ukuthi uyophunyuka esahlulelweni sikaNkulunkulu? 4 Noma ingabe wedelela umusa wakhe, + ukubekezela kwakhe + kanye nesineke sakhe + okungenamkhawulo, ngoba ungazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu ngomusa wakhe uzama ukukuholela ekuphendukeni? + 5 Kodwa ngenxa yokuba nenkani kwakho nenhliziyo engaphenduki, uzibizela ulaka lukaNkulunkulu ngosuku lolaka nolokwambulwa kwesahlulelo sikaNkulunkulu esilungile. + 6 Uyobuyisela umuntu ngamunye ngokwemisebenzi yakhe: + 7 ukuphila okuphakade kulabo abafuna inkazimulo nodumo nokungonakali + ngokukhuthazela emsebenzini omuhle; 8 nokho, kulabo ababangayo nabangalilaleli iqiniso kodwa abalalela ukungalungi, kuyoba khona ulaka nentukuthelo. + 9 Kuyoba nosizi nokucindezeleka kuwo wonke umuntu owenza okulimazayo, kumJuda kuqala nakumGreki futhi; 10 kodwa kube inkazimulo nodumo nokuthula kuwo wonke umuntu owenza okuhle, kumJuda kuqala + nakumGreki futhi. + 11 Ngoba akukho ukukhetha kuNkulunkulu. +

12 Ngoba bonke labo abona bengenawo umthetho bayobhubha bengenawo umthetho futhi; + kodwa bonke labo abona bengaphansi komthetho bayokwahlulelwa ngomthetho. + 13 Ngoba labo abawuzwayo umthetho akubona abalungile phambi kukaNkulunkulu, kodwa abenzi bomthetho kuyothiwa balungile. + 14 Ngoba lapho abantu bezizwe abangenawo umthetho + benza ngokwemvelo izinto zomthetho, laba bantu, nakuba bengenawo umthetho, bangumthetho kubo ngokwabo. 15 Yibo kanye ababonisa ngemisebenzi yabo ukuthi umthetho ulotshwe ezinhliziyweni zabo, kuyilapho unembeza wabo ufakazelana nabo, nemicabango yabo ibabeka icala noma ibuye ibavune. 16 Lokhu kuyokwenzeka ngosuku uNkulunkulu ayokwahlulela ngalo izinto ezisithekile zesintu ngoKristu Jesu, + ngokwezindaba ezinhle engizimemezelayo.

17 Manje, uma ungumJuda ngegama + futhi uthembela emthethweni futhi uziqhenya ngoNkulunkulu, 18 uyazi intando yakhe, uzamukela izinto ezinhle kakhulu ngenxa yokuthi wafundiswa* ngoMthetho, + 19 futhi uqiniseka ngokuthi ungumholi wezimpumputhe, ukukhanya kulabo abasebumnyameni, 20 umqondisi wabangenangqondo, umfundisi wezingane, uziqonda izinto eziyisisekelo namaqiniso atholakala eMthethweni— 21 ingabe wena ofundisa omunye awuzifundisi wena? + Wena oshumayela uthi “Ungebi,” + ingabe uyeba? 22 Wena othi, “Ungaphingi,” + ingabe uyaphinga? Wena onyanya izithixo, ingabe wenza ubugebengu emathempelini? 23 Wena oziqhenya ngomthetho, ingabe uhlaza uNkulunkulu ngokweqa uMthetho? 24 Ngoba “igama likaNkulunkulu liyahlanjalazwa phakathi kwezizwe ngenxa yenu,” njengoba nje kulotshiwe. +

25 Eqinisweni, ukusoka + kunenzuzo kuphela uma ugcina umthetho; + kodwa uma uyiseqamthetho, ukusoka kwakho sekuye kwaba ukungasoki. 26 Ngakho, uma umuntu ongasokile + enza lokho okushiwo uMthetho, ukungasoki kwakhe kuyobhekwa njengokusoka, akunjalo? + 27 Umuntu ongasokile, ngokulandela uMthetho, uyokwahlulela wena oyiseqamthetho nakuba unomthetho olotshiwe futhi usokile. 28 Ngoba ukuba umJuda akukona ukubonakala kwangaphandle, + nokusoka kwakhe akukona okuthile okungaphandle, enyameni. *+ 29 Kodwa umJuda yilowo onguye ngaphakathi, + nokusoka kwakhe yilokho kwenhliziyo + ngomoya, hhayi ngomthetho olotshiwe. + Udumo lwalowo muntu luvela kuNkulunkulu, aluveli kubantu. +

3 Pho ungcono ngani umJuda, noma, iyini inzuzo yokusoka? 2 Ungcono kakhulu ngazo zonke izindlela. Okokuqala, ngokuthi waphathiswa amazwi angcwele kaNkulunkulu. + 3 Kuthiwani ngamanye amaJuda angenalo ukholo? Uma engenalo ukholo, ingabe abantu ngeke besamethemba uNkulunkulu? 4 Akunjalo neze! Kodwa uNkulunkulu makatholakale eneqiniso, + nakuba wonke umuntu engatholakala engumqambimanga, + njengoba nje kulotshiwe: “Ukuze ubonakaliswe ulungile emazwini akho futhi unqobe lapho wahlulelwa.” + 5 Nokho, uma ukungalungi kwethu kwenza ukulunga kukaNkulunkulu kugqame, sizothini? UNkulunkulu akabi ongenabulungisa lapho eveza ulaka lwakhe, akunjalo? (Ngikhulumisa okwabantu.) 6 Lokho akunakwenzeka! Uma uNkulunkulu engenabulungisa, uyolahlulela kanjani izwe? +

7 Kodwa uma ngenxa yamanga ami iqiniso likaNkulunkulu liye lenziwa lavelela ngokwengeziwe kwaba inkazimulo kuye, kungani-ke ngahlulelwa njengesoni? 8 Kungani kungashiwo njengoba nje abanye abantu beqamba amanga bethi sithi, “Masenze izinto ezimbi ukuze kuvele izinto ezinhle”? Labo bantu bayokwahlulelwa ngobulungisa. +

9 Ingabe lokho kusho ukuthi sisesimweni esingcono? Phinde! Ngoba ngenhla sithe amaJuda namaGreki bonke bangaphansi kwesono; + 10 njengoba nje kulotshiwe: “Akekho umuntu olungile, akekho ngisho noyedwa; + 11 akekho onokuqonda; akekho ofuna uNkulunkulu. 12 Bonke abantu baphambukile, bonke baye baba yize; akekho obonisa umusa, akekho ngisho noyedwa.” + 13 “Umphimbo wabo uyithuna elivulekile; bakhohlisile ngolimi lwabo.” + “Ubuthi bezimfezi busezindebeni zabo.” + 14 “Umlomo wabo ugcwele ukuqalekisa nokubaba.” + 15 “Izinyawo zabo ziyashesha ukuyochitha igazi.” + 16 “Ukucekela phansi nokubhubhisa kusezindleleni zabo, 17 abayazanga indlela yokuthula.” + 18 “Abamesabi uNkulunkulu.” +

19 Manje siyazi ukuthi zonke izinto uMthetho ozishoyo uzibhekisa kulabo abangaphansi koMthetho, ukuze yonke imilomo ivalwe futhi lonke izwe libe necala phambi kukaNkulunkulu. + 20 Ngakho-ke ngenxa yemisebenzi yomthetho akukho muntu okuyothiwa ulungile phambi kwakhe, + ngoba ngomthetho kuba khona ulwazi olunembile ngesono. +

21 Kodwa manje ukulunga kukaNkulunkulu kuye kwembulwa ngaphandle komthetho, + njengoba uMthetho nabaProfethi kukufakazela lokho, + 22 yebo, ukulunga kukaNkulunkulu ngokholo kuJesu Kristu, kubo bonke abanokholo. Ngoba awukho umehluko. + 23 Ngoba bonke bonile futhi bayasilela enkazimulweni kaNkulunkulu, + 24 futhi kunjengesipho sesihle + ukuthi ngomusa wakhe omkhulu kuthiwa balungile + ngokukhululwa ngesihlengo esakhokhwa uKristu Jesu. + 25 UNkulunkulu wamletha waba umnikelo wokuhlawulela + ngokholo egazini lakhe. + Lokhu kwakungenjongo yokuba abonise ukulunga kwakhe siqu, ngoba uNkulunkulu ngenxa yokubekezela kwakhe wayethethelela izono ezenzeka esikhathini esidlule. 26 Lokhu kwakungenjongo yokuba abonise ukulunga kwakhe siqu + kule nkathi yamanje, ukuze abe ngolungile ngisho nalapho ethi ulungile umuntu onokholo kuJesu. +

