KWABASEROMA

1 Mina Phawuli, inceku kaKhristu uJesu eyabizelwa ukuthi ibe ngumphostoli leyakhethwa* ukuthi itshumayele izindaba ezinhle zikaNkulunkulu,+ ngiyalibhalela. 2 Izindaba lezi uNkulunkulu ayevele ezithembisile eMibhalweni engcwele esebenzisa abaphrofethi 3 zimayelana leNdodana yakhe eyazalwa emhlabeni ingeyosendo lukaDavida.+ 4 Kodwa ngamandla omoya ongcwele yavuswa kwabafileyo+ njalo lokhu kwatshengisa ukuthi iyiNdodana kaNkulunkulu.+ Le yiyo iNkosi yethu uJesu Khristu. 5 Sathola umusa omkhulu ngayo futhi saba ngabaphostoli+ ukuze izizwe zonke zitshengise ukuthi zilokholo kuyo,+ ziyilalele besezikhazimulisa ibizo layo. 6 Lani liphakathi kwalezozizwe njalo labizelwa ukuthi libe ngabakaJesu Khristu. 7 Ngibhalela lonke lina abaseRoma abathandwa nguNkulunkulu futhi ababizelwe ukuthi babe ngabangcwele:

Umusa omkhulu lokuthula okuvela kuNkulunkulu uBaba wethu laseNkosini uJesu Khristu akube kini.

8 Ngiqala ngokubonga uNkulunkulu ngebizo likaJesu Khristu, ngimbonga ngani lonke ngoba ukholo lwenu kukhulunywa ngalo emhlabeni wonke. 9 UNkulunkulu engimenzela inkonzo engcwele ngenhliziyo yami yonke,* ngimemezela izindaba ezinhle eziphathelane leNdodana yakhe, angangifakazela ukuthi ngihlala ngiliqamba emithandazweni yami,+ 10 ngincenga ukuthi ngithole ithuba lokufika kini nxa kuyintando yakhe. 11 Ngilesifiso esikhulu sokulibona ukuze ngiliphe isipho esivela kuNkulunkulu esizaliqinisa. 12 Engikutshoyo yikuthi ngifuna sikhuthazane,+ ngilikhuthaze ngokholo lwami, lani lingikhuthaze ngokholo lwenu.

13 Kodwa bafowethu ngifuna lihlale likwazi ukuthi sengizame kanengi ukuza kini ukuze ngitshumayele khonangapho ngithole izithelo njengoba nje bengizithola phakathi kwazo zonke ezinye izizwe. Lanxa kunjalo, bengilokhu ngivinjelwa kuze kube khathesi. 14 Ngilesikwelede kumaGrikhi lakwabezinye izizwe,* kwabahlakaniphileyo labangafundanga. 15 Yikho ngizimisele ukutshumayela izindaba ezinhle lakini eRoma.+ 16 Angilanhloni ngezindaba ezinhle+ ngoba ziyindlela uNkulunkulu atshengisa ngayo amandla akhe ukuze asindise bonke abalokholo,+ kuqalisela kumaJuda+ besekulandela amaGrikhi.+ 17 Abalokholo bayakubona ukuthi uNkulunkulu uveza ukulunga kwakhe ngezindaba lezi ezinhle njalo lokhu kuyaluqinisa ukholo lwabo,+ njengoba nje kubhaliwe ukuthi: “Kodwa olungileyo uzaphila ngenxa yokholo.”+

18 Ulaka lukaNkulunkulu+ oluvela ezulwini luthululwa* kubo bonke abangamesabiyo labangalunganga, abasebenzisa indlela ezingalunganga ukuze bavimