Romans 8

1 Because [God has erased the record of our sins because we trust in what Christ has done for us], now [God will] not condemn and punish those/us who have a relationship with (OR, are united to) Christ Jesus.

Ngakho, khathesi akusekho ukulahlwa kulabo abakuKhristu uJesu,

2 [God’s] Spirit causes us to live [in a new way] [PRS] as a result of what Christ Jesus [did for us]. And he has set up a way by which he frees [each of] us from continually being forced to sin (OR, to obey our self-directed natures) and from being separated from God.

ngoba ngoKhristu uJesu umthetho woMoya wokuphila wangikhulula emthethweni wesono lokufa.

3 What [we] could not do [by trying to obey] the laws [of God] [PRS], because our self-directed nature was too weak [to obey them], God did. He sent his own Son [into the world in order that his Son might atone] for our sin. His Son came having a body (OR, human nature) that was like [the body] (OR, the [human nature]) of us people who sin. [By sending his Son in this way], he condemned and punished [his Son, who never sinned, instead of punishing us, who] sinned [MTY]. He did that [by making his Son’s] body [a sacrifice] (OR, [by causing his Son’s] body [to suffer/die]) for [all our] sin.

Ngoba lokho umthetho owawungelamandla okukwenza ngoba waxegiswa yimvelo elesono, uNkulunkulu wakwenza ngokuthuma iNdodana yakhe ngesimo somuntu olesono ukuba ibe ngumnikelo wesono. Ngakho isono yasilahla emuntwini olesono,

4 So we can [now] fulfill all that God required in his laws. We do this, not by our acting the way our sinful human nature [desires], but instead by living as [God’s] Spirit [desires us to live].

ukuze izimiso ezilungileyo zomthetho zipheleliswe kithi, thina esingaphili ngokwemvelo yesono, kodwa ngokoMoya.

5 People who live according to what their self-directed nature [desires] think about and are concerned about what their self-directed nature [desires]. But people who [live] according to what [God’s] Spirit [desires think about and are concerned about] what [God’s] Spirit [desires].

Labo abaphila ngokwemvelo yesono ingqondo zabo zigxile kulokho okufiswa yileyomvelo, kodwa labo abaphila ngokwakoMoya ingqondo zabo zigxile kulokho okufiswa nguMoya.

6 Those people who [PRS] think about and are concerned about what their self-directed nature [desires] will not live eternally (OR, will be separated from God). But those people who think about and are concerned about what [God’s] Spirit [desires] will live [eternally] and have [inner] peace.

Ingqondo yomuntu olesono yikufa, kodwa ingqondo ebuswa nguMoya yikuphila lokuthula;

7 Let me explain this. [To the extent that] people [PRS] think about and are concerned about what their self-directed nature [desires], they are acting contrary to God. They do not obey the laws of God. In fact, they are not even able [to obey his laws].

ingqondo yimvelo yesono iyamzonda uNkulunkulu. Kayiwuvumi umthetho kaNkulunkulu, njalo ayingeke yenze njalo.

8 The people who let their self-directed nature [control them] cannot do what pleases God.

Labo ababuswa yimvelo yesono abangeke bamthokozise uNkulunkulu.

9 But we do not have to let our self-directed nature [control us]. Instead, we can [let] God’s Spirit [control us], because he lives within us. If people do not have [living in them] the Spirit [who comes from] Christ, they do not belong to Christ.

Kodwa lina kalibuswa yimvelo yesono, kodwa nguMoya, nxa uMoya kaNkulunkulu ehlala kini. Njalo nxa umuntu engelaye uMoya kaKhristu, kasuye kaKhristu.

10 But since Christ [is living in you/us by his Spirit, although] your/our bodies [are certain to] die because you/we sin, your/our spirits are alive because God has erased the record of your/our sins.

Kodwa nxa uKhristu ekini, umzimba wenu ufile ngenxa yesono, kodwa umoya wenu uyaphila ngenxa yokulunga.

