Kwabase-Efesu 5

1 Ngakho banini ngabalandeli bakaNkulunkulu, njengabantwana abathandekayo;

Therefore, as most beloved sons, be imitators of God.

2 njalo lihambe ethandweni, njengalokhu uKristu laye wasithanda, wazinikelela thina abe ngumnikelo lomhlatshelo kuNkulunkulu ukuba luqhatshi olumnandi.

And walk in love, just as Christ also loved us and delivered himself for us, as an oblation and a sacrifice to God, with a fragrance of sweetness.

3 Kodwa ubufebe lakho konke ukungcola kumbe umhawu kakungaphathwa lakanye phakathi kwenu, njengoba kufanele abangcwele;

But let not any kind of fornication, or impurity, or rapacity so much as be named among you, just as is worthy of the saints,

4 lamanyala, lokukhuluma okuyize, kumbe ukusoma okulenhlamba, okuyizinto ezingafanelanga; kodwa kulalokhu, ukubonga.

nor any indecent, or foolish, or abusive talk, for this is without purpose; but instead, give thanks.

5 Ngoba lokhu liyakwazi, ukuthi sonke isifebe, kumbe ongcolileyo, kumbe olomhawu, ongumkhonzi wezithombe, kalalifa embusweni kaKristu lokaNkulunkulu.

For know and understand this: no one who is a fornicator, or lustful, or rapacious (for these are a kind of service to idols) holds an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

6 Kakungabi lamuntu olikhohlisayo ngamazwi ayize; ngoba ngenxa yalezizinto ulaka lukaNkulunkulu luyehlela phezu kwabantwana bokungalaleli.

Let no one seduce you with empty words. For because of these things, the wrath of God was sent upon the sons of unbelief.

7 Ngakho lingabi ngabahlanganyeli labo.

Therefore, do not choose to become participants with them.

8 Ngoba lake laba ngumnyama, kodwa khathesi liyikukhanya eNkosini; hambani njengabantwana bokukhanya,

For you were darkness, in times past, but now you are light, in the Lord. So then, walk as sons of the light.

9 ngoba isithelo sikaMoya sikubo bonke ubuhle lokulunga leqiniso,

For the fruit of the light is in all goodness and justice and truth,

10 lihlolisise okuthokozisayo eNkosini;

affirming what is well-pleasing to God.

11 njalo lingahlanganyeli lemisebenzi yobumnyama engelazithelo, kodwa-ke kulalokho solani;

And so, have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead, refute them.

12 ngoba kuthelela inhloni lokukhuluma ngezinto ezenziwa yibo ekusithekeni.

For the things that are done by them in secret are shameful, even to mention.

13 Kodwa konke okusolwayo yikukhanya kuyabonakaliswa; ngoba konke okubonakaliswayo kuyikukhanya,

But all things that are disputed are made manifest by the light. For all that is made manifest is light.

14 ngakho uthi: Phaphama wena oleleyo uvuke kwabafileyo, njalo uKristu uzakukhanyisela.

Because of this, it is said: “You who are sleeping: awaken, and rise up from the dead, and so shall the Christ enlighten you.”

15 Ngakho qaphelani ukuthi lihamba njani ngonanzelelo, kungabi njengezithutha, kodwa njengabahlakaniphileyo,

And so, brothers, see to it that you walk cautiously, not like the foolish,

16 lihlenga isikhathi, ngoba insuku zimbi.

but like the wise: atoning for this age, because this is an evil time.

17 Ngakho lingabi yizithutha, kodwa liqedisisa okuyintando yeNkosi.

For this reason, do not choose to be imprudent. Instead, understand what is the will of God.

18 Njalo lingadakwa liwayini, okukulo umsindo, kodwa gcwaliswani nguMoya,

And do not choose to be inebriated by wine, for this is self-indulgence. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,

19 likhulumisana ngezihlabelelo langamahubo okudumisa langezingoma zomoya, lihlabelele licule eNkosini enhliziyweni yenu,

speaking among yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual canticles, singing and reciting psalms to the Lord in your hearts,

20 limbonga njalo uNkulunkulu loBaba ngazo zonke izinto ebizweni leNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu,

giving thanks always for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God the Father.

21 lizehlisela ngaphansi omunye komunye ekumesabeni uNkulunkulu.

Be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

22 Bafazi, zehliseleni ngaphansi kwawenu amadoda, njengeNkosini,

Wives should be submissive to their husbands, as to the Lord.

23 ngoba indoda iyinhloko yomfazi, njengoba uKristu laye eyinhloko yebandla, njalo yena unguMsindisi womzimba.

For the husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of the Church. He is the Savior of his body.

24 Kodwa njengoba-ke ibandla lehliselwe ngaphansi kukaKristu, ngokunjalo labafazi kwawabo amadoda kuyo yonke into.

Therefore, just as the Church is subject to Christ, so also should wives be subject to their husbands in all things.

25 Madoda, thandani abenu abafazi, njengoKristu laye walithanda ibandla, wasezinikelela lona;

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the Church and handed himself over for her,

26 ukuze azingcwelisele lona, eselihlambulule ngesihlambo samanzi ngelizwi,

so that he might sanctify her, washing her clean by water and the Word of life,

27 ukuze azimisele lona, ibandla elilenkazimulo, elingelachatha, kumbe umxhele kumbe okunye nje, kodwa ukuze libe ngcwele lingelacala.

so that he might offer her to himself as a glorious Church, not having any spot or wrinkle or any such thing, so that she would be holy and immaculate.

28 Ngokunjalo amadoda afanele ukuthanda abawo abafazi njengeyawo imizimba. Othanda owakhe umfazi, uyazithanda yena;

So, too, husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

29 ngoba kakho owake wazonda eyakhe inyama, kodwa uyayondla ayiphathe kuhle, njengalokhu leNkosi isenza kubandla;

For no man has ever hated his own flesh, but instead he nourishes and cherishes it, as Christ also does to the Church.

30 ngoba siyizitho zomzimba wakhe, okwenyama yakhe lokwamathambo akhe.

For we are a part of his body, of his flesh and of his bones.

31 Ngenxa yalokhu umuntu uzatshiya uyise lonina anamathele kumkakhe, njalo laba ababili bazakuba nyamanye.

“For this reason, a man shall leave behind his father and mother, and he shall cling to his wife; and the two shall be as one flesh.”

32 Inkulu le imfihlo; kodwa mina ngikhuluma ngoKristu lebandla.

This is a great Sacrament. And I am speaking in Christ and in the Church.

33 Ngalokho lonke ngokukhethekileyo lani-ke, ngulowo lalowo kathande ngokunjalo owakhe umfazi njengaye; lomfazi ukuze ahloniphe indoda.

Yet truly, each and every one of you should love his wife as himself. And a wife should fear her husband.