27 Kuphi-ke ukuziqhayisa? Ayikho indawo yako. Ngamuphi umthetho? Wemisebenzi? + Lutho neze, kodwa ngomthetho wokholo. 28 Ngoba sithi umuntu kuthiwa ulungile ngokholo ngaphandle kwemisebenzi yomthetho. + 29 Noma ingabe unguNkulunkulu wamaJuda kuphela? + Akayena yini noNkulunkulu wabantu bezizwe? + Yebo, ungowabantu bezizwe futhi. + 30 Njengoba uNkulunkulu emunye, + uyothi balungile abantu abasokile + ngenxa yokholo, athi balungile + abantu abangasokile ngenxa yokholo lwabo. 31 Khona-ke, ingabe thina siyawuqeda umthetho ngokholo lwethu? Lutho neze! Ngokuphambene nalokho, siyawusekela umthetho. +

4 Njengoba kunjalo, sizothi wazuzani u-Abrahama, ukhokho wethu? 2 Ngokwesibonelo, ukube u-Abrahama kwathiwa ulungile ngenxa yemisebenzi, wayeyoba nesizathu sokuziqhayisa, kodwa hhayi ngoNkulunkulu. 3 Uthini umbhalo? Uthi, “U-Abrahama waba nokholo kuJehova,* wabhekwa njengolungile.” + 4 Kumuntu osebenzayo, iholo lakhe alibhekwa njengomusa omkhulu kodwa njengento okufanele ayithole.* 5 Ngakolunye uhlangothi, lapho umuntu eba nokholo kuNkulunkulu, enganciki emisebenzini, uNkulunkulu umbheka njengolungile ngenxa yokholo lwakhe. UNkulunkulu ongabheka izoni njengezilungile. + 6 Njengoba nje noDavide ekhuluma ngenjabulo yomuntu uNkulunkulu ambheka njengolungile ngaphandle kwemisebenzi, ethi: 7 “Bayajabula labo okuthethelelwe izenzo zabo zokungabi namthetho nabazono zabo zimboziwe;* 8 uyajabula umuntu uJehova* angeke asibale isono sakhe.” +

9 Ingabe le njabulo ifikela kuphela abantu abasokile noma ifikela nabantu abangasokile? + Ngoba sithi: “Ukholo luka-Abrahama lwamenza wabhekwa njengolungile.” + 10 Pho lwabalwa ngaphansi kwaziphi izimo njengokulunga? Lapho esesokile noma engasokile? Ngesikhathi engakasoki. 11 Futhi wamukela isibonakaliso +—okuwukuthi, ukusoka—saba uphawu* lokulunga ngokholo ayenalo lapho engasokile, ukuze abe uyise wabo bonke abanokholo + bebe bengasokile, ukuze babhekwe njengabalungile; 12 futhi abe uyise wenzalo esokile, hhayi owalabo abanamathela ekusokeni kuphela, kodwa nowalabo abahamba ngokuhleleka ezinyathelweni zokholo ubaba wethu u-Abrahama + ayenalo ngesikhathi engasokile.

13 Ngoba u-Abrahama noma inzalo* yakhe abasitholanga ngomthetho isithembiso sokuthi uyoba indlalifa yezwe, + kodwa kwakungokulunga ngokholo. + 14 Ngoba uma labo abanamathela emthethweni beyizindlalifa, ukholo luphenduka into engenamsebenzi nesithembiso siba yize. 15 Eqinisweni uMthetho ubangela ulaka, + kodwa lapho kungekho mthetho khona, akukho nokweqa umthetho. +

16 U-Abrahama wamukela isithembiso ngenxa yokholo, ukuze kube ngokomusa omkhulu, + ukuze isithembiso sigcwaliseke kuyo yonke inzalo* yakhe, + hhayi kulabo abanamathela eMthethweni nje kuphela, kodwa nakulabo abanamathela okholweni luka-Abrahama, ongubaba wethu sonke. + 17 (Lokhu kunjengoba nje kulotshiwe: “Ngikumise ukuba ube uyise wezizwe eziningi.”) + Lokhu kwakuphambi kukaNkulunkulu, ayenokholo kuye, ophilisa abafile futhi abize izinto ezingekho njengokungathi zikhona.* 18 Nakuba ayengasenathemba, nokho ngokusekelwe ethembeni, wayenokholo lokuthi wayezoba uyise wezizwe eziningi ngokuvumelana nalokho okwashiwo kuthiwa: “Iyoba ngako inzalo* yakho.” + 19 Nakuba engazange abe buthakathaka okholweni, wacabanga ngomzimba wakhe siqu, owawusufile (njengoba ayeseneminyaka engaba ngu-100 ubudala), + nangokuba inyumba kukaSara. + 20 Kodwa ngenxa yesithembiso sikaNkulunkulu, akazange antengantenge ngokuntula ukholo; kodwa waba namandla ngokholo lwakhe, enika uNkulunkulu inkazimulo 21 futhi eqiniseka ngokugcwele ukuthi lokho uNkulunkulu ayekuthembisile uyakwazi nokukwenza. + 22 Ngakho “wabhekwa njengolungile.” +

23 Nokho, amazwi athi “wabhekwa njengolungile” awalotshwanga ngenxa yakhe kuphela, + 24 kodwa nangenxa yethu, thina esibhekwa njengabalungile, ngoba sikholelwa kuLowo owavusa uJesu iNkosi yethu kwabafile. + 25 Wanikelwa ngenxa yeziphambeko zethu + futhi wavuswa ukuze kuthiwe silungile. +

5 Ngakho, njengoba sekuthiwe silungile ngenxa yokholo, + masijabulele ukuthula* noNkulunkulu ngeNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu, + 2 esikwaze ngayo ukungena ngokholo kulo musa omkhulu esimi kuwo manje; + masijabule* ngokusekelwe ethembeni lenkazimulo kaNkulunkulu. 3 Kungagcini nje lapho, kodwa masijabule* lapho sisezinsizini, + njengoba sazi ukuthi usizi luveza ukukhuthazela; + 4 ukukhuthazela kona kuveza ukwamukeleka; + ukwamukeleka kona kuveza ithemba, + 5 ithemba aliholeli ekudumazekeni; + ngoba uthando lukaNkulunkulu luthululelwe ezinhliziyweni zethu ngomoya ongcwele esawuphiwa. +

6 Ngoba impela ngesikhathi sisebuthakathaka, + ngesikhathi esimisiwe uKristu wafela abantu abangamhloniphi uNkulunkulu. 7 Ngoba mancane amathuba okuthi kube nomuntu ongafela umuntu olungile; nakuba mhlawumbe kungase kube khona onesibindi sokufela umuntu omuhle. 8 Kodwa uNkulunkulu usibonisa uthando lwakhe siqu ngoba, ngesikhathi siseyizoni, uKristu wasifela. + 9 Ngakho njengoba manje sekuthiwa silungile ngegazi lakhe, + nakanjani siyosindiswa ngaye olakeni lukaNkulunkulu. + 10 Ngoba uma lapho siseyizitha sabuyisana noNkulunkulu ngokufa kweNdodana yakhe, + siyosindiswa kakhulu kangakanani-ke ngokuphila kwayo njengoba sesibuyisene. 11 Akukhona lokho kuphela, kodwa futhi siyajabula ngoNkulunkulu ngeNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu, esikuthole ngayo lokhu kubuyisana. +

12 Ngomuntu oyedwa isono sangena ezweni nokufa kwangena ngesono, + ngaleyo ndlela ukufa kwasakazekela kubantu bonke ngenxa yokuthi bonke bonile +—. 13 Ngoba isono sasikhona ezweni ungakafiki uMthetho, kodwa isono asibalelwa kumuntu uma kungekho mthetho. + 14 Noma kunjalo, ukufa kwabusa njengenkosi kusukela ku-Adamu kwehle kuze kufike kuMose, ngisho naphezu kwalabo ababengonanga ngendlela u-Adamu ona ngayo, lowo ngandlela-thile ofana nalowo owayezokuza. +

15 Kodwa isipho asifani nesiphambeko. Ngoba ngesiphambeko somuntu oyedwa kwafa abaningi, ngendlela efanayo ngomusa omkhulu womuntu oyedwa, abaningi bathola umusa omkhulu kaNkulunkulu nesipho sakhe sesihle ngomusa omkhulu ngalo muntu oyedwa, + uJesu Kristu. + 16 Ngaphezu kwalokho, isipho sesihle nesono esenziwa yilowo muntu oyedwa kunemiphumela engafani. + Ngoba isiphambeko esisodwa senza kwathiwa bonke abantu banecala, + kodwa isipho sesihle esaba khona ngenxa yeziphambeko eziningi senza kwathiwa abantu abaningi balungile. + 17 Ngoba uma ngesiphambeko salo muntu oyedwa ukufa kwabusa njengenkosi ngaye lowo, + labo abamukela insada* yomusa omkhulu neyesipho sesihle sokulunga + bayobusa kakhulu kangakanani-ke njengamakhosi + ekuphileni ngomuntu oyedwa, uJesu Kristu! +

