Romans 6

1 Someone might [RHQ] say [in reply to what I have written] that [since God acted kindly toward us] in a way we did not deserve [because we sinned], perhaps we should continue to sin in order that he may continue to act even more kindly toward us [and keep on forgiving us]! [RHQ]

Ngakho, sizakuthini na? Sizaqhubeka sisenza isono ukuze umusa wande na?

2 [I would reply], No, certainly not! We [ought to consider that] our sinful desires [MET] [cannot make us do what they want us to do], [just like we cannot make] a corpse do what we want it to do. So it is not right that we continue to sin! [RHQ]

Akunjalo! Safa ngenxa yesono; pho singaphila kanjani kuso futhi na?

3 When we were baptized {[asked someone to] baptize us} in order to show that we have a relationship with (OR, are united to) Jesus Christ, our [being baptized was to declare that it was as though] we died with Christ. ([I want] you to remember that!/Do you not know that?) [RHQ]

Kumbe njalo kalazi yini ukuthi sonke thina esabhaphathizelwa kuJesu Khristu sabhaphathizelwa ekufeni kwakhe na?

4 So, when we were baptized {someone baptized us}, [it was as though] we were buried with Christ. [We were baptized] in order to indicate that [we would not let our sinful desires make us do what they want us to do, just like people cannot make] a corpse [do what they want it to] do [MET]. We [were baptized] to [signify that we would] continually conduct our lives in a new way, just like Christ was caused to live again in a new way by the great [power] of [God his] Father.

Ngakho sangcwatshwa laye ngokubhaphathizelwa ekufeni, ukuze kuthi njengoba uKhristu wavuswa kwabafileyo ngobukhosi bukaYise, lathi siphile ukuphila okutsha.

5 Because of our close relationship with Christ, we have [separated ourselves from the former way in which we conducted our lives], just like he [was separated from his physical life when he] died [MET]. But God will also certainly [enable us to live in a new way, just like he] enabled Christ to live again.

Nxa sihlanganiswe laye kanje ekufeni kwakhe, ngempela sizahlanganiswa laye futhi ekuvukeni kwakhe.

6 We must keep remembering that when Christ died on the cross [MET], [it was as though] our sinful nature [died with him. It has] lost its power to make us do what it wants us to do [MET]. That happened in order that we would not do the sinful [things that our bodies] [MET], which desire to sin, want us to do, and in order that we would no longer have to sin [MET], as slaves [have to do what their masters want].

Ngoba siyakwazi ukuthi ubuntu bethu obudala babethelwa laye ukuze umzimba wesono ulahlwe, khona singezukuba yizigqili zesono futhi,

7 [We are, as it were, freed] {[free]} [from] sinful [desires] [MET] [controlling us, just like] those who have died are free [from anything controlling them].

ngoba lowo osefile usekhululwe esonweni.

8 Since [it is as though] we died with Christ, we believe that we will continue to live with him.

Nxa safa loKhristu, siyakholwa ukuthi sizaphila laye.

9 We know that since [God] enabled Christ to live again after he died, Christ will never die again. Nothing will ever be able to make him die again [PRS].

Ngoba siyazi ukuthi njengoba uKhristu wavuswa kwabafileyo, angeke afe futhi; ukufa akuselawo amandla phezu kwakhe.

10 When he died, he died once for [people] who had sinned, and he will never die again; but in regard to his living [again now], he lives in order to [serve/honor] God.

Ukufa akufayo wakufela bonke kanye ngenxa yesono; kodwa ukuphila akuphilayo, ukuphilela uNkulunkulu.

11 Similarly, you must consider that [it is as though] you have become [unable to do what your] sinful [desires] [MET] want, as a corpse [is not able to do what anyone wants it to do]. You must also consider that because of your relationship to Christ Jesus you are living [in a new way] in order to [serve/honor] God.

Ngokufanayo, zibaleni njengabafileyo esonweni, kodwa abaphilayo kuNkulunkulu ngoKhristu uJesu.

12 So, do not let the [desire to] sin [PRS] control your bodies [MET] with the result that you do the sinful things that you desire to do. [Remember that] your bodies will surely die, [but your spirits will never die].

Ngakho lingavumeli isono ukuba sibuse imizimba yenu efayo ukuba livumele izinkanuko zaso ezimbi.

13 Do not let any of your body parts do wicked things, as [you did] [MET] [when you were spiritually] dead. Instead, present yourselves to God as people who are alive [spiritually]. Present all your body parts to God, [to allow him] to use them to [do] righteous things.

