1 KuThimothi 5
1 Ungamkhalimeli omdala, kodwa meluleke njengoyihlo; abatsha njengabafowenu;
An ancient man rebuke not, but entreat him as a father: young men, as brethren:
2 abesifazana abadala njengonyoko; abesifazana abatsha njengabodadewenu, ekuhlambulukeni konke.
Old women, as mothers: young women, as sisters, in all chastity.
3 Hlonipha abafelokazi abangabafelokazi isibili.
Honour widows, that are widows indeed.
4 Kodwa uba umfelokazi othile elabantwana loba abazukulu, kabafunde kuqala ukuhlonipha indlu yakwabo, kabenanise umkhondo kubazali; ngoba lokhu kuhle kuyemukeleka phambi kukaNkulunkulu.
But if any widow have children, or grandchildren, let her learn first to govern her own house, and to make a return of duty to her parents: for this is acceptable before God.
5 Lowo-ke ongumfelokazi isibili osele yedwa uthembele kuNkulunkulu, uhlala ekunxuseni lemikhulekweni ebusuku lemini.
But she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, let her trust in God, and continue in supplications and prayers night and day.
6 Kanti lowo ozinikela ekuzithokoziseni, ufile ephila.
For she that liveth in pleasures, is dead while she is living.
7 Laya-ke ngalezizinto, ukuze bangasoleki.
And this give in charge, that they may be blameless.
8 Kodwa uba umuntu engondli abakibo, ikakhulu abendlu yakhe, uluphikile ukholo, futhi mubi kulongakholwayo.
But if any man have not care of his own, and especially of those of his house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
9 Kangabalwa umfelokazi ongaphansi kweminyaka engamatshumi ayisithupha, umfazi owake wenda endodeni kanye,
Let a widow be chosen of no less than threescore years of age, who hath been the wife of one husband.
10 onconywa ngemisebenzi emihle, uba ondle abantwana, uba engenise izihambi, uba egezise inyawo zabangcwele, uba esize abahluphekayo, uba ekhuthalele wonke umsebenzi omuhle.
Having testimony for her good works, if she have brought up children, if she have received to harbour, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have ministered to them that suffer tribulation, if she have diligently followed every good work.
11 Kodwa abafelokazi abatsha ubale; ngoba nxa sebelenkanuko ezimelana loKristu, bafuna ukwenda;
But the younger widows avoid. For when they have grown wanton in Christ, they will marry:
12 balokulahlwa, ngoba bachithile ukholo lwabo lokuqala.
Having damnation, because they have made void their first faith.
13 Futhi-ke ngesikhathi esifananayo bafunda ukuvilapha bezula lezindlu, futhi bengavilaphi kuphela, kodwa babuye bahlebe bengena kokungeyisikho okwabo, bekhuluma okungafanelanga.
And withal being idle they learn to go about from house to house: and are not only idle, but tattlers also, and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
14 Ngakho ngifisa ukuthi abafelokazi abatsha bende, bazale abantwana, baphathe umuzi wabo, banganiki isitha lathuba lokuthuka.
I will therefore that the younger should marry, bear children, be mistresses of families, give no occasion to the adversary to speak evil.
15 Ngoba lakhathesi abanye sebephambuke balandela uSathane.
For some are already turned aside after Satan.
16 Uba okholwayo owesilisa kumbe okholwayo owesifazana elabafelokazi, kabasize, njalo ibandla lingathwaliswa nzima, ukuze lisize abangabafelokazi isibili.
If any of the faithful have widows, let him minister to them, and let not the church be charged: that there may be sufficient for them that are widows indeed.
17 Abadala abaphatha kuhle bafanele ukuhlonitshwa ngokuphindiweyo, ikakhulu labo abasebenza nzima elizwini lekufundiseni;
Let the priests that rule well, be esteemed worthy of double honour: especially they who labour in the word and doctrine:
18 ngoba umbhalo uthi: Ungayifaki isayeke inkabi ebhulayo; futhi uthi: Isisebenzi sifanele iholo laso.
For the scripture saith: Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn: and, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
19 Ungalemukeli icala elimelana lomdala, ngaphandle phambi kwabafakazi ababili kumbe abathathu.
Against a priest receive not an accusation, but under two or three witnesses.
20 Abonayo basole phambi kwabo bonke, ukuze abanye labo babe lokwesaba.
Them that sin reprove before all: that the rest also may have fear.
21 Ngiyakulayisisa phambi kukaNkulunkulu leNkosi uJesu Kristu lengilosi ezikhethiweyo, ukuze uzigcine lezizinto ngokungaqumi ngaphambili, ungenzi lutho ngokubandlulula.
I charge thee before God, and Christ Jesus, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by declining to either side.
22 Ungaphangisi ukubeka izandla phezu komuntu, futhi ungahlanganyeli ezonweni zabanye; uzigcine wena umsulwa.
Impose not hands lightly upon any man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins. Keep thyself chaste.
23 Ungabe usanatha amanzi wodwa, kodwa sebenzisa iwayini elilutshwana, ngenxa yesisu sakho lemikhuhlane yakho futhifuthi.
Do not still drink water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake, and thy frequent infirmities.
24 Izono zabanye abantu zisobala, zibaqalela ukuya ekugwetshweni; kanti ezabanye ziyalandela.
Some men’s sins are manifest, going before to judgment: and some men they follow after.
25 Ngokunjalo lemisebenzi emihle isobala; laleyo eyehlukileyo ingeke ifihlakale.
In like manner also good deeds are manifest: and they that are otherwise, cannot be hid.
