2 Corinthians 12
1 It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast, but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
Kumele ngiqhubeke ngizincoma. Lanxa kungelalutho oluzuzwayo, mina ngizaqhubeka ngemibono langezambulo ezivela eNkosini.
2 I know a man in Christ who was caught up into the third heaven fourteen years ago—whether in the body, I don’t know, or whether out of the body, I don’t know; God knows.
Mina ngazi umuntu okuKhristu okwathi ngeminyaka elitshumi lane eyedlulayo wathathwa wasiwa ezulwini lesithathu. Langabe kwakuphakathi komzimba loba ngaphandle komzimba kangikwazi, kwazi uNkulunkulu.
3 I know such a man (whether in the body, or outside of the body, I don’t know; God knows),
Mina ngazi ukuthi umuntu lo loba phakathi komzimba kumbe ngaphandle komzimba, kangikwazi, kodwa uNkulunkulu uyazi,
4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
wahlwithwa wasiwa ePharadise. Wezwa izinto ezingakhulumekiyo, izinto umuntu angavunyelwa ukuzitsho.
5 On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.
Ngazincoma ngomuntu onjalo, kodwa mina angiyikuzincoma, ngaphandle kwangobuthakathaka bami.
6 For if I would desire to boast, I will not be foolish; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, so that no man may think more of me than that which he sees in me or hears from me.
Lanxa ngingakhetha ukuzincoma, ngiyabe ngingesisithutha ngoba ngiyabe ngikhuluma iqiniso. Kodwa ngiyazibamba ukuze kungabikhona ozacabanga okunengi ngami kulalokho okufanele engikwenzayo loba engikutshoyo.
7 By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, a thorn in the flesh was given to me: a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively.
Ukuze ngenqabele ukuzikhukhumeza ngenxa yalezizambulo ezinkulu kakhulukazi, ngahlatshwa ngameva emzimbeni wami, ayisithunywa sikaSathane, ukuba angihluphe.
8 Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
Ngalabhela eNkosini kathathu ukuba iwasuse kimi.
9 He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me.
Kodwa yathi kimi, “Umusa wami ukwanele ngoba amandla ami apheleliswa ebuthakathakeni.” Ngakho ngizazincoma kakhulu-ke ngokuthokoza ngobuthakathaka bami, ukuze amandla kaKhristu ahlale phezu kwami.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, and in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.
Yikho-nje, ngenxa kaKhristu, ngithokozela ubuthakathaka, izithuko, inhlupho, ukuhlukuluzwa lokukhathazeka. Ngoba nxa ngibuthakathaka, kulapho-ke ngilamandla.
11 I have become foolish in boasting. You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for I am in no way inferior to the very best apostles, though I am nothing.
Sengenze ubuthutha, kodwa yini elingingenise kubo. Kade kufanele nginconywe yini ngoba kangiphansi okokucina “kubapostoli abaphezulu,” lanxa nje ngingasilutho.
12 Truly the signs of an apostle were worked among you in all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty works.
Izinto eziphawula umpostoli zigoqela izibonakaliso, izimanga kanye lezimangaliso ezenziwa phakathi kwenu ngokubekezela okukhulu.
13 For what is there in which you were made inferior to the rest of the assemblies, unless it is that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
Laliphansi okunjani kulamanye amabandla, ngaphandle kokuthi angizange ngibe ngumthwalo kini. Ngithethelelani kulokhu!
14 Behold, this is the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I seek not your possessions, but you. For the children ought not to save up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
Khathesi sengilungele ukuba ngilethekelele okwesithathu njalo angiyikuba ngumthwalo kini ngoba engikufunayo akusimpahla yenu kodwa lina. Ikanti belo abantwana akumelanga banakekele abazali babo kodwa abazali yibo okumele banakekele abantwababo.
15 I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less?
Ngakho ngizathokozela kakhulu ukuchitha konke engilakho ngenxa yenu lami futhi ngizinikele. Ngingalithanda kakhulu, lina lizangithanda kancane na?
16 Even so, I myself didn’t burden you. But you might say that being crafty, I caught you with deception.
Loba kunjalo, mina angibanga ngumthwalo kini. Kodwa mina njengomuntu ohlakaniphileyo, ngalibamba ngobuqili!
17 Did I take advantage of you by anyone of those whom I have sent to you?
Ngaliqilibezela yini ngomunye wabantu engabathuma kini na?
18 I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Didn’t we walk in the same spirit? Didn’t we walk in the same steps?
Ngacela uThithu ukuba eze kini njalo ngathuma lomzalwane wethu kunye laye. UThithu kazange aliqilibezele, waliqilibezela na? Kasisebenzanga ngamoya munye salandela indlela yinye na?
19 Again, do you think that we are excusing ourselves to you? In the sight of God we speak in Christ. But all things, beloved, are for your edifying.
Isikhathi sonke lesi kade licabanga ukuthi besizivikela kini na? Kade sikhuluma phambi kukaNkulunkulu njengabakuKhristu; njalo konke esikwenzayo, bazalwane abathandekayo, ngokokuliqinisa.
20 For I am afraid that perhaps when I come, I might find you not the way I want to, and that I might be found by you as you don’t desire, that perhaps there would be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, whisperings, proud thoughts, or riots,
Ngoba ngiyesaba ukuthi ekufikeni kwami angiyikulifica liyilokho engifuna libe yikho, mhlawumbe lani lingangifumani ngiyilokho elifuna ngibe yikho. Ngiyesaba ukuthi kungaba khona ukuxabana, umona, ukuthukuthela, imibango, isinyeyo, ukuhleba, ukuzikhukhumeza kanye lokuphithizela.
21 that again when I come my God would humble me before you, and I would mourn for many of those who have sinned before now, and not repented of the uncleanness, sexual immorality, and lustfulness which they committed.
Ngiyesaba ukuthi ekufikeni kwami futhi uNkulunkulu wami uzangithoba phambi kwenu njalo ngizakuba lusizi ngabanengi abenze izono ngaphambilini njalo bengaphendukanga kulokho kungcola, isono sokufeba kanye lamanyala abangena kuwo.