18 Ngakho, njengoba nje ngesiphambeko esisodwa umphumela kubantu bazo zonke izinhlobo waba ukulahlwa, + ngokufanayo, ngesenzo esisodwa sokulunga, umphumela kubantu bazo zonke izinhlobo + uwukuba kuthiwe balungile kube ukuphila. + 19 Ngoba njengoba nje ngokungalaleli komuntu oyedwa abaningi baba yizoni, + ngokufanayo, ngokulalela komuntu oyedwa abaningi bayoba abalungile. + 20 Kamuva kwaba khona uMthetho ukuze abantu babone ukuthi benza iziphambeko eziningi. + Kodwa lapho abantu benza izono eziningi, umusa omkhulu waba mningi ngisho nakakhulu. 21 Ngayiphi injongo? Ukuze njengoba nje isono sabusa kanye nokufa njengenkosi, + ngokufanayo nomusa omkhulu ubuse njengenkosi ngokulunga okuholela ekuphileni okuphakade ngoJesu Kristu iNkosi yethu. +

6 Pho sizothini? Ingabe kufanele siqhubeke esonweni ukuze kwande umusa omkhulu? 2 Akunjalo neze! Njengoba safa ngokuqondene nesono, + singaqhubeka kanjani siphila kuso? + 3 Noma anazi yini ukuthi sonke esabhapathizelwa kuKristu Jesu + sabhapathizelwa ekufeni kwakhe? + 4 Ngakho sangcwatshwa kanye naye ngokubhapathizelwa ekufeni kwakhe, + ukuze kuthi, njengoba nje uKristu avuswa kwabafile ngenkazimulo kaYise, nathi sihambe ekuphileni okusha. + 5 Ngoba uma siye saba munye naye esimweni sokufa kwakhe, + ngokuqinisekile siyophinde sibe munye naye esimweni sovuko lwakhe. + 6 Ngoba siyazi ukuthi ubuntu bethu obudala babethelwa esigxotsheni kanye naye + ukuze umzimba wethu onesono wenziwe buthaka, + ukuze singabe sisaqhubeka siyizigqila zesono. + 7 Ngoba lowo ofile ukhululiwe* esonweni sakhe.

8 Ngaphezu kwalokho, uma siye safa kanye noKristu, sikholelwa ukuthi siyophila kanye naye futhi. 9 Ngoba siyazi ukuthi uKristu, njengoba esevusiwe kwabafile, + akasafi; + ukufa akuseyona inkosi phezu kwakhe. 10 Ngoba ekufeni kwakhe, wafa kanye kwaba kuphela ukuze asule isono, + kodwa ukuphila akuphilayo, uphilela uNkulunkulu. 11 Ngokufanayo nani, zibhekeni njengabafile ngokuqondene nesono kodwa njengabaphilayo ngokuqondene noNkulunkulu ngoKristu Jesu. +

12 Ngakho-ke ningasivumeli isono ukuba siqhubeke sibusa njengenkosi emizimbeni yenu efayo + ngenjongo yokuba nilalele izifiso zayo. 13 Futhi ningaqhubeki ninikela imizimba* yenu esonweni njengezikhali zokungalungi, kodwa zinikeleni kuNkulunkulu njengabaphilayo bevela kwabafile, nemizimba* yenu kuNkulunkulu njengezikhali zokulunga. + 14 Ngoba isono akumele sibe yinkosi phezu kwenu, njengoba ningekho ngaphansi komthetho + kodwa ningaphansi komusa omkhulu. +

15 Yini elandelayo? Ingabe sizokwenza isono ngenxa yokuthi asikho ngaphansi komthetho kodwa singaphansi komusa omkhulu? + Akunjalo neze! 16 Anazi yini ukuthi uma nizinikela kunoma ubani njengezigqila ezilalelayo, niyizigqila zalowo enimlalelayo, + kungaba ezesono + esiholela ekufeni + noma ezokulalela okuholela ekulungeni? 17 Kodwa makabongwe uNkulunkulu ngokuthi nakuba nake naba yizigqila zesono, nalulalela ngokusuka enhliziyweni lolo hlobo lwemfundiso enanikelwa kulo. 18 Yebo, njengoba nakhululwa esonweni, + naba izigqila zokulunga. + 19 Ngisebenzisa amazwi aqondwa abantu ngenxa yobuthakathaka benyama yenu; ngoba njengoba nje nanikela amalunga enu aba izigqila zokungcola nobubi ukuze nenze okubi, manje nikelani amalunga enu abe izigqila zokulunga nenze okungcwele. + 20 Ngoba ngesikhathi niseyizigqila zesono, nanikhululekile ngokuqondene nokulunga.

21 Sasiyini-ke isithelo enanisikhiqiza ngaleso sikhathi? Izinto eninamahloni ngazo manje. Ngoba isiphetho salezo zinto ukufa. + 22 Nokho, ngenxa yokuthi senakhululwa esonweni naba izigqila zikaNkulunkulu, nikhiqiza isithelo senu esiwubungcwele, + lokho kuholela ekuphileni okuphakade. + 23 Ngoba inkokhelo yesono ukufa, + kodwa isipho uNkulunkulu asinikezayo ukuphila okuphakade + ngoKristu Jesu iNkosi yethu. +

7 Kungenzeka yini bafowethu ukuthi anazi, (ngoba ngikhuluma nalabo abawaziyo umthetho) ukuthi uMthetho uyinkosi phezu komuntu uma nje esaphila? 2 Ngokwesibonelo, owesifazane oshadile uboshelwe ngumthetho kumyeni wakhe lapho esaphila; kodwa uma umyeni wakhe efa, uyakhululwa emthethweni womyeni wakhe. + 3 Ngakho-ke, lapho umyeni wakhe esaphila, kungathiwa uyisiphingi uma eba ngowenye indoda. + Kodwa uma umyeni wakhe efa, ukhululekile emthethweni wakhe, kangangokuthi akabi isiphingi uma eba ngowenye indoda. +

4 Ngakho bafowethu, nani, ngomzimba kaKristu nenziwa naba abafile ngokuqondene noMthetho, ukuze nibe ngabomunye, + lowo owavuswa kwabafile, + ukuze sithele izithelo ezinhle kuNkulunkulu. + 5 Ngoba lapho sisaphila ngokuvumelana nenyama, izinkanuko zesono ezazivuswa uMthetho zazisebenza emizimbeni* yethu ukuze sikhiqize isithelo sokufa. + 6 Kodwa manje sikhululiwe eMthethweni, + ngoba siye safa kulokho okusivimbayo, ukuze sibe izigqila ngomqondo omusha ngomoya, + hhayi ngomqondo omdala ngomthetho olotshiwe. +

7 Pho sizothini? Ingabe uMthetho uyisono? Akunjalo neze! Ngempela, ngabe angisazanga isono ukube kwakungengenxa yoMthetho. + Ngokwesibonelo, ngabe angikwazanga ukuhaha ukube uMthetho wawungashongo ukuthi: “Ungahahi.” + 8 Kodwa isono, sithola ithuba ngomyalo, saveza kimi ukuhaha kwazo zonke izinhlobo, ngoba ngaphandle komthetho isono sasifile. + 9 Eqinisweni, ngake ngaphila ngaphandle komthetho. Kodwa lapho kufika umyalo, isono sabuye saphila, kodwa mina ngafa. + 10 Umyalo okwakumele uholele ekuphileni, + ngawuthola uholela ekufeni. 11 Ngoba isono, sithola ithuba ngomyalo, sangiyenga futhi sangibulala ngawo. 12 Ngakho uMthetho ngokwawo ungcwele, nomyalo ungcwele, ulungile futhi muhle. +

13 Ngakho, ingabe okuhle kwabangela ukufa kwami? Akunjalo neze! Kodwa yisono esenza lokho, ukuze sibonakale ukuthi siyisono, esangivezela ukufa ngokuhle, + ukuze ngomyalo isono sibe yisono nakakhulu. + 14 Ngoba siyazi ukuthi uMthetho uvela kuNkulunkulu, kodwa mina ngingowenyama, ngithengiswe ngaphansi kwesono. + 15 Angikuqondi engikwenzayo. Angikwenzi engikufisayo, kodwa ngenza engikuzondayo. 16 Nokho, uma ngenza engingakufisi, ngiyavuma ukuthi uMthetho muhle. 17 Kodwa manje akusemina okwenzayo, kodwa yisono esihlala kimi. + 18 Ngoba ngiyazi ukuthi kimi, okungukuthi, enyameni yami, akuhlali lutho oluhle; ngoba nginesifiso sokwenza okuhle, kodwa anginawo amandla okukwenza. + 19 Ngoba angikwenzi okuhle engikufisayo, kodwa okubi engingakufisi yikho engikwenzayo. 20 Uma-ke engingakufisi kuyikho engikwenzayo, akusemina okwenzayo, kodwa yisono esihlezi kimi.