Linganikeli izitho zemizimba yenu esonweni njengezikhali zobubi, kodwa zinikeleni kuNkulunkulu njengabavuswe kwabafileyo balethwa ekuphileni; linikele izitho zemizimba yenu kuye njengezikhali zokulunga.

14 Do not let a [desire to] sin control you [PRS]. The laws [that God gave Moses] did not enable you [to stop sinning]. But [now] God controls you and kindly helps you [not to sin].

Ngoba isono kasiyikuba ngumbusi wenu, ngoba lina kalikho ngaphansi komthetho, kodwa ngaphansi komusa.

15 [I suppose that certain people might think about what I have just said and they might] say [RHQ], “[You say that] the laws [God gave Moses] did not [enable us to stop sinning, but that God is now] treating us kindly in ways we do not deserve. ([That seems to mean that God permits] us to continue sinning./[Does that mean that God permits] us to continue sinning?) [RHQ]” My reply to that is no, we should certainly not continue [sinning]

Pho-ke, sizakwenza isono ngoba kasikho ngaphansi komthetho, kodwa ngaphansi komusa na? Akunjalo!

16 [Slaves] have to obey [what their masters command] [MET] [them to do]. (I want you to remember this./Do you not know this?) [RHQ] Similarly, if you present yourselves to someone [in order to] obey him, you will be the slaves [MET] of the person you obey. Similarly, [if you have yielded yourselves to do the] sinful things [you desire], you are slaves of your sinful desires [PRS], and you will be eternally separated from God. [If you have yielded yourselves] to obey [God], you are slaves of God and you need to [live] righteously.

Kalazi yini ukuthi nxa lizinikela komunye umuntu ukuba njengezigqili ezilaleyo, liyizigqili kulowo elimlalelayo, langabe liyizigqili zesono, okuholela ekufeni, loba ezokulalela, okuholela ekulungeni na?

17 You were once slaves [to] your sinful [desires]. But you began to sincerely obey the new teaching [MET] that you were taught {that [people] taught you}. I thank God for that.

Kodwa-ke, kabongwe uNkulunkulu ngokuthi lanxa laliyizigqili zesono, layilalela ngezinhliziyo ezipheleleyo indlela yemfundiso elabekwa kuyo.

18 [I] also [thank God that] you have been freed {[that] he has freed you} from [being controlled by a desire to] sin, and that you have become [as though you were] slaves [MET] to [living] righteously [MET].

Lakhululwa esonweni laselisiba yizigqili zokulunga.

19 I am illustrating what I say [by talking about slavery] because your human nature prevents you from understanding [spiritual truth] easily. [In the past] you willingly did the immoral and unlawful things that [your minds compelled] your bodies to do [MET], [just like] slaves [do what their masters compel them to do]. As a result, you did even more unlawful things. Now, [you need to] willingly allow [your minds to compel] your bodies to [act] righteously [MET], in order that you will behave in a holy/pure way.

Lokhu ngikubeka ngamazwi abantu ngoba libuthakathaka ngokwemvelo yobuntu benu. Njengoba lalinikela izitho zemizimba yenu njengezigqili emanyaleni lekuxhwaleni okwandayo, ngakho khathesi zinikeleni njengezigqili ekulungeni okuholela ebungcweleni.

20 When you were [like] slaves [because your sinful desires compelled you to do] sinful things [MET], you were not [concerned about behaving] righteously [MET].

Lapho laliyizigqili zesono, lalikhululekile emandleni okulunga.

21 Nevertheless, [doing] those things resulted in your being separated from God, so you did not benefit at all from [doing] the [sinful] things that you are now ashamed of. [RHQ]

Ngumvuzo bani elawutholayo ngalesosikhathi ezintweni eseliyangeka ngazo khathesi? Lezozinto ziphetha ngokufa!

22 But you have been freed {[God] has freed you} from [letting the desire to] sin control you. You have become [as though you are] [MET] the slaves of God. So now the result is that God has caused you to completely belong to him and, as a result, you will live eternally. (aiōnios g166)

Kodwa njengoba khathesi selikhululwe esonweni laba yizigqili kuNkulunkulu, umvuzo eliwutholayo uholela ebungcweleni, lesiphetho yikuphila okungapheliyo. (aiōnios g166)

23 [What people receive for] sinning [is that they are] eternally separated from God. That is [like] wages that [people receive] [MET]. But what God gives us is a gift. What he gives us is that we live eternally because of [our relationship with] (OR, because [we are united to]) Christ Jesus our Lord. (aiōnios g166)

Ngoba inhlawulo yesono yikufa, kodwa isipho sikaNkulunkulu siyikuphila okungapheliyo kuJesu Khristu iNkosi yethu. (aiōnios g166)