1 Corinthians 9
1 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?
Kangikhululekanga na? Kangisumpostoli na? Kanje kangimbonanga uJesu iNkosi yethu na? Kalisizithelo zomsebenzi wami eNkosini na?
2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.
Lanxa ngingasuye umpostoli kwabanye, impela nginguye kini! Ngoba lina liluphawu lobupostoli bami eNkosini.
3 Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,
Lokhu kuyisivikelo sami kulabo abazangahlulela.
4 Have we not power to eat and to drink?
Kasilalungelo lokudla lokunatha na?
5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and [as] the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
Kambe silelungelo bani lokuthatha owesifazane okholwayo owendileyo sihambe laye njengokwenziwa ngabanye abapostoli labafowabo beNkosi kanye loKhefasi na?
6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
Kumbe yimi loBhanabhasi kuphela esingelalo ilungelo lokusebenzela impilo?
7 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
Ngubani osebenza njengebutho ngendleko zakhe na? Ngubani olima isivini angadli izithelo zaso na? Ngubani owelusa umhlambi anganathi uchago lwawo na?
8 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
Lokhu ngikutsho ngokwengqondo yabantu na? Umthetho kawutsho okufanayo na?
9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
Ngoba kulotshiwe emthethweni kaMosi ukuthi: “Inkabi ungayifaki isayeke nxa ibhula amabele.” UNkulunkulu ukhathazeka ngenkabi na?
10 Or saith he [it] altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, [this] is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
Impela uyasikhulumela lokhu; akunjalo na? Yebo, lokhu kwalotshelwa thina, ngoba nxa umlimi elima lobhulayo ebhula kumele benzenjalo belethemba lokwabelana isivuno.
11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, [is it] a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
Nxa sahlanyela inhlanyelo yakomoya kini, kambe kunengi kakhulu yini nxa sivuna isivuno sempahla kini na?
12 If others be partakers of [this] power over you, [are] not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
Nxa abanye belaleli ilungelo losizo oluvela kini, thina akumelanga sibe lalo kakhulu na? Kodwa thina kasilisebenzisanga ilungelo leli. Esikhundleni salokho sibekezelele konke kulokuthi sivimbele ivangeli likaKhristu.
13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live [of the things] of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
Kalazi yini ukuthi abasebenza ethempelini bathola ukudla kwabo ethempelini, lokuthi labo abakhonza e-alithareni babelana lokho okunikelwe e-alithareni na?
14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
Ngokufanayo iNkosi ilaye ukuthi labo abatshumayela ivangeli kumele bathole ukuphila kwabo evangelini.
15 But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for [it were] better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.
Kodwa mina angisebenzisanga lalinye lala amalungelo. Njalo kangilobi lokhu ngethemba lokuthi lizangenzela izinto ezinjalo. Ngingakhetha ukufa kulokuthi umuntu angemuke ukuzincoma lokhu.
16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
Ikanti lapho ngitshumayela ivangeli, angingeke ngizincome ngoba kumele ngitshumayele! Maye kimi nxa ngingatshumayeli ivangeli!
17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation [of the gospel] is committed unto me.
Nxa ngitshumayela ngokuzithandela, ngithola umvuzo; nxa ngingazithandeli, ngifeza umlandu obekwe kimi.
18 What is my reward then? [Verily] that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
Pho umvuzo wami uyini na? Uyilokhu nje: ukuthi lapho ngitshumayela ivangeli, ngilitshumayela kungekho mbadalo, kalokho ngingasebenzisi malungelo ami ekulitshumayeleni.
19 For though I be free from all [men], yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
Lanxa ngikhululekile ngingasuye womunye umuntu, ngizenza isigqili ebantwini bonke, ukuze ngizuze abanengi nxa kusenzeka.
20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
KumaJuda ngaba njengomJuda, ukuba ngizuze amaJuda. Kulabo abangaphansi komthetho ngaba njengongaphansi komthetho (lanxa nje mina ngingekho ngaphansi komthetho), ukuba ngizuze labo abangaphansi komthetho.
21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ, ) that I might gain them that are without law.
Kulabo abangelamthetho ngaba njengongelamthetho (lanxa ngingakhululekanga emthethweni kaNkulunkulu ngingaphansi komthetho kaKhristu), ukuba ngizuze labo abangelamthetho.
22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all [men], that I might by all means save some.
Kwababuthakathaka ngababuthakathaka, ukuba ngizuze ababuthakathaka. Sengibe yizinto zonke ebantwini bonke ukuze kuthi ngazozonke izindlela ezingenzakala ngisilise abanye.
23 And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with [you].
Ngenza konke lokhu ngenxa yevangeli, ukuze lami ngihlanganyele ezibusisweni zalo.
24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
Kalazi yini ukuthi emncintiswaneni wokugijima abagijimi bayagijima bonke, kodwa ngoyedwa kuphela othola umvuzo? Gijimani ngendlela ezakwenza ukuthi lithole umvuzo.
25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they [do it] to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
Umuntu wonke oncintisayo emidlalweni uba sekufundisweni okulukhuni. Bakwenzela ukuzuza umqhele wamaluba ongasoze uhlale isikhathi eside, kodwa thina sikwenzela ukuba sithole umqhele ozahlala ukhona kuze kube laphakade.
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
Ngakho kangigijimi njengomuntu ogijima engahlose lutho; kangilwi njengomuntu obindana lomoya.
27 But I keep under my body, and bring [it] into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Hatshi, ngitshaya umzimba wami ngiwenze isigqili sami ukuze kuthi lapho sengitshumayele kwabanye, mina uqobo ngingemukwa ilungelo lokuthola umvuzo.
