2 Kwabasekhorinte 8

1 Sesilazisa, bazalwane, umusa kaNkulunkulu ophiwe emabandleni eMakedoniya;

And, brothers, we declare to you the grace of God that has been given in the congregations of Macedonia,

2 ukuthi ekulingweni okukhulu kwenhlupho, ukwengezelelwa kwentokozo yabo lobuyanga babo obujulileyo bengezelela enothweni yokuphana kwabo.

that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy, even from the depth of their poverty, abounded for the wealth of their generosity,

3 Ngoba babekhululekile njengokwamandla abo, ngiyafakaza, langaphezu kwamandla abo,

so that according to their ability, I testify, and beyond their ability, willingly,

4 ngesicelo esikhulu basincenga, ukuthi semukele isipho, lokuhlanganyela koncedo olungolwabangcwele;

with much exhortation, begging of us the favor, even the fellowship of service for the sanctified.

5 njalo kakubanga njengoba sathemba, kodwa bazinikela kuqala eNkosini, lakithi ngentando kaNkulunkulu.

And it was not as we expected, but first they gave themselves to the Lord and to us through the will of God,

6 Kwaze kwathi sakhuthaza uTitosi ukuthi, njengalokhu wayeseqalile phambili, ngokunjalo awuqede futhi kini lumusa.

for us to urge Titus that, as he earlier began this kindness, so he would even finish it for you also.

7 Kodwa njengalokhu lisengezelela kukho konke, ekholweni, lelizwini, lelwazini, lekukhuthaleni konke, lethandweni lwenu kithi, ukuze lakulumusa lengezelele.

But as ye abound in everything, in faith, and word, and knowledge, and all diligence, and in your love to us, so that ye may also abound in this kindness.

8 Kangikhulumi njengokulawula, kodwa ngokutshiseka kwabanye, njalo ngihlola ubuqotho bothando lwenu.

I speak not from commandment, but because of the zeal of others, also examining the genuineness of your love.

9 Ngoba liyawazi umusa weNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu, ukuthi lanxa wayenothile, waba ngumyanga ngenxa yenu, ukuze ngobuyanga bakhe lina linothe.

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although he was rich he became poor for your sakes, so that by that man's poverty ye might become rich.

10 Lakulokhu ngipha umbono; ngoba lokhu kuluncedo kini, abaqala phambili nyakenye, kungeyisikwenza kuphela, kodwa lokufisa;

And in this I give judgment, for this is expedient for you who earlier began, from a year ago, not only the doing but also the intending.

11 kodwa khathesi-ke qedani futhi ukwenza, ukuze, njengalokhu kukhona ukukhuthalela ukufisa, ngokunjalo kukhona lokuqedisa ngalokho elilakho.

And now also finish the doing, so that just as was the willingness of the intending, so also to finish from the having.

12 Ngoba uba kukhona ukufisa, umuntu uyemukeleka ngalokho alakho, kungeyisikho ngalokho angelakho.

For if the willingness is present, it is acceptable to the extent if some man has, not to the extent he does not have.

13 Ngoba kungeyisikuthi abanye babe lenkululeko, lina-ke libe lohlupho; kodwa ngokulingana, okwalesisikhathi isengezo senu sibe ngesenswelo yabo,

For it is not so that ease is for others and stress for you, but out of parity your abundance at the present time is for the need of those men.

14 ukuze kuthi lesengezo sabo sibe ngesenswelo yenu, ukuze kube khona ukulingana,

So that the abundance of those men may also happen for your need, so that there may become equity,

15 njengokulotshiweyo ukuthi: Owabutha okunengi, kabanga lokusalayo; lowabutha okuncinyane kasilelanga.

as it is written, he of much did not abound, and he of little did not lack.

16 Kodwa kabongwe uNkulunkulu ofaka inkuthalo efananayo ngani enhliziyweni kaTitosi,

But thanks to God who gives the same eagerness for you in the heart of Titus.

17 ukuthi isibili wemukela isikhuthazo, kodwa etshiseka kakhulu, wasuka waya kini ngesifiso sakhe.

Because he indeed accepted the exhortation, but his own will being more zealous, he went forth to you.

18 Njalo sithuma kanye laye umzalwane, odumo lwakhe evangelini ludabule emabandleni wonke;

And we sent along with him the brother whose praise in the good news is throughout all the congregations.

19 kungeyisilokhu kuphela, kodwa ukhethiwe futhi ngamabandla ukuthi asiphelekezele lalo umusa owasetshenzwa yithi kube ludumo lwale iNkosi, lekubonakalisweni kokukhuthala kwenu;

And not only so, but who was also chosen by the congregations, a traveling companion of us with this gift administered by us, for the glory of the same Lord and our willingness.

20 sivikela lokhu, hlezi umuntu asisole kulesisengezo esisetshenzwe yithi;

Arranging this lest any man may criticize us in this bounty administered by us,

21 sinakekela okuhle kungekho phambi kweNkosi kuphela kodwa laphambi kwabantu.

providing things right, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

22 Sasesithuma kanye labo umzalwane wethu, esimfice ezintweni ezinengi kanengi ekhuthele, kodwa khathesi ukhuthele kakhulukazi ngenxa yokulithemba okukhulu.

And we sent along with them our brother whom we often proved being diligent in many things, but is now much more diligent (with much confidence toward you)

23 Kumbe ngoTitosi, ungumhlanganyeli lesisebenzi kanye lami kini; loba abazalwane bethu, bayizithunywa zamabandla, bayinkazimulo kaKristu.

whether on behalf of Titus my partner and co-workman for you, or our brothers, apostles of congregations, a glory of Christ.

24 Ngakho bonakalisani kubo ubufakazi bothando lwenu labokuzincomela kwethu lina, laphambi kwamabandla.

Therefore show ye the proof of your love and our boast about you, for them in the face of the congregations.