21 Ngithola lo mthetho kimi: Lapho ngifisa ukwenza okuhle, kukhona okubi kimi. + 22 Ngempela, umuntu enginguye ngaphakathi uyajabula ngomthetho kaNkulunkulu, + 23 kodwa emzimbeni* wami ngibona omunye umthetho olwa nomthetho wengqondo yami + futhi ongithumbela emthethweni wesono + osemzimbeni* wami. 24 Yeka mina muntu wosizi! Ubani oyongisindisa kulo mzimba ofayo?* 25 Makabongwe uNkulunkulu ngoJesu Kristu iNkosi yethu! Ngakho-ke, ngengqondo yami mina ngokwami ngiyisigqila somthetho kaNkulunkulu, kodwa ngenyama yami ngiyisigqila somthetho wesono. +

8 Ngakho labo abamunye noKristu Jesu abanalo icala. 2 Ngoba umthetho womoya onikeza ukuphila labo abamunye noKristu Jesu ukukhululile + emthethweni wesono nokufa. 3 Lokho uMthetho owahluleka ukukwenza + ngenxa yokuthi wawubuthakathaka + ngenxa yenyama, uNkulunkulu wakwenza ngokuthumela iNdodana yakhe siqu + isesimweni senyama enesono + nangokuphathelene nesono, walahla isono esisenyameni, 4 ukuze okulungile okufunwa uMthetho kugcwaliseke kithi + esingahambi ngokuvumelana nenyama, kodwa esihamba ngokuvumelana nomoya. + 5 Ngoba labo abaphila ngokuvumelana nenyama babeka izingqondo zabo ezintweni zenyama, + kodwa labo abaphila ngokuvumelana nomoya bazibeka ezintweni zomoya. + 6 Ngoba ukunaka inyama kusho ukufa, + kodwa ukunaka umoya kusho ukuphila nokuthula; + 7 ngoba ukunaka inyama kusho ubutha noNkulunkulu, + ngoba ayizithobi emthethweni kaNkulunkulu, futhi eqinisweni ayinakuzithoba. 8 Ngakho labo abavumelana nenyama abanakumjabulisa uNkulunkulu.

9 Nokho, nina anivumelani nenyama, kodwa nivumelana nomoya, + uma ngempela umoya kaNkulunkulu uhlala kini. Kodwa uma umuntu engenawo umoya kaKristu, lowo muntu akayena okaKristu. 10 Kodwa uma uKristu emunye nani, + umzimba ufile ngenxa yesono, kodwa umoya ungukuphila ngenxa yokulunga. 11 Manje uma umoya walowo owavusa uJesu kwabafile uhlala kini, lowo owavusa uKristu Jesu kwabafile + uyoyiphilisa nemizimba yenu efayo + ngomoya wakhe ohlala kini.

12 Ngakho bafowethu, sinesibopho, kodwa asibophekile ukulandela okufunwa yinyama; + 13 ngoba uma niphila ngokuvumelana nenyama, nakanjani niyokufa; kodwa uma nibulala imisebenzi yenyama *+ ngomoya, niyophila. + 14 Ngoba bonke abaholwa umoya kaNkulunkulu ngempela bangamadodana kaNkulunkulu. + 15 Ngoba anamukelanga umoya wobugqila obangela ukwesaba futhi, kodwa namukela umoya wokutholwa* nenziwe amadodana, umoya esikhamuluka ngawo sithi: “Abha,* Baba!” + 16 Umoya ngokwawo ufakazelana nomoya wethu + ukuthi singabantwana bakaNkulunkulu. + 17 Uma-ke singabantwana, siyizindlalifa futhi—izindlalifa zikaNkulunkulu, kodwa izindlalifa + ezikanye noKristu—uma kodwa sihlupheka kanye naye + ukuze sikhazinyuliswe kanye naye. +

18 Ngenxa yalokho, ngicabanga ukuthi izinhlupheko zamanje azilutho uma ziqhathaniswa nenkazimulo ezokwambulwa kithi. + 19 Ngoba indalo ikulindele ngokulangazela okukhulu ukwambulwa kwabantwana bakaNkulunkulu. + 20 Ngoba indalo yenziwa ukuba iphile ukuphila okuyize, + hhayi ngentando yayo siqu kodwa ngentando yalowo owenza ukuba iphile ukuphila okuyize, ukuze ibe nethemba 21 lokuthi indalo ngokwayo nayo iyokhululwa + ekugqilazweni ukonakala ibe nenkululeko ekhazimulayo yabantwana bakaNkulunkulu. 22 Ngoba siyazi ukuthi yonke indalo iyaqhubeka ibubula kanyekanye futhi isezinhlungwini kanyekanye kuze kube manje. 23 Akugcini nje lapho, kodwa nathi esamukela umoya ongcwele, ingxenye yokuqala* yokwakuzolandela, siyabubula ngaphakathi kithi, + kuyilapho silindele ngobuqotho ukutholwa njengabantwana, + ukukhululwa emizimbeni yethu ngesihlengo. 24 Ngoba sasindiselwa kuleli themba; kodwa ithemba elibonwayo akulona ithemba, ngoba lapho umuntu eyibona into, uyaba yini nethemba layo? 25 Kodwa uma sinethemba + ngesingakuboni, + siyaqhubeka sikulindela ngokukhuthazela. +

26 Ngendlela efanayo, umoya nawo uyasisiza ebuthakathakeni bethu; + ngoba inkinga iwukuthi asazi ukuthi yini okufanele siyithandazele njengoba kudingeka, kodwa umoya ngokwawo uyasincengela ngokububula okungaphinyiselwe. 27 Kodwa lowo ohlola izinhliziyo + uyakwazi okushiwo umoya, ngoba uncengela abangcwele ngokuvumelana nentando kaNkulunkulu.

28 Siyazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu wenza yonke imisebenzi yakhe ibambisane ngokwenzuzo yalabo abathanda uNkulunkulu, labo ababiziwe ngokwenjongo yakhe; + 29 ngoba labo yena acabanga ngabo kuqala waphinde wabamisa kusengaphambili ukuze bafaniswe nomfanekiso weNdodana yakhe, + ukuze ibe izibulo + phakathi kwabafowabo abaningi. + 30 Ngaphezu kwalokho, labo abamisa kusengaphambili + yibo futhi ababizile; + labo ababizile yibo futhi athi balungile. + Ekugcineni labo athi balungile yibo futhi abakhazimulisile. +

31 Sizothini-ke ngalezi zinto? Uma uNkulunkulu engakithi, ubani oyomelana nathi? + 32 Njengoba engazange agodle ngisho neNdodana yakhe siqu kodwa wayinikela ngenxa yethu sonke, + ngeke yini, ngaphezu kwendodana yakhe, asinike zonke ezinye izinto? 33 Ubani ongamangalela abakhethiwe bakaNkulunkulu? + UNkulunkulu nguYe othi balungile. + 34 Ubani ozobalahla? UKristu Jesu nguye owafa, ngaphezu kwalokho, nguye owavuswa kwabafile, ongakwesokudla sikaNkulunkulu, + osincengelayo futhi. +

35 Ubani oyosihlukanisa nothando lukaKristu? + Ingabe usizi noma ukucindezeleka noma ukushushiswa noma ukulamba noma ukuhamba-ze noma ingozi noma inkemba? + 36 Njengoba nje kulotshiwe ukuthi: “Sibulawa usuku lonke ngenxa yakho; siphathiswa okwezimvu zokuhlatshwa.” + 37 Ngokuphambene nalokho, kuzo zonke lezi zinto siyanqoba ngokuphelele + ngalowo owasithanda. 38 Ngoba ngiyaqiniseka ukuthi nakufa nakuphila nazingelosi nahulumeni nazinto ezikhona manje nazinto ezizayo namandla + 39 nakuphakama nakujula nanoma iyiphi enye indalo ngeke kukwazi ukusihlukanisa nothando lukaNkulunkulu olukuKristu Jesu iNkosi yethu.

9 Ngikhuluma iqiniso kuKristu; angiqambi amanga, njengoba unembeza wami ufakazelana nami emoyeni ongcwele, 2 ukuthi nginosizi olukhulu nobuhlungu obungapheli enhliziyweni yami. 3 Ngoba ngifisa sengathi ngabe mina ngokwami ngihlukanisiwe noKristu njengoqalekisiwe ngenxa yabafowethu, izihlobo zami ngokwenyama, 4 abangama-Israyeli. Abathathwa benziwa amadodana kaNkulunkulu + futhi bamukela inkazimulo nezivumelwano + nokunikezwa uMthetho + nenkonzo engcwele + nezithembiso. + 5 Abavela kokhokho, + nokwavela kubo uKristu ngokwenyama. + UNkulunkulu, ophezu kwakho konke, makadunyiswe kuze kube phakade. Amen.

