< KwabaseKholose 3 >

1 Ngakho uba livuswe loKristu, dingani okwaphezulu, lapho akhona uKristu ehlezi ngakwesokunene sikaNkulunkulu.
If then you were raised together with Messiah, seek the things that are above, where Messiah is, seated on the right hand of God.
2 Nakanani ngezinto eziphezulu, kungeyisikho ngezinto ezisemhlabeni.
Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth.
3 Ngoba lifile, lempilo yenu ifihlwe loKristu kuNkulunkulu.
For you died, and your life is hidden with Messiah in God.
4 Nxa ebonakaliswa uKristu, oyimpilo yethu, ngalesosikhathi lani lizabonakaliswa laye enkazimulweni.
When Messiah, your life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in glory.
5 Ngakho bulalani amalunga enu asemhlabeni, ukuphinga, ukungcola, inkanuko embi, ukufisa okubi, lomhawu, oyikukhonza izithombe,
Put to death, therefore, whatever is worldly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
6 okwehla ngalezizinto ulaka lukaNkulunkulu phezu kwabantwana bokungalaleli;
Because of these, the wrath of God is coming on the children of disobedience.
7 elake lahamba kuzo lani, lapho lalihlezi phakathi kwazo.
You also once walked in those, when you lived in them;
8 Kodwa khathesi lani khuphani konke lokhu, ulaka, ukuthukuthela, inzondo, inhlamba, ukukhuluma amanyala emlonyeni wenu;
but now you also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth.
9 lingaqambelani amanga, lokhu selimhlubule umuntu omdala lezenzo zakhe,
Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices,
10 selembethe omutsha, owenziwa kutsha elwazini njengomfanekiso walowo owamdalayo;
and have put on the new self, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator,
11 okungekho umGriki lomJuda, ukusoka lokungasoki, owezizweni, umSikethiya, isigqili, okhululekileyo; kodwa uKristu uyikho konke lakukho konke.
where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, freeman; but Messiah is all, and in all.
12 Ngakho yembathani, njengabakhethiweyo bakaNkulunkulu, abangcwele labathandekayo, imihelo yesihawu, ububele, ukuzithoba, ubumnene, ukubekezela;
Put on therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, gentleness, humility, and patience;
13 libekezelelane, lithethelelane uba umuntu elensolo komunye; njengoba loKristu walithethelela, ngokunjalo lani;
bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as the Lord forgave you, so you also do.
14 phezu kwakho konke-ke yembathani uthando, oluyisibopho sokuphelela.
Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.
15 Lokuthula kukaNkulunkulu kakubuse enhliziyweni zenu, elibizelwa kukho lani emzimbeni munye; futhi banini ngababongayo.
And let the peace of Messiah rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
16 Ilizwi likaKristu kalihlale phakathi kwenu ngokwenotho enhlakanipheni yonke; lifundisane lilayane, ngezihlabelelo, lamahubo odumo, lengoma zomoya, lihlabelela lilomusa enhliziyweni zenu eNkosini.
Let the word of Messiah dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to God.
17 Njalo konke loba yini eliyenzayo, elizwini loba esenzweni, konke kwenzeni ebizweni leNkosi uJesu, libonge uNkulunkulu loBaba ngaye.
Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through him.
18 Bafazi, zehliseleni ngaphansi kwawenu amadoda, njengokufanele eNkosini.
Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19 Madoda, thandani omkenu, lingabi lokubaba kubo.
Husbands, love your wives, and do not be bitter against them.
20 Bantwana, lalelani abazali ezintweni zonke; ngoba lokhu kuyayithokozisa iNkosi.
Children, obey your parents in all things, for this pleases the Lord.
21 Bobaba, lingabathukuthelisi abantwana benu, ukuze bangadani.
Fathers, do not provoke your children, so that they won't be discouraged.
22 Zisebenzi, lalelani ezintweni zonke labo abangamakhosi njengokwenyama, kungeyisikho ngenkonzo yamehlo njengabathokozisa abantu, kodwa ngobuqotho benhliziyo, lisesaba uNkulunkulu;
Servants, obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as people-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the Lord.
23 njalo yonke loba yini eliyenzayo, yenzeni ngenhliziyo, njengeNkosini, njalo kungeyisikho ebantwini;
And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for people,
24 lisazi ukuthi eNkosini lizakwemukela umvuzo welifa; ngoba likhonza iNkosi uKristu.
knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Messiah.
25 Kodwa owenza okubi uzazemukelela okubi akwenzileyo; njalo kakukho ukubandlulula umuntu.
But he who does wrong will receive again for the wrong that he has done, and there is no partiality.

< KwabaseKholose 3 >