2 Corinthians 8
1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God which hath been given in the churches of Macedonia;
Sesilazisa, bazalwane, umusa kaNkulunkulu ophiwe emabandleni eMakedoniya;
2 how that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
ukuthi ekulingweni okukhulu kwenhlupho, ukwengezelelwa kwentokozo yabo lobuyanga babo obujulileyo bengezelela enothweni yokuphana kwabo.
3 For according to their power, I bear witness, yea and beyond their power, [they gave] of their own accord,
Ngoba babekhululekile njengokwamandla abo, ngiyafakaza, langaphezu kwamandla abo,
4 beseeching us with much entreaty in regard of this grace and the fellowship in the ministering to the saints:
ngesicelo esikhulu basincenga, ukuthi semukele isipho, lokuhlanganyela koncedo olungolwabangcwele;
5 and [this], not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us by the will of God.
njalo kakubanga njengoba sathemba, kodwa bazinikela kuqala eNkosini, lakithi ngentando kaNkulunkulu.
6 Insomuch that we exhorted Titus, that as he had made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace also.
Kwaze kwathi sakhuthaza uTitosi ukuthi, njengalokhu wayeseqalile phambili, ngokunjalo awuqede futhi kini lumusa.
7 But as ye abound in everything, [in] faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and [in] all earnestness, and [in] your love to us, [see] that ye abound in this grace also.
Kodwa njengalokhu lisengezelela kukho konke, ekholweni, lelizwini, lelwazini, lekukhuthaleni konke, lethandweni lwenu kithi, ukuze lakulumusa lengezelele.
8 I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love.
Kangikhulumi njengokulawula, kodwa ngokutshiseka kwabanye, njalo ngihlola ubuqotho bothando lwenu.
9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might become rich.
Ngoba liyawazi umusa weNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu, ukuthi lanxa wayenothile, waba ngumyanga ngenxa yenu, ukuze ngobuyanga bakhe lina linothe.
10 And herein I give [my] judgment: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to make a beginning a year ago, not only to do, but also to will.
Lakulokhu ngipha umbono; ngoba lokhu kuluncedo kini, abaqala phambili nyakenye, kungeyisikwenza kuphela, kodwa lokufisa;
11 But now complete the doing also; that as [there was] the readiness to will, so [there may be] the completion also out of your ability.
kodwa khathesi-ke qedani futhi ukwenza, ukuze, njengalokhu kukhona ukukhuthalela ukufisa, ngokunjalo kukhona lokuqedisa ngalokho elilakho.
12 For if the readiness is there, [it is] acceptable according as [a man] hath, not according as [he] hath not.
Ngoba uba kukhona ukufisa, umuntu uyemukeleka ngalokho alakho, kungeyisikho ngalokho angelakho.
13 For [I say] not [this], that others may be eased, [and] ye distressed:
Ngoba kungeyisikuthi abanye babe lenkululeko, lina-ke libe lohlupho; kodwa ngokulingana, okwalesisikhathi isengezo senu sibe ngesenswelo yabo,
14 but by equality; your abundance [being a supply] at this present time for their want, that their abundance also may become [a supply] for your want; that there may be equality:
ukuze kuthi lesengezo sabo sibe ngesenswelo yenu, ukuze kube khona ukulingana,
15 as it is written, He that [gathered] much had nothing over; and he that [gathered] little had no lack.
njengokulotshiweyo ukuthi: Owabutha okunengi, kabanga lokusalayo; lowabutha okuncinyane kasilelanga.
16 But thanks be to God, which putteth the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.
Kodwa kabongwe uNkulunkulu ofaka inkuthalo efananayo ngani enhliziyweni kaTitosi,
17 For indeed he accepted our exhortation; but being himself very earnest, he went forth unto you of his own accord.
ukuthi isibili wemukela isikhuthazo, kodwa etshiseka kakhulu, wasuka waya kini ngesifiso sakhe.
18 And we have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the gospel [is spread] through all the churches;
Njalo sithuma kanye laye umzalwane, odumo lwakhe evangelini ludabule emabandleni wonke;
19 and not only so, but who was also appointed by the churches to travel with us in [the matter of] this grace, which is ministered by us to the glory of the Lord, and [to shew] our readiness:
kungeyisilokhu kuphela, kodwa ukhethiwe futhi ngamabandla ukuthi asiphelekezele lalo umusa owasetshenzwa yithi kube ludumo lwale iNkosi, lekubonakalisweni kokukhuthala kwenu;
20 Avoiding this, that any man should blame us in [the matter of] this bounty which is ministered by us:
sivikela lokhu, hlezi umuntu asisole kulesisengezo esisetshenzwe yithi;
21 for we take thought for things honourable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
sinakekela okuhle kungekho phambi kweNkosi kuphela kodwa laphambi kwabantu.
22 And 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 hath] in you.
Sasesithuma kanye labo umzalwane wethu, esimfice ezintweni ezinengi kanengi ekhuthele, kodwa khathesi ukhuthele kakhulukazi ngenxa yokulithemba okukhulu.
23 Whether [any inquire] about Titus, [he is] my partner and [my] fellow-worker to you-ward; or our brethren, [they are] the messengers of the churches, [they are] the glory of Christ.
Kumbe ngoTitosi, ungumhlanganyeli lesisebenzi kanye lami kini; loba abazalwane bethu, bayizithunywa zamabandla, bayinkazimulo kaKristu.
24 Shew ye therefore unto them in the face of the churches the proof of your love, and of our glorying on your behalf.
Ngakho bonakalisani kubo ubufakazi bothando lwenu labokuzincomela kwethu lina, laphambi kwamabandla.