11 [God] caused Jesus to live again after he died. And because his Spirit lives in you/us, [God] will also make your/our bodies, which [now] are sure to die, live [again after you/we die]. God, who caused Christ to live again after he died, will make you/us live again by [causing] his Spirit, who lives within you/us, [to do it].

Njalo nxa uMoya walowo owavusa uKhristu kwabafileyo ehlala kini, yena owavusa uKhristu kwabafileyo, imizimba yenu efayo uzayinika ukuphila ngoMoya wakhe ohlala kini.

12 Therefore, my fellow believers, we must [live as the Spirit directs us]. What we do not have to do is to live as our self-directed nature [guides us].

Ngakho-ke, bazalwane, silomlandu, kodwa kawungabi yimvelo yesono ukuba siphile ngokwawo.

13 If you live the way your self-directed nature [directs], you will surely not live [eternally] (OR, will surely be eternally separated from God). But if by [the power of God’s] Spirit you quit doing the [sinful] things that your bodies [desire] [MET], you will live eternally.

Ngoba nxa liphila ngokwemvelo yesono, lizakufa; kodwa nxa kungoMoya libulala izenzo ezimbi zomzimba, lizaphila,

14 We who are guided by the Spirit of God {allow the Spirit of God to guide us} are God’s children.

ngoba labo abakhokhelwa nguMoya kaNkulunkulu bangamadodana kaNkulunkulu.

15 [You have showed that this is true], because you received [from God] a Spirit that is not one that makes you fear [God] again. You are not like slaves who [fear their masters] [MET]. On the contrary, we have received a Spirit by whose [work in our hearts God] has adopted us. The Spirit now enables us to cry out [to God], “[You(sg) are my] Father [DOU]!”

Ngoba kalamukelanga umoya olenza libe yizigqili, ukuze liphile ngokwesaba, kodwa lamukela uMoya wobundodana. Njalo siyamemeza ngawo sithi, “Abha, Baba.”

16 The Spirit himself confirms what our spirits [say], that we are God’s children.

UMoya uqobo uyafakaza lomoya wethu ukuthi thina singabantwana bakaNkulunkulu.

17 Because we are [God’s] children, we also will some day receive/inherit [eternal blessings/privileges]. We will receive/inherit them from God, and we will [also] receive/inherit [them] just like Christ has [inherited them]. But we must suffer [for doing good] as Christ did, in order to receive splendor as he did.

Ngakho, nxa singabantwana, sizindlalifa, izindlalifa zikaNkulunkulu lezindlalifa kanye loKhristu, nxa sihlanganyela laye impela ezinhluphekweni zakhe ukuze sihlanganyele laye njalo enkazimulweni yakhe.

18 I consider that what we suffer during the present time is not worth [paying attention to, because] the future splendor/glory that will be revealed {that [God] will reveal} to us [is so great].

Ngikholwa ukuthi inhlupheko zethu zakhathesi kazifanelanga ukulinganiswa lenkazimulo ezabonakaliswa kithi.

19 The [things that God has] created are very eagerly waiting for [the time] [PRS, DOU] when God will reveal who his [true] children are.

Indalo ilindile ngokulangazelela okukhulu ukuba abantwana bakaNkulunkulu babonakaliswe.

20 [God] caused the things that he created to be unable to achieve [what he had purposed. That was] not because they wanted to [be unable to do that]. On the contrary, [God] made them that way because he wanted them to keep confidently expecting

Ngoba indalo ihlezi ihlukuluzekile, kungasintando yayo, kodwa kungentando yalowo oyihlukuluzayo, ngethemba

21 that the things that [he] created will be freed {that [he] will free the things that [he] created} from their sure decay [MET]. [He] will free them in order that [he can give them] the same glory that belongs to his children.

lokuthi indalo yona ngokwayo izakhululwa ebugqilini bokonakala ilethwe enkululekweni elenkazimulo yabantwana bakaNkulunkulu.

