Romans 3
1 Then what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the profit of circumcision?
Pho yibungcono bani obukhona ekubeni ngumJuda, loba ligugu bani elikhona ekusokeni na?
2 Much in every way! Because first of all, they were entrusted with the revelations of God.
Kukhulu ngezindlela zonke. Okokuqala amaJuda aphathiswe wona kanye amazwi kaNkulunkulu.
3 For what if some were without faith? Will their lack of faith nullify the faithfulness of God?
Kuba njani nxa abanye babo babengathembekanga? Ukungathembeki kwabo kungachitha ukuthembeka kukaNkulunkulu na?
4 May it never be! Yes, let God be found true, but every man a liar. As it is written, “that you might be justified in your words, and might prevail when you come into judgment.”
Akunjalo! UNkulunkulu kabe qotho, umuntu wonke abe ngumqambi wamanga. Njengoba kulotshiwe ukuthi: “Ukuze ubonakaliswe ukuthi uqondile lapho ukhuluma, njalo unqobe lapho usahlulela.”
5 But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what will we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak like men do.
Kodwa nxa ukungalungi kwethu kusenza ukulunga kukaNkulunkulu kucace kakhulu, thina sizakuthini na? UNkulunkulu kalunganga ngokwehlisela ulaka lwakhe phezu kwethu na? (Mina ngikhuluma njengokubona komuntu.)
6 May it never be! For then how will God judge the world?
Ngempela akunjalo. Aluba kwakunjalo, uNkulunkulu ubengawahlulela kanjani umhlaba na?
7 For if the truth of God through my lie abounded to his glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?
Omunye angaphikisa athi, “Nxa amanga ami ekhulisa ubuqotho bukaNkulunkulu ngalokho andise udumo lwakhe, kungani lokhe ngilahlwa njengesoni na?”
8 Why not (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), “Let’s do evil, that good may come?” Those who say so are justly condemned.
Kungani singathi njengoba sigconwa kuthiwa sitsho njalo futhi abanye bathi “Kasenzeni okubi ukuze kuvele okulungileyo na?” Ukulahlwa kwabo kufanele.
9 What then? Are we better than they? No, in no way. For we previously warned both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.
Pho sizaphetha ngokuthini na? Kambe sesingcono na? Hatshi akunjalo! Sesitshilo ukuthi umJuda loweZizwe bangokufanayo ngaphansi kwamandla esono.
10 As it is written, “There is no one righteous; no, not one.
Njengoba kulotshiwe ukuthi: “Kakho olungileyo, kakho loyedwa;
11 There is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks after God.
kakho ozwisisayo, kakho odinga uNkulunkulu.
12 They have all turned away. They have together become unprofitable. There is no one who does good, no, not so much as one.”
Bonke baphambukile, bonke kabasasizi ngalutho; kakho owenza okuhle, kakho loyedwa.”
13 “Their throat is an open tomb. With their tongues they have used deceit.” “The poison of vipers is under their lips.”
“Imiphimbo yabo ingamangcwaba avulekileyo; inlimi zabo zisebenza ukukhohlisa.” “Ubuhlungu bezinhlangwana busezindebeni zabo.”
14 “Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”
“Imilomo yabo igcwele ukuthuka lentukuthelo.”
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood.
“Inyawo zabo zilesiqubu ekuchitheni igazi;
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways.
incithakalo losizi kuphawula izindlela zabo,
17 The way of peace, they haven’t known.”
indlela yokuthula kabayazi.”
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
“Ukumesaba uNkulunkulu akukho emehlweni abo.”
19 Now we know that whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God.
Siyakwazi ukuthi loba kuyini okutshiwo ngumthetho, ukutsho kulabo abangaphansi komthetho, ukuze imilomo yonke ithuliswe lomhlaba wonke ube lomlandu kuNkulunkulu.
20 Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight; for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.
Ngakho-ke, kakho okuzathiwa ulungile emehlweni akhe ngokugcina umthetho; kodwa ngomthetho siba lakho ukwazi isono.
21 But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the prophets;
Kodwa khathesi ukulunga okuvela kuNkulunkulu, ngaphandle komthetho, sekwazisiwe, njalo kwafakazelwa nguMthetho labaphrofethi.
22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For there is no distinction,
Ukulunga lokhu okuvela kuNkulunkulu kufika kubo bonke abakholwa kuJesu Khristu. Akulamehluko phakathi komJuda loweZizwe,
23 for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;
ngoba bonke bonile njalo bayasilela enkazimulweni kaNkulunkulu,
24 being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
njalo bakhululwa ngomusa wakhe kudlula ngensindiso eyeza ngoKhristu uJesu.
25 whom God sent to be an atoning sacrifice through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God’s forbearance;
UNkulunkulu wambeka njengomhlatshelo wenhlawulo, ngokukholwa egazini lakhe. Wenza lokhu ukuze abonakalise ukulunga kwakhe, ngoba ngokubekezela kwakhe wayekela izono ezenziwe ngaphambilini kungekho kujeziswa,
26 to demonstrate his righteousness at this present time, that he might himself be just and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus.
wakwenzela ukubonakalisa ukulunga kwakhe ngalesisikhathi, ukuze abe ngolungileyo njalo onguye obenza babe ngabalungileyo labo abakholwa kuJesu.
27 Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.
Pho kungaphi ukuzincoma? Kutshiywe ngaphandle. Ngasimiso bani na? Esokugcina umthetho na? Hatshi, kodwa ngesokukholwa.
28 We maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
Ngoba siyaqinisa ukuthi umuntu ulungiswa yikukholwa langaphandle kokugcina umthetho.
29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Isn’t he the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,
UNkulunkulu unguNkulunkulu wamaJuda kuphela na? KasuNkulunkulu wabeZizwe njalo na? Yebo, ungowabeZizwe futhi,
30 since indeed there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.
njengoba uNkulunkulu emunye kuphela, ozalungisa abasokileyo ngokukholwa labangasokanga ngalokho kukholwa okufanayo.
31 Do we then nullify the law through faith? May it never be! No, we establish the law.
Pho, siyawuchitha umthetho ngalokhu kukholwa na? Hatshi, akunjalo! Kodwa, okuyikho yikuthi umthetho siyawusekela.