6 Nokho, akukhona ukuthi izwi likaNkulunkulu lihlulekile. Ngoba akubona bonke abavela ku-Israyeli “abangu-Israyeli” ngempela. + 7 Futhi akubona bonke abangabantwana ngenxa yokuthi bayinzalo* ka-Abrahama; + kunalokho, “Lokho okuyobizwa ngokuthi inzalo* yakho kuyoba khona ngo-Isaka.” + 8 Okungukuthi, abangabantwana enyameni ababona ngempela abantwana bakaNkulunkulu +, kodwa abangabantwana ngesithembiso + yibo ababalwa njengenzalo.* 9 Ngoba izwi lesithembiso lalithe: “Ngalesi sikhathi ngizofika futhi uSara uzobe esenendodana.” + 10 Akugcinanga nje lapho, kodwa nalapho uRebheka ekhulelwa amawele endodeni eyodwa, u-Isaka ukhokho wethu; + 11 ngoba ngesikhathi engakazalwa futhi engakakwenzi okuhle noma okubi, ukuze injongo kaNkulunkulu ngokuqondene nokukhethwa kwabo iqhubeke ingancikile emisebenzini, kodwa kuLowo obizayo, 12 kwathiwa kuye: “Omdala uyoba isigqila somncane.” + 13 Njengoba nje kulotshiwe: “Ngangimthanda uJakobe, kodwa u-Esawu yena ngangimzonda.” +

14 Pho sizothini? Ingabe kukhona ukungabi nabulungisa kuNkulunkulu? Lutho neze! + 15 Ngoba uthi kuMose: “Ngizobonisa isihe kunoma ubani engizobonisa isihe kuye, futhi ngizobonisa uzwela kunoma ubani engizombonisa uzwela.” + 16 Ngakho-ke, akuncikile esifisweni somuntu noma emzamweni wakhe,* kodwa kuNkulunkulu, onesihe. + 17 Ngoba umbhalo uthi kuFaro: “Ngenxa yaso kanye lesi sizathu ngikuyekile ukuba uqhubeke ukhona: ukuze ngibonise amandla ami ngawe nokuba ngenze igama lami limenyezelwe emhlabeni wonke.” + 18 Ngakho-ke, unesihe kunoba ubani athanda ukuba nesihe kuye, kodwa noma ubani athanda ukuba abe isijaka uyamvumela. +

19 Ngakho wena uzothi kimi: “Kungani esathola iphutha kubantu? Ukhona yini ongamelana nentando yakhe?” 20 Ungubani-ke wena muntu, ukuba uphendulane noNkulunkulu? + Into ebunjiwe iyasho yini kulowo oyibumbile ukuthi, “Ungenzeleni ngale ndlela?” + 21 Ini? Umbumbi akanalo yini igunya phezu kobumba + ukuba enze esigaxeni esifanayo isitsha esisetshenziswa ngezikhathi ezikhethekile, nesinye esisetshenziswa nsuku zonke? 22 Bekuyoba njani ukube uNkulunkulu ubethanda ukubonisa ulaka lwakhe nokwenza amandla akhe aziwe, wazibekezelela ngesineke esikhulu izitsha zolaka ezifanelwe ukubhujiswa? 23 Ukube lokhu kwakwenziwe ngenjongo yokuba kwaziwe ingcebo yenkazimulo yakhe ayibeke ezitsheni zesihe, + azilungiselela inkazimulo kusengaphambili, 24 okuwukuthi, thina, angasibizanga nje kumaJuda kuphela kodwa nakwabezizwe, + bekuyoba nani? 25 Kunjengoba esho nakwekaHoseya: “Labo abangebona abantu bami + ngizobabiza ngokuthi ‘abantu bami,’ nalowo owayengathandwa ngokuthi ‘othandekayo’; + 26 nasendaweni lapho kwathiwa kubo, ‘Anibona abantu bami,’ lapho bayobizwa ngokuthi ‘abantwana bakaNkulunkulu ophilayo.’ ” +

27 Ngaphezu kwalokho, u-Isaya wamemezela wathi ngokuphathelene no-Israyeli: “Ngisho noma isibalo sabantwana bakwa-Israyeli singaba ngangesihlabathi solwandle, abasele kuphela abayosindiswa. + 28 Ngoba uJehova* uyobenza balandise abahlala emhlabeni, akufeze ngokushesha* lokho.” + 29 Njengoba nje u-Isaya abikezela: “Ukube uJehova* wamabutho akasishiyelanga inzalo,* besiyoba njengeSodoma, besiyofana neGomora.” +

30 Sizothini-ke? Sizothi abantu bezizwe, nakuba babengakufunisisi ukulunga, bakuthola ukulunga, + ukulunga okuvela okholweni; + 31 kodwa u-Israyeli, nakuba ayewufunisisa umthetho wokulunga, akawutholanga lowo mthetho. 32 Ngasizathu sini? Ngoba akawufunisisanga ngokholo, kodwa njengokungathi ngemisebenzi. Bakhubeka “etsheni lokukhubekisa”; + 33 njengoba kulotshiwe: “Bheka! EZiyoni ngibeka itshe + lokukhubekisa nedwala lokucasula, kodwa lowo oba nokholo kulo ngeke adumazeke.” +

10 Bafowethu, engikufisayo enhliziyweni yami nengibacelela kona kuNkulunkulu, ngempela, ukuba basindiswe. + 2 Ngoba ngiyabafakazela ukuthi banentshiseko ngoNkulunkulu, kodwa hhayi ngokolwazi olunembile. + 3 Ngoba ngenxa yokungakwazi ukulunga kukaNkulunkulu, + kodwa befuna ukumisa okwabo siqu, + abazithobanga ekulungeni kukaNkulunkulu. + 4 Ngoba uKristu uyisiphetho soMthetho, + ukuze wonke umuntu obonisa ukholo abe nokulunga. +

5 Ngoba uMose wabhala mayelana nokulungile eMthethweni: “Umuntu owenza lezi zinto uyophila ngazo.” + 6 Kodwa ukulunga okuvela okholweni kuthi: “Ungasho enhliziyweni yakho + ukuthi, ‘Ubani oyonyukela ezulwini?’ + okungukuthi, ukuze ehlise uKristu, 7 noma ukuthi, ‘Ubani oyokwehlela kwalasha?’ + okungukuthi, ukuze anyuse uKristu kwabafile.” 8 Kodwa umBhalo uthini? Uthi, “Izwi liseduze kwakho, lisemlonyeni wakho nasenhliziyweni yakho”; + okungukuthi, “izwi” lokholo, esilishumayelayo. 9 Ngoba uma uvuma obala ngomlomo wakho ukuthi uJesu uyiNkosi, + futhi unokholo enhliziyweni yakho ukuthi uNkulunkulu wamvusa kwabafile, uyosindiswa. 10 Ngoba ngenhliziyo umuntu ubonisa ukholo kube ukulunga, kodwa ngomlomo umuntu uvuma obala + kube insindiso.

11 Ngoba umbhalo uthi: “Akekho oba nokholo kuye oyodumazeka.” + 12 Ngoba awukho umehluko phakathi komJuda nomGreki. + Kukhona iNkosi efanayo phezu kwabo bonke, ecebile* kubo bonke abayibizayo. 13 Ngoba “wonke umuntu obiza igama likaJehova* uyosindiswa.” + 14 Nokho, bayombiza kanjani uma bengabanga nokholo kuye? Bayoba kanjani nokholo kulowo abangezwanga ngaye? Bayozwa kanjani kungekho oshumayelayo? 15 Bayoshumayela kanjani uma bengathunywanga muntu? *+ Njengoba nje kulotshiwe ukuthi: “Ave zizinhle izinyawo zalabo abamemezela izindaba ezinhle zezinto ezinhle!” +

16 Noma kunjalo, akubona bonke abazilalela izindaba ezinhle. Ngoba u-Isaya uthi: “Jehova,* ubani obe nokholo entweni ayizwe ngathi?” *+ 17 Ngakho ukholo lulandela into ezwiweyo. + Nento ezwiweyo iza ngezwi eliphathelene noKristu. 18 Kodwa ngiyabuza, Ingabe lokhu kusho ukuthi abawuzwanga umyalezo? Lutho neze, “izwi laphumela kuwo wonke umhlaba, nomyalezo uphumele emikhawulweni yomhlaba.” + 19 Kodwa ngiyabuza, Ingabe lokhu kusho ukuthi u-Israyeli akazi? + Lutho neze, uyazi ukuthi uMose uthi: “Ngizonenza nibe nesikhwele ngalokho okungesona isizwe; ngizonivusela intukuthelo evuthayo ngesizwe esiyisiwula.” + 20 Kodwa u-Isaya uba nesibindi esikhulu athi: “Ngatholwa yilabo abangazange bangifune; + ngaziwa yilabo ababengazange babuze ngami.” + 21 Kodwa ngokuqondene no-Israyeli uthi: “Usuku lonke ngelulele izandla zami esizweni esingalaleli nesinenkani.” +

11 Ngakho ngiyabuza, uNkulunkulu akazange asilahle isizwe sakhe, akunjalo? + Akunakwenzeka lokho! Ngoba nami ngingumIsrayeli, wenzalo* ka-Abrahama, wesizwe sakwaBhenjamini. 2 UNkulunkulu akasilahlanga isizwe sakhe, + asiqaphela kuqala. Anazi yini ukuthi umbhalo uthini mayelana no-Eliya, njengoba ekhononda kuNkulunkulu ngama-Israyeli? 3 “Jehova,* bababulele abaprofethi bakho, bawambile ama-altare akho, kusele mina ngedwa, manje sebefuna ukungibulala.” + 4 Nokho, lithini izwi laphezulu kuye? “Ngisele namadoda angu-7 000 angazange aguqe kuBhali.” + 5 Ngakho-ke ngendlela efanayo, nangalesi sikhathi, kunabasele + abakhethwe ngomusa omkhulu. 6 Manje uma kungomusa omkhulu, + akusekho ngenxa yemisebenzi; + ngaphandle kwalokho, umusa omkhulu ngeke usaba umusa omkhulu.