22 We know that until now [it is as though] all [things] that God created have been groaning together, [and they long for that glory, just like a mother having the pains before bearing a child] groans [and longs for her baby’s birth] [MET].

Siyakwazi ukuthi indalo yonke ibubula njengosebuhlungwini bokuhelelwa kuze kube khathesi.

23 Not only [do those things groan], but we ourselves also groan inwardly. We who have [God’s] Spirit, who is like a partial gift [MET] we have received as we wait for [the future glory, groan inwardly]. We groan while we wait eagerly for the time when we will receive our [full] rights as God’s adopted children. That [will include] his freeing our bodies [from the things that hinder us on earth. He will do this by giving us new bodies].

Akunjalo kuphela, kodwa lathi uqobo esilezithelo zakuqala zikaMoya, siyabubula ngaphakathi silindile ngokutshiseka ukwamukelwa njengamadodana, ukuhlengwa kwemizimba yethu.

24 Ever since we were saved {since [God] saved us}, we have continued to confidently expect [that future glory]. If we had what we waited for, we would not [need to] wait for it any longer, because those who have something, certainly do not continue to wait for it! [RHQ]

Ngoba ngalelithemba sasindiswa. Kodwa ithemba elibonakalayo kalisilothemba. Ngubani othemba lokho avele eselakho na?

25 But because we keep waiting expectantly to receive what we do not yet have, we wait for it eagerly and patiently/perseveringly.

Kodwa nxa sithemba lokho esingakabi lakho, siyakulindela ngokubekezela.

26 Similarly, in addition to our continuing to wait for what God will give us, God’s Spirit helps us when our spirits feel weak. We do not know what is proper/necessary for us to pray. But God’s Spirit knows, and he prays for us when we groan (OR, he groans) in a way that cannot be expressed in words (OR, prays with us, groaning in a way that cannot be expressed in words).

Ngokufananayo, uMoya uyasisiza ebuthakathakeni bethu. Kasikwazi okumele sikukhulekele, kodwa uMoya uqobo uyasinxusela ububula okungeke kuchazwe ngamazwi.

27 God, who examines our inner feelings, understands what his Spirit desires. What God understands is that his Spirit prays for us who belong to God exactly as God wants him to pray.

Njalo yena lowo ohlola inhliziyo zethu uyayazi ingqondo kaMoya, ngoba uMoya uyabanxusela abangcwele ngokwentando kaNkulunkulu.

28 And we know that to those/us who love God, he works out all things that happen [to them/us] in a way that produces good [spiritual] benefits [for us]. He does these things for those/us whom he has chosen, because that was (OR, was according to) what he planned to do.

Njalo siyakwazi ukuthi ezintweni zonke uNkulunkulu usebenzela okuhle kulabo abamthandayo, ababizwe ngokwenjongo yakhe.

29 God knew previously [that we would believe] in him (OR, [would be saved]). We are those who God also decided previously would develop a character like his Son’s character. The result of that is that [Christ is like] a firstborn/highest-ranking [son], and [those/we who are God’s children] [MET] are [like] [MET] many [younger] brothers [of Jesus].

Ngoba labo uNkulunkulu abazi ngaphambilini wabamisela ukuba babe lesimo esifana leseNdodana yakhe, ukuze abe lizibulo phakathi kwabazalwane abanengi.

30 And us who God decided previously [that we would become like his Son], he also summoned. And for us whom he summoned, he also erased the record of our sins. And for us whose record of sins he has erased, he also will surely give future splendor.

Labo abamiselayo, wababiza; labo ababizayo, wabenza balunga; labo abenza balunga, wabanika inkazimulo.

