1 KuThimothi 1

1 UPawuli, umphostoli kaJesu Kristu njengokomlayo kaNkulunkulu uMsindisi wethu, loweNkosi uJesu Kristu ithemba lethu,

Paul, and apostle of Jesus Christ by command of God our Saviour and Jesus Christ our Hope,

2 kuTimothi umntanami weqiniso ekholweni: Umusa, isihawu, ukuthula okuvela kuNkulunkulu uBaba wethu loJesu Kristu iNkosi yethu.

to Timothy, my true son in the faith; Grace, mercy and peace from God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Njengoba ngakukhuthaza ukuthi uhlale eEfesu, ngisiya eMakedoniya, ukuze ulaye abathile ukuthi bangafundisi imfundiso eyehlukileyo,

As I begged you when I was setting out for Macedonia, stay where you are at Ephesus, and instruct certain individuals there not to be teaching heterodoxy,

4 futhi bangananzeleli izinganekwane lendaba zosendo olokuzalana ezingapheliyo, ezibanga ukuphikisana kulokwakha kukaNkulunkulu okusekholweni.

nor to be paying attention to myths and interminable genealogies, which tend to promote discussions rather than a stewardship entrusted by God, a stewardship which is in faith.

5 Kodwa injongo yomlayo luthando oluvela enhliziyweni emhlophe lakusazela esihle lekholweni olungelakuzenzisa;

Now the end of the exhortation is love, out of a pure heart and a good conscience and an undissembled faith.

6 kulokhu abathile abaduhe kukho baphambukela ekukhulumeni okuyize,

Some have failed here, and have turned aside to empty argument.

7 befuna ukuthi babe ngabafundisi bomlayo, bengaqedisisi lezinto abazitshoyo, kumbe langezinto abaziqinisayo.

Although they desire to be teachers of the law, they understand neither the words they use nor the subjects they talk about.

8 Kodwa siyazi ukuthi umlayo ulungile, uba umuntu ewusebenzisa ngokomlayo,

I know well that "the Law is good" if a man use it lawfully;

9 esazi lokhu, ukuthi umlayo kawubekelwa olungileyo, kodwa abangelamlayo labangalaleliyo, abeyisa uNkulunkulu labayizoni, abangangcwele labangakholwayo, ababulala oyise lababulala onina, ababulala abantu,

but he must remember that the Law is not enacted for a good man, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the irreligious and sinful, for the godless and profane, for parricides and murderers,

10 izifebe, abesilisa abalalanayo, abathumba abantu, abaqambimanga, abephula izifungo, njalo nxa kukhona okunye okuphambene lemfundiso ephilileyo,

for the immoral, for sexual perverts, for slave dealers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching,

11 njengokwevangeli lenkazimulo kaNkulunkulu obusisiweyo, engaphathiswa lona.

as laid down in the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which has been entrusted to me.

12 Ngiyambonga-ke owanginika amandla, uKristu Jesu iNkosi yethu, ukuthi wangibona ngithembekile, wangimisa enkonzweni,

And I am thankful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has thus enabled me, that he accounted me faithful, and appointed me to his service,

13 engangikade ngingumhlambazi lomzingeli lomthuki; kodwa ngahawukelwa, ngoba ngangikwenza ngokungazi ekungakholweni;

although I had formerly been a blasphemer and a persecutor and a doer of outrage. But I obtained mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief.

14 kodwa umusa weNkosi yethu wengezelelwa kakhulu kanye lokholo lothando olukuKristu Jesu.

And the grace of our Lord overflowed with faith and love that is in Christ Jesus.

15 Lithembekile lelilizwi njalo lifanele ukwemukelwa konke, ukuthi uKristu Jesu weza emhlabeni ukusindisa izoni, engiyinduna yazo mina;

Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that "Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners"! And there is no greater sinner than I!

16 kodwa ngenxa yalokhu ngahawukelwa, ukuze kimi engiyinduna uJesu Kristu abonakalise konke ukubekezela, ngibe yisibonelo kwabazakholwa kuye empilweni ephakade. (aiōnios g166)

Yet for this very cause I obtained mercy, so that in me, the chief of sinners, Jesus Christ might display all his boundless patience as an illustration for those who should later believe in him, and so gain life eternal. (aiōnios g166)

17 Kuyo-ke iNkosi eyisimakade, engabhubhiyo, engelakubonwa, uNkulunkulu yedwa ohlakaniphileyo, kakube udumo lobukhosi kuze kube nini lanininini. Ameni. (aiōn g165)

Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be glory and honor forever and ever. Amen! (aiōn g165)

18 Lumlayo ngiwunika wena, mntanami Timothi, njengeziprofetho ezenzakala kuqala ngawe, ukuze ngazo ulwe ukulwa okuhle,

This charge then, I am laying upon you, Timothy, my son, according to the predictions formerly made concerning you. Fight the good fight in the spirit of these predictions,

19 ubamba ukholo lesazela esihle, abanye abasininayo, bachithekelwa ngumkhumbi mayelana lokholo;

keeping fast hold of faith and a good conscience; which certain individuals have cast aside, and so made shipwreck of their faith.

20 okukubo uHimeneyo loAleksandro, engibanikele kuSathane, ukuze bafunde ukuthi bangahlambazi.

Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have given over to Satan, so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.