7 Pho sizothini? Yona kanye into u-Israyeli ayifuna ngobuqotho akayitholanga, kodwa labo abakhethiwe bayithola. + Bonke abanye banemizwa ebuthuntu, + 8 njengoba nje kulotshiwe: “UNkulunkulu ubanike umoya wobuthongo obukhulu, + ubanike amehlo angaboni nezindlebe ezingezwa, kuze kube namuhla.” + 9 UDavide uthi futhi: “Itafula labo malibe ugibe nesicupho nesikhubekiso nempindiselo kubo. 10 Amehlo abo mawabe mnyama ukuze bangaboni, umhlane wabo ugobe ngaso sonke isikhathi.” +

11 Ngakho ngiyabuza, Abazange bakhubeke bawe ngokuphelele, akunjalo? Lutho neze! Kodwa ngokona kwabo, kukhona insindiso kubantu bezizwe, futhi lokhu kubenza babe nesikhwele. + 12 Manje uma ukona kwabo kuba ingcebo ezweni, nokuncipha kwabo kuba ingcebo kubantu bezizwe, + yeka ukuthi ingcebo yabo iyoba nkulu kangakanani lapho isibalo sabo sesigcwele!

13 Manje ngikhuluma nani nina bantu bezizwe. Njengoba ngingumphostoli ezizweni, + ngikhazimulisa inkonzo yami, + 14 ukuze ngibone ukuthi ngingasenza yini ngandlela-thile isizwe sakithi sibe nesikhwele, ngisindise abathile kuso. 15 Ngoba uma ukulahlwa kwabo + kusho ukubuyisana ezweni, ukwamukelwa kwabo kuyoshoni uma kungasho ukuvuka kwabafile? 16 Ngaphezu kwalokho, uma ingxenye yenhlama ebhekwa njengomnikelo wezithelo zokuqala ingcwele; uma impande ingcwele, aba njalo namagatsha.

17 Nokho, uma amanye amagatsha ephulwa, futhi wena, nakuba ungumnqumo wasendle, waxhunywa phakathi kwawo futhi wazuza emanzini ezimpande zomnqumo, 18 ungawabukeli phansi* amagatsha. Nokho, uma uwabukela phansi, *+ khumbula ukuthi awuyithwele impande, kodwa yimpande ethwele wena. 19 Uyobe sewuthi: “Kwaphulwa amagatsha ukuze kuxhunywe mina.” + 20 Yiqiniso lelo! Ngenxa yokuntula kwawo ukholo, aphulwa, + kodwa wena umi ngokholo. + Ungaqhoshi, kunalokho yesaba. 21 Ngoba uma uNkulunkulu engawayekanga amagatsha emvelo, nawe ngeke akuyeke. 22 Ngakho-ke, cabanga ngomusa kaNkulunkulu + nesijeziso sakhe. Uletha isijeziso kulabo abawa, + kodwa kuwe kukhona umusa kaNkulunkulu, uma kodwa uhlala emseni wakhe; ngaphandle kwalokho, nawe uyoqothulwa. 23 Nabo futhi, uma bengaqhubeki nokubonisa ukuntula ukholo, bayoxhunywa, + ngoba uNkulunkulu uyakwazi ukuphinde abaxhume. 24 Ngoba uma wena wanqunywa esihlahleni somnqumo sasendle ngokwemvelo, waxhunyelwa emnqumweni otshaliwe, okuyinto ephambene nemvelo, yeka ukuthi kuyoba lula kangakanani-ke ukuba la magatsha emvelo axhunywe abuyiselwe esihlahleni sawo somnqumo!

25 Ngoba angifuni ukuba ningayazi le mfihlo engcwele, + bafowethu, ukuze ningacabangi ukuthi nihlakaniphile: Ukuthi ingxenye ka-Israyeli iye yaba nemizwa ebuthuntu kwaze kwaba yilapho sekungene isibalo esigcwele sabantu bezizwe, 26 futhi ngale ndlela wonke u-Israyeli + uyosindiswa. Njengoba nje kulotshiwe: “Umkhululi* uyovela eZiyoni, + asuse imikhuba yokungamhloniphi uNkulunkulu kuJakobe. 27 Yilesi isivumelwano sami nabo, + lapho ngisusa izono zabo.” + 28 Yiqiniso, ngokuqondene nezindaba ezinhle, bayizitha ngenxa yenu; kodwa ngokuqondene nokukhetha kukaNkulunkulu, bangabathandekayo ngenxa yokhokho babo. + 29 Ngoba izipho nokubiza kukaNkulunkulu abathile akuzona izinto ayozisola ngazo. 30 Ngoba njengoba nje nanikade ningamlaleli uNkulunkulu + kodwa manje niboniswe isihe + ngenxa yokungalaleli kwabo, + 31 kanjalo manje nalaba baye bangalalela, umphumela walokho kwaba ukuthi niboniswe isihe, ukuze nabo ngokwabo manje baboniswe isihe. 32 Ngoba uNkulunkulu ubavalele bonke ndawonye ekungalalelini, + ukuze ababonise bonke isihe. +

33 O ukujula kwengcebo nokuhlakanipha nolwazi lukaNkulunkulu! Yeka ukuthi aziphenyeki kanjani izahlulelo zakhe nokuthi azinakuthungathwa kanjani izindlela zakhe! 34 Ngoba “ubani owaziyo umqondo kaJehova,* noma ubani oye waba umeluleki wakhe?” + 35 Noma, “ubani oye wapha uNkulunkulu okuthile kuqala kwaze kwadingeka ukuba abuyiselwe kona?” + 36 Ngoba zonke izinto zivela kuye, zikhona ngaye futhi zingezakhe. Inkazimulo mayibe kuye kuze kube phakade. Amen.

12 Ngakho ngiyanincenga bazalwane, ngozwela lukaNkulunkulu, ukuba ninikele imizimba yenu + ibe umhlatshelo ophilayo, ongcwele, + owamukelekayo kuNkulunkulu, inkonzo engcwele ngamandla enu okucabanga. + 2 Yekani ukulolongwa* nifane nabantu baleli zwe,* kodwa maniguqulwe ngokushintsha ingqondo yenu, + ukuze nizitholele ngokwenu + okuyintando kaNkulunkulu enhle neyamukelekayo nephelele.

3 Ngoba ngomusa omkhulu enginikwe wona, ngitshela wonke umuntu lapho phakathi kwenu ukuba angazicabangi emkhulu kunalokho okudingeka akucabange, + kodwa acabange ukuze abe nengqondo ehluzekile, yilowo nalowo njengoba uNkulunkulu emnike* isilinganiso esithile sokholo. + 4 Ngoba njengoba nje sinamalunga amaningi emzimbeni owodwa, + kodwa wonke la malunga engenawo umsebenzi ofanayo, 5 kanjalo nathi, nakuba sibaningi, singumzimba owodwa, simunye noKristu, kodwa ngabanye singamalungu elinye nelinye. + 6 Sinezipho ezihlukahlukene ngokomusa omkhulu esiwunikiwe, + uma kuwukuprofetha, masiprofethe ngesilinganiso sokholo lwethu; 7 noma uma kuyinkonzo, masibe kule nkonzo; lowo ofundisayo, makabe sekufundiseni kwakhe; + 8 lowo okhuthazayo,* makakhuthaze; *+ owabayo,* makakwenze ngesandla esivulekile; + oholayo,* makakwenze ngenkuthalo; *+ obonisa isihe, makakwenze ngenjabulo. +

9 Uthando lwenu malungabi nabuzenzisi. + Zondani okubi; + bambelelani kokuhle. 10 Othandweni lobuzalwane thandanani omunye nomunye. Ekubonisaneni udumo nihole. *+ 11 Khuthalani,* ningavilaphi. *+ Vuthani emoyeni. + Yibani izigqila zikaJehova. *+ 12 Jabulani ethembeni. Khuthazelani osizini. + Phikelelani emthandazweni. + 13 Hlanganyelani izinto nabangcwele ngokwezidingo zabo. + Funani amathuba okwamukela abanye ngomusa. *+ 14 Qhubekani nibusisa labo abashushisayo; + busisani ningaqalekisi. + 15 Jabulani nabajabulayo; khalani nabakhalayo. 16 Bhekani abanye ngendlela nani enizibheka ngayo; ninganaki izinto eziphakeme, kodwa landelani izinto eziphansi. + Ningabi abahlakaniphile emehlweni enu. +