31 So (I will tell you what we must conclude from [all] these things [that God does for us]./what shall we conclude from [all] these things [that God does for us]?) [RHQ] Because God [is acting] on our behalf, (no one can win against us!/can anyone defeat us? (OR, it does not matter if anyone opposes us)!) [RHQ]

Pho sizakuthini ngalokhu na? Nxa uNkulunkulu elathi ngubani ongamelana lathi na?

32 God did not spare even his very own Son. Instead, he turned him over [to others to cruelly kill him] in order that all we [who believe in him] may benefit [from his dying for us. Therefore, because God did that], (he will also certainly give us freely everything [that we need to live for him], in addition to [giving us] Christ./will he not also certainly give us freely everything [that we need to live for him], in addition to [giving us] Christ?) [RHQ]

Yena ongayigodlanga iNdodana yakhe, kodwa wayinikelela thina sonke, angayekela kanjani ukusipha ngesihle izinto zonke kanye layo na?

33 It is God himself who erases the record of our sins. So (no one who accuses us [before God will win against us] (OR, [it does not matter] if anyone tries to accuse us) whom God has chosen./is it possible that anyone who accuses us [before God] will win against us (OR, does it matter if anyone tries to accuse us) whom God has chosen?) [RHQ]

Ngubani ozababeka icala labo abakhethwe nguNkulunkulu na? NguNkulunkulu olungisayo.

34 It is Christ Jesus himself who pleads [with God] for us, so (no one can condemn us (OR, say that we are still guilty for our sin)./can anyone condemn us (OR, say that we are still guilty for our sin)?) [RHQ] Christ died [for us], but he was also brought back to life {[God] also raised him from the dead}, and he is now at the place of honor [ruling] with God [MTY].

Ungubani lowo olahlayo? UKhristu Jesu owafayo, okudlula lokho, owavuswayo waphila, usesandleni sokunene sikaNkulunkulu njalo laye uyasinxusela.

35 Absolutely no one and nothing can cause Christ to stop loving us! [RHQ] That could not [RHQ] happen [because someone] caused us to have trouble [DOU], or [because someone did things to] harm us, or [because we did] not have anything to eat, or [because we did] not have enough clothes, or [because we lived in a] dangerous situation, or [because someone killed us with] a sword [MTY] (OR, murdered us).

Ngubani ozasehlukanisa lothando lukaKhristu na? Yikuhlupheka kumbe ukudubeka loba ukuhlukuluzwa kumbe indlala loba ukuhamba ze loba ingozi kumbe inkemba na?

36 [Such things may happen to us, just like] it is written {[as David] wrote} [that David said to God], “Because we are your [(sg)] people, [other people repeatedly attempt to] kill us. They consider that we are [only people to be killed], [like a butcher considers] that sheep are [only] animals to be slaughtered [MET].”

Njengoba kulotshiwe ukuthi: “Ngenxa yakho, sikhangelane lokufa ilanga lonke; sithathwa njengezimvu ezizahlatshwa.”

37 But even though all these bad things [may happen to us], we win a great victory/triumph [over these things because Christ], who loves us, [helps us].

Hatshi, kuzozonke lezizinto singaphezu kokuba ngabanqobi ngaye owasithandayo.

38 I am absolutely certain that neither being dead (OR, being killed), nor [what happens to us while] we live, nor angels, nor demons, nor present events, nor future events, nor powerful [beings/forces],

Ngoba ngiyakholwa ukuthi loba yikufa kumbe ukuphila, loba yizingilosi kumbe amadimoni, loba khathesi kumbe isikhathi esizayo, loba kungamandla bani,

39 nor [powerful beings] above [the horizon] or below [the horizon] [MTY], nor anything else that [God has] created can cause God to stop loving us. [God showed us that he loves us by sending] Jesus Christ our Lord [to die for us].

loba kuyikuphakama kumbe ukuzika, loba olunye ulutho kukho konke okudaliweyo, akuyikusehlukanisa lothando lukaNkulunkulu olukuKhristu uJesu iNkosi yethu.