2 Corinthians 8
1 Moreover, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the assemblies of Macedonia,
Bazalwane, sithanda ukuba lazi ngomusa uNkulunkulu awunike amabandla aseMasedoniya.
2 how in a severe ordeal of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their generosity.
Ekulingweni kwawo okunzima kakhulu lokuthokoza kwawo okukhulu kanye lobuyanga bawo bokucina kugcwele ukuphana okumangalisayo.
3 For according to their power, I testify, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,
Ngoba ngiyafakaza ukuthi anikela okunengi njengayengakwanelisa, kanye lokudlula amandla awo. Bona ngokwabo,
4 begging us with much entreaty to receive this grace and the fellowship in the service to the saints.
basincenga ngokuphangisa ukuba babe lethuba lokuhlanganyela kulokhukusebenzela abantu beNkosi.
5 This was not as we had expected, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.
Kabenzanga njengesasikulindele kodwa bazinikela eNkosini kuqala, muva bazinikela kithi kuvumelana lentando kaNkulunkulu.
6 So we urged Titus, that as he had made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace.
Ngakho-ke, samncenga uThithu, njengoba wayeseqalisile ngaphambilini, ukuba lawo awuqede umsebenzi womusa lo kini.
7 But as you abound in everything—in faith, utterance, knowledge, all earnestness, and in your love to us—see that you also abound in this grace.
Kodwa njengoba lisenza kuhle ezintweni zonke, ekukholweni, ekukhulumeni, ekwazini, ekuzimiseleni okupheleleyo kanye lakukho ukusithanda kwenu, bonani ukuthi liyaqhubeka futhi kulumusa wokuphana.
8 I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love.
Angilibekeli mlayo kodwa ngifuna ukuhlola ubuqotho bothando lwenu ngokuluqathanisa lokuzimisela kwabanye.
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.
Ngoba liyawazi umusa weNkosi yethu uJesu Khristu ukuthi lanxa wayenothile kodwa waba ngumyanga ngenxa yenu, ukuze kuthi ngobuyanga bakhe lina linothe.
10 I give advice in this: it is expedient for you who were the first to start a year ago, not only to do, but also to be willing.
Njalo nansi iseluleko sami mayelana lalokho okuhle kakhulu kini kule indaba: Nyakenye libe ngabokuqala kungayisikho ekupheni nje kuphela kodwa lekubeni lesifiso sokwenza njalo.
11 But now complete the doing also, that as there was the readiness to be willing, so there may be the completion also out of your ability.
Khathesi-ke uqediseni umsebenzi ukuze ukutshiseka kokufuna kwenu ukwenza kungalingana lokuwuqeda kwenu, kusiya ngalokho elilakho.
12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you don’t have.
Ngoba nxa isifiso sikhona, isipho siyamukeleka kusiya ngalokho umuntu alakho hatshi ngalokho angelakho.
13 For this is not that others may be eased and you distressed,
Isifiso sethu akusikuthi abanye bakhululwe lina lilokhu lincindezelekile kodwa ukuba kube lokulingana.
14 but for equality. Your abundance at this present time supplies their lack, that their abundance also may become a supply for your lack, that there may be equality.
Ngenala yenu yalesisikhathi lizabanika abakuswelayo, ukuze kuthi labo ngenala yabo baliphe elikuswelayo. Lapho-ke kuzakuba lokulingana,
15 As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”
njengoba kulotshiwe ukuthi: “Lowo owabutha okunengi kabanga lokunengi kakhulu, lalowo owabutha okulutshwana kabanga lokulutshwana kakhulu.”
16 But thanks be to God, who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.
Kabongwe uNkulunkulu owabeka enhliziyweni kaThithu ukukhathazeka kunye engilakho ngani.
17 For he indeed accepted our exhortation, but being himself very earnest, he went out to you of his own accord.
Ngoba uThithu kamukelanga isicelo sethu nje kuphela kodwa uyeza kini ngokutshiseka okukhulu njalo ngokuzithuma kwakhe.
18 We have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the Good News is known throughout all the assemblies.
Njalo kanye laye sithuma umzalwane obatshazwa ngamabandla wonke ngenxa yomsebenzi wakhe wokutshumayela ivangeli.
19 Not only so, but he was also appointed by the assemblies to travel with us in this grace, which is served by us to the glory of the Lord himself, and to show our readiness.
Phezu kwalokho, wakhethwa ngamabandla ukuba asiphelekezele sithwele umnikelo esiwuphetheyo ukuze sidumise iNkosi uqobo lokuba sibonakalise ukutshisekela kwethu ukusiza.
20 We are avoiding this, that any man should blame us concerning this abundance which is administered by us.
Sifuna ukuxwaya insolo ngendlela esiphatha ngayo lesisipho sokuphana.
21 Having regard for honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
Ngoba siyalwisa kakhulu ukuba senze okulungileyo, kungasikho emehlweni eNkosi kuphela, kodwa lasemehlweni abantu.
22 We have sent with them our brother whom we have many times proved earnest in many things, but now much more earnest, by reason of the great confidence which he has in you.
Phezu kwalokho, sithuma kanye labo umzalwane wethu ohlezi ebonakalisa kithi ngezindlela ezinengi ukuthi ukhuthele, ikakhulu khathesi ngenxa yethemba lakhe elikhulu kini.
23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for you. As for our brothers, they are the apostles of the assemblies, the glory of Christ.
UThithu yena-ke ungohlanganyela lami loyisisebenzi kanye lami phakathi kwenu; abazalwane bethu bona-ke bangabameli bamabandla lodumo kuKhristu.
24 Therefore show the proof of your love to them before the assemblies, and of our boasting on your behalf.
Ngakho-ke, tshengisani abantu laba ubufakazi bothando lwenu kanye lesisusa sokuzigqaja kwethu ngani, ukuze amabandla wonke alubone.