17 Ningabuyiseli muntu okubi ngokubi. + Cabangani ngokuthi yini enhle emehlweni abo bonke abantu. 18 Uma kungenzeka, ngokusemandleni enu, yibani nokuthula nabo bonke abantu. + 19 Ningaziphindiseleli bathandekayo, kodwa qhelelani ulaka; *+ ngoba kulotshiwe ukuthi: “ ‘Impindiselo ingeyami; ngizobuyisela mina,’ kusho uJehova.” *+ 20 Kodwa “uma isitha sakho silambile, siphe ukudla; uma somile, sinike okokuphuza; ngoba ngokwenza kanjalo uyonqwabelanisa amalahle avuthayo ekhanda laso.” *+ 21 Ungazivumeli ukuba unqotshwe okubi, kodwa qhubeka unqoba okubi ngokuhle. +

13 Wonke umuntu makazithobe emagunyeni aphakeme, + ngoba alikho igunya elingaveli kuNkulunkulu; + amagunya akhona ami ezikhundleni zawo ezilinganiselwe evunyelwe uNkulunkulu. + 2 Ngakho noma ubani ophikisa igunya umelene nohlelo lukaNkulunkulu; labo abamelana nalo bayothola isahlulelo. 3 Ngoba labo babusi bayinto yokwesatshwa, abesatshwa yilabo abenza okuhle, kodwa besatshwa yilabo abenza okubi. + Ingabe uyafuna ukungalesabi igunya? + Qhubeka wenza okuhle, uyoba nodumo oluvela kulo; 4 ngoba liyisikhonzi sikaNkulunkulu kuwe ukuze uzuze. Kodwa uma wenza okubi, yesaba, ngoba aliyiphathele ize inkemba. Liyisikhonzi sikaNkulunkulu, umphindiseli oletha isijeziso* kulowo owenza okubi.

5 Ngakho kunesidingo sokuba nizithobe, hhayi nje ngenxa yalolo laka kodwa nangenxa kanembeza wenu. + 6 Yingakho futhi nikhokha izintela; ngoba ayizinceku zikaNkulunkulu zomphakathi ezihlale zikhonza ngokuvumelana nale njongo. 7 Nikani bonke lokho okubafanele: lowo ofuna intela, intela; + lowo ofuna inkokhiso, inkokhiso; lowo ofuna ukwesatshwa, ukwesaba okunjalo; + lowo ofuna udumo, udumo olunjalo. +

8 Makungabi bikho noyedwa enimkweleta okuthile, ngaphandle kokuthandana; + ngoba noma ubani othanda omunye umuntu uwugcwalisile umthetho. + 9 Ngoba umthetho uthi, “Ungaphingi, + ungabulali, + ungebi, + ungahahi,” + nanoma yimuphi omunye umyalo okhona, uhlanganiswe kula mazwi athi, “Kumele uthande umakhelwane wakho njengoba uzithanda wena.” + 10 Uthando alwenzi okubi kumakhelwane womuntu; + ngakho, uthando luwukugcwaliswa komthetho. +

11 Yenzani lokhu, ngoba niyayazi inkathi, ukuthi kakade sekuyihora lokuba niphaphame ebuthongweni, + ngoba manje insindiso yethu isiseduze kakhulu kunangesikhathi siba amakholwa. 12 Ubusuku sebuqhubeke kakhulu; imini isisondele. Ngakho masilahle imisebenzi yobumnyama + sigqoke izikhali zokukhanya. + 13 Masiphile ukuphila okufanele + njengokungathi kusemini, ukuphila okungenayo imicimbi* exokozelayo nokudakwa, okungenakho ukuziphatha kabi ngokocansi nokuziphatha kabi okuhambisana nendelelo, *+ okungenakho ukuxabana nomhawu. + 14 Kodwa lingisani* iNkosi uJesu Kristu, + ningazihleleli kusengaphambili izifiso zenyama. +

14 Mamukeleni umuntu onobuthakathaka okholweni lwakhe, + kodwa ningamahluleli umuntu ngenxa yemibono engafani.* 2 Omunye umuntu unokholo lokuthi angadla zonke izinto, kodwa umuntu obuthakathaka udla imifino kuphela. 3 Odlayo makangambukeli phansi ongadli, nongadli makangamahluleli odlayo, + ngoba uNkulunkulu umamukele. 4 Ungubani wena ukuba wahlulele inceku yomunye? + Yinkosi yayo enqumayo ukuthi iyama noma iyawa. + Impela iyomiswa, ngoba uJehova* angayimisa.

5 Omunye umuntu ubheka olunye usuku njengolubaluleke kakhulu kunezinye; + kuyilapho omunye ebona zonke izinsuku zifana; + yilowo nalowo makaqiniseke ngokugcwele engqondweni yakhe. 6 Lowo ogcina usuku ulugcinela uJehova.* Nalowo odlayo, udlela uJehova,* ngoba ubonga uNkulunkulu; + nalowo ongadli akadleli uJehova,* nokho ubonga uNkulunkulu. + 7 Eqinisweni, akekho noyedwa kithi oziphilela yena kuphela, + futhi akekho ozifela yena kuphela. 8 Ngoba uma siphila, siphilela uJehova, *+ futhi uma sifa, sifela uJehova.* Ngakho kokubili uma siphila noma sifa, singabakaJehova. *+ 9 Ngoba uKristu wafa wabuye waphila ngenxa yale njongo, ukuze abe iNkosi phezu kwabafile nabaphilayo. +

10 Kodwa kungani wahlulela umfowenu? + Noma kungani futhi umbukela phansi umfowenu? Ngoba sonke siyokuma phambi kwesihlalo sokwahlulela sikaNkulunkulu. + 11 Ngoba kulotshiwe: “ ‘Ngiyafunga,’ + kusho uJehova,* ‘wonke amadolo ayoguqa kimi, wonke umuntu uyovuma obala kuNkulunkulu.’ ” + 12 Ngakho, ngamunye wethu uyozilandisela kuNkulunkulu. +

13 Ngakho masingabe sisahlulelana, + kunalokho, zimiseleni ukuba ningabeki isikhubekiso phambi komfowenu noma into engamphazamisa. + 14 Ngiyazi futhi ngiyaqiniseka eNkosini uJesu ukuthi akukho lutho olungcolile ngokwalo; + kulapho kuphela umuntu ebheka okuthile njengokungcolile lapho kuba okungcolile khona kuye. 15 Ngoba uma umfowenu ephatheka kabi ngenxa yokudla okudlayo, awusahambi ngokuvumelana nothando. + Ungalulimazi* ukholo lwalowo uKristu amfela ngokudla kwakho. + 16 Ngakho ningavumeli ukuba okuhle enikwenzayo kukhulunywe ngakho njengento embi. 17 Ngoba uMbuso kaNkulunkulu awusho ukudla nokuphuza, + kodwa usho ukulunga nokuthula nenjabulo okuhambisana nomoya ongcwele. 18 Ngoba noma ubani oba yisigqila sikaKristu ngale ndlela uyamukeleka kuNkulunkulu nakubantu.

19 Ngakho-ke masilwele ukwenza izinto ezibangela ukuthula + nezakhayo komunye nomunye. + 20 Yekani ukubhidliza umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu ngenxa nje yokudla. + Yiqiniso, zonke izinto zihlanzekile, kodwa akukuhle ukudla okuthile uma lokho okudlayo kuzophazamisa ukholo lomunye umuntu. *+ 21 Kuhle ukungayidli inyama noma ukungaliphuzi iwayini noma ukungenzi noma yini umfowenu akhubeka ngayo. + 22 Ukholo onalo, lwenze lube yinto ephakathi kwakho noNkulunkulu. Uyajabula umuntu ongazahluleli ngalokho akwamukelayo. 23 Kodwa uma engabaza, uselahliwe kakade uma edla, ngoba akadli ngokholo. Ngempela, konke okungaveli okholweni kuyisono.

15 Nokho, thina esiqinile kufanele sithwale ubuthakathaka balabo abangaqinile, + singazijabulisi thina. + 2 Ngamunye wethu makajabulise umakhelwane wakhe ukuze amakhe. + 3 Ngoba ngisho noKristu akazijabulisanga yena, + kodwa njengoba nje kulotshiwe: “Isihlamba sabakuhlambalazayo sehlele phezu kwami.” + 4 Ngoba zonke izinto ezalotshwa kusengaphambili zalotshelwa ukuba kufundiswe thina, + ukuze kuthi ngokukhuthazela kwethu + nangenduduzo evela emiBhalweni sibe nethemba. + 5 Kwangathi uNkulunkulu osisiza ukuba sikhuthazele nosinika induduzo anganisiza nicabange ngendlela uKristu Jesu ayecabanga ngayo, 6 ukuze nikhazimulise uNkulunkulu noYise weNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu ngobunye + nangezwi* elilodwa.

7 Ngakho yamukelanani, + njengoba nje noKristu anamukela, + ukuze kukhazinyuliswe uNkulunkulu. 8 Ngoba ngiyanitshela ukuthi uKristu waba isikhonzi salabo abasokile + ngenxa yokuba neqiniso kukaNkulunkulu, ukuze aqinisekise izithembiso azenza kokhokho babo, + 9 ukuze futhi izizwe zikhazimulise uNkulunkulu ngesihe sakhe. + Njengoba nje kulotshiwe: “Yingakho ngizokuvuma obala phakathi kwezizwe, ngizolihubela igama lakho.” + 10 Ubuye athi: “Thokozani nina zizwe kanye nesizwe sakhe.” + 11 Abuye athi futhi: “Dumisani uJehova,* nonke nina zizwe, bonke abantu mabamdumise.” + 12 Futhi u-Isaya uthi: “Kuyoba khona impande kaJese, + lowo ovelayo ukuze abuse izizwe; + izizwe ziyobeka ithemba lazo kuye.” + 13 Kwangathi uNkulunkulu osinika ithemba angenza ukuba izinhliziyo zenu zigcwale injabulo enkulu nokuthula ngenxa yokuthi nethembele kuye, ukuze nichichime ithemba ngamandla omoya ongcwele. +

14 Manje bazalwane, nami ngokwami ngiyaqiniseka ngokuthi nani ngokwenu nigcwele ubuhle, nigcwele lonke ulwazi, nangokuthi niyakwazi ukuyalana.* 15 Nokho, amanye amaphuzu ngiye nganibhalela wona ngokucacile, ukuze ngiphinde nginikhumbuze, ngenxa yomusa omkhulu engiwunikwe uNkulunkulu 16 ukuze ngibe inceku kaKristu Jesu yomphakathi ekhonza ezizweni. + Ngenza umsebenzi ongcwele wezindaba ezinhle zikaNkulunkulu, + ukuze lezi zizwe zibe umnikelo owamukelekayo, ongcweliswe ngomoya ongcwele.

17 Ngakho nginesizathu sokujabula kuKristu Jesu ezintweni eziphathelene noNkulunkulu. 18 Ngoba ngeke ngikhulume nangento eyodwa, ngizokhuluma kuphela ngezinto uKristu azenza ngami ukuze izizwe zilalele, ngezwi nangesenzo sami, 19 ngamandla ezibonakaliso nezimangaliso, + ngamandla omoya kaNkulunkulu, kangangokuthi kusukela eJerusalema kuze kufike e-Iliriku ngizishumayele ngokuphelele izindaba ezinhle ngoKristu. + 20 Ngempela, ngale ndlela ngakwenza umgomo wami ukuba ngingazimemezeli izindaba ezinhle lapho selaziwa khona kakade igama likaKristu, ukuze ngingakheli phezu kwesisekelo somunye umuntu; 21 kodwa njengoba nje kulotshiwe: “Labo abangaziswanga ngaye bayobona, nalabo abangezwanga bayoqonda.” +

22 Yingakho ngaphazamiseka kaningi ukuza kini. 23 Kodwa manje ayikho indawo engingakashumayeli kuyo kulezi zifunda, futhi sekuyiminyaka eminingi* ngilangazelela ukuza kini. 24 Ngakho, lapho ngiya eSpaniya, nginethemba lokuthi ngizonibona futhi ningiphelezele kancane ngemva kokuba sengihlale nani isikhashana. 25 Kodwa manje sengizoya eJerusalema ngiyokhonza abangcwele. + 26 Ngoba abaseMakedoniya nase-Akhaya bakujabulele ukunikela ngezinto zabo kwabahluphekayo abaphakathi kwabangcwele eJerusalema. + 27 Yiqiniso, bakujabulele ukwenza kanjalo, kodwa empeleni babebakweleta; ngoba uma izizwe zihlanganyele nabo izinto zabo ezivela kuNkulunkulu, nazo zikweleta ukubakhonza obala ngezinto zokunakekela izidingo zabo zansuku zonke. + 28 Ngakho ngemva kokuba sengiqedile ngalokhu futhi sengiwulethile kubo lo mnikelo,* ngizoya eSpaniya ngidlule ngakini. 29 Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngiyazi ukuthi lapho ngiza kini, ngizoza nesilinganiso esigcwele sesibusiso esivela kuKristu.

30 Manje ngiyanincenga bazalwane, ngeNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu nangomoya osenza sithandane, ukuba nizikhandle kanye nami emithandazweni eya kuNkulunkulu ngenxa yami, + 31 ukuba ngisindiswe + kwabangewona amakholwa eJudiya nokuba inkonzo yami engiyenzela iJerusalema ibe ngeyamukelekayo kwabangcwele, + 32 ukuze ngifike kini ngentando kaNkulunkulu ngijabula, sikhuthazane. 33 Kwangathi uNkulunkulu onika ukuthula angaba nani nonke. + Amen.

16 Ngethula* uFibhi kini, udadewethu, oyisikhonzi sebandla eliseKenikreya, + 2 ukuze nimamukele eNkosini ngendlela efanele abangcwele, nokuba nimsize nganoma yini ayidingayo, + ngoba waba umvikeli wabaningi, kuhlanganise nami.

3 Ngikhonzeleni kuPriska no-Akhwila, + izisebenzi ezikanye nami kuKristu Jesu, 4 abaye bafaka ukuphila kwabo engozini ngenxa yami, *+ nengibabongayo, kungemina kuphela kodwa nawo wonke amabandla ezizwe. 5 Nikhonze nasebandleni elihlangana endlini yabo. + Khonzani ku-Ephenetu wami othandekayo, ophakathi kwabokuqala ababa abalandeli bakaKristu e-Asiya. 6 Khonzani kuMariya, osebenze kanzima ngenxa yenu. 7 Khonzani ku-Anidroniku noJuniya, izihlobo zami + neziboshwa ezaziboshwe kanye nami, abangamadoda aziwayo phakathi kwabaphostoli futhi abaye baba nobunye noKristu isikhathi eside kunami.

8 Ngikhonzeleni ku-Ampiliyatu, othandekayo wami eNkosini. 9 Khonzani ku-Urbhanu, isisebenzi esikanye nathi kuKristu, nakuStaku wami othandekayo. 10 Khonzani ku-Aphele, owamukelekayo kuKristu. Khonzani kulabo abasendlini ka-Arisitobulu. 11 Khonzani kuHerodiyone isihlobo sami. Khonzani kulabo abasendlini kaNarkisu abaseNkosini. 12 Khonzani kuTrifina noTrifosa, abesifazane abasebenza kanzima eNkosini. Khonzani kuPersisi, othandekayo wethu, ngoba uye wasebenza kanzima eNkosini. 13 Khonzani kuRufu, lowo okhethwe iNkosi, nakumama wakhe ongumama nakimi. 14 Khonzani ku-Asinkiritu, kuFilegu, kuHerme, kuPhatroba, kuHerma, nakubazalwane abanabo. 15 Khonzani kuFilologu noJuliya, kuNerewu nodadewabo, naku-Olimpa, nakubo bonke abangcwele abanabo. 16 Bingelelanani ngokuqabulana okungcwele.* Wonke amabandla kaKristu ayakhonza kini.

17 Manje ngiyanincenga bazalwane, ukuba niqaphele labo ababangela ukuhlukana nababangela ukukhubeka, okuyinto ephambene nemfundiso eniyifundile, nibagweme. + 18 Ngoba amadoda alolo hlobo ayizigqila, hhayi zeNkosi yethu uKristu, kodwa zezifiso* zawo, futhi ngenkulumo ebushelelezi nangenkulumo yokuthopha ayenga izinhliziyo zalabo abanganakile. 19 Ukulalela kwenu sekubonwa yibo bonke abantu, ngakho ngiyajabula ngani. Kodwa ngifuna nihlakaniphe ngokuqondene nokuhle, kodwa nibe msulwa ngokuqondene nokubi. + 20 UNkulunkulu onika ukuthula, yena uzomchoboza ngokushesha uSathane + ngaphansi kwezinyawo zenu. Kwangathi umusa omkhulu weNkosi yethu uJesu ungaba nani.

21 UThimothewu, isisebenzi esikanye nami uyakhonza kini, kanjalo noLukiyu noJasoni noSosiphatru, izihlobo zami. +

22 Mina Tertiyu, obhale le ncwadi, ngiyakhonza kini eNkosini.

23 UGayu, + owamukele mina nalo lonke ibandla emzini wakhe, uyakhonza kini. U-Erastu umphathi-zimali* wedolobha uyakhonza kini, kanjalo noKwartu umfowabo. 24 *——

25 Makadunyiswe uNkulunkulu okwazi ukuniqinisa ngokuvumelana nezindaba ezinhle engizimemezelayo nokushumayela ngoJesu Kristu, ngokokwambulwa kwemfihlo engcwele + ebigciniwe kungakhulunywa lutho ngayo isikhathi eside kakhulu 26 kodwa manje esibonakalisiwe,* futhi manje esiyenziwe yaziwa ngemiBhalo eyisiprofetho phakathi kwazo zonke izizwe ngokuvumelana nomyalo kaNkulunkulu ophakade wokuba kukhuthazwe ukulalela ngokholo; 27 kuNkulunkulu, okunguye yedwa ohlakaniphile, + makube inkazimulo ngoJesu Kristu, kuze kube phakade. Amen.