Kwabase-Efesu 1
1 UPawuli, umphostoli kaJesu Kristu ngentando kaNkulunkulu, kubo abangcwele abaseEfesu, labathembekileyo kuKristu Jesu:
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, through God’s will, unto the saints who are [in Ephesus] and faithful in Christ Jesus, —
2 Umusa kawube kini lokuthula okuvela kuNkulunkulu uBaba wethu laseNkosini uJesu Kristu.
Favour unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Ubusisiwe uNkulunkulu loYise weNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu, osibusisileyo ngaso sonke isibusiso somoya ezintweni zezulwini kuKristu;
Blessed, be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing, in the heavenlies, in Christ,
4 njengoba wasikhetha kuye ngaphambi kokusekelwa komhlaba, ukuthi sibe ngcwele, njalo singasoleki phambi kwakhe ethandweni,
According as he made choice of us, in him, before the founding of a world, that we might be holy and blameless in his presence; in love,
5 esesimisele ngaphambili ukuma kwabantwana kuye ngoJesu Kristu, njengokufisa okuhle kwentando yakhe,
marking us out beforehand unto sonship, through Jesus Christ, for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 kube ludumo lobukhosi bomusa wakhe, asiphe wona ngesihle ngaye oThandiweyo;
Unto the praise of the glory of his favour wherewith he favoured us in the Beloved One, —
7 esilohlengo kuye ngegazi lakhe, uthethelelo lweziphambeko, njengokwenotho yomusa wakhe,
In whom we have the redemption through his blood, the remission of our offences, according to the riches of his favour,
8 awengezelele kithi kuyo yonke inhlakanipho lokuqonda,
which he made to superabound towards us; in all wisdom and prudence,
9 esesazisile imfihlo yentando yakhe, njengokufisa kwakhe okuhle, akumisa kuye ngokwakhe,
making known to us the sacred secret of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him, —
10 ukuze, ekuphatheni kokugcwaliseka kwezikhathi, ahlanganise ndawonye izinto zonke kuKristu, zombili ezisemazulwini lezisemhlabeni;
For an administration of the fulness of the seasons, to reunite for himself (under one head) the all things in the Christ, the things upon the heavens, and the things upon the earth, in him:
11 ngitsho kuye, lathi esabelwa ilifa kuye, esamiselwa ngaphambili njengokwesimiso sakhe owenzayo izinto zonke njengokwecebo lentando yakhe,
In whom also we were taken as an inheritance, according to the purpose of him who energiseth all things according to the counsel of his will,
12 ukuze sibe ngabodumo lobukhosi bakhe, esathemba kuKristu kuqala;
That we should be for the praise of his glory—we who had hoped beforehand in the Christ, —
13 eselithemba kuye lani, selizwile ilizwi leqiniso, ivangeli losindiso lwenu; kuye selikholiwe lani laphawulwa nguMoya oNgcwele wesithembiso,
In whom, ye also—hearing the word of the truth, the glad-message of your salvation, —in whom also believing, —were sealed with the Spirit of the promise, the Holy [Spirit],
14 oyisibambiso selifa lethu, kube yikuhlengwa okuzuziweyo, kudumo lobukhosi bakhe.
Which is an earnest of our inheritance, unto the redemption of the acquisition; —unto his glorious praise.
15 Ngenxa yalokho lami sengizwile ngokholo lwenu eNkosini uJesu lothando kubo bonke abangcwele,
For this cause, I also, —having heard of the faith on your part in the Lord Jesus, and that towards all the saints,
16 kangiyekeli ukulibongela, ngiliphatha emikhulekweni yami;
Cease not giving thanks in your behalf, making mention in my prayers,
17 ukuze uNkulunkulu weNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu, uYise wodumo, alinike umoya wenhlakanipho lowesambulo elwazini lwakhe;
That, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, would give you a Spirit of wisdom and understanding in gaining a personal knowledge of him, —
18 amehlo engqondo yenu akhanyiswe, ukuze lazi ukuthi liyini ithemba lobizo lwakhe, lokuthi iyini inotho yodumo lwelifa lakhe kwabangcwele,
The eyes of your heart having been enlightened, that ye may know—what is the hope of his calling, what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
19 lokuthi buyini ubukhulu bamandla akhe obudlula amalawulo kithi esikholwa njengokusebenza kobuninimandla bamandla akhe,
And what the surpassing greatness of his power unto us who believe, —according to the energy of the grasp of his might
20 awasebenzisa kuKristu, emvusa kwabafileyo, njalo emhlalisa ngakwesokunene sakhe endaweni zezulu,
which he energised in the Christ, when he raised him from among the dead, and seated him at his right hand in the heavenlies,
21 phezulu kakhulu kwakho konke ukubusa lobukhulu lamandla lobukhosi, lebizo lonke elibizwayo, kungeyisikho kulesisikhathi kuphela, kodwa lakwesizayo; (aiōn g165)
Over-above all principality, authority, and power, and lordship, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the coming one, (aiōn g165)
22 wasebeka konke ngaphansi kwenyawo zakhe, wamnikela ukuba yinhloko phezu kwakho konke kulo ibandla,
And did put, all things, in subjection beneath his feet. And gave him to be head over all things unto the assembly,
23 elingumzimba wakhe, ukugcwala kwalowo ogcwalisa konke kukho konke.
Which, indeed, is his body, the fulness of him who, the all things in all, is for himself filling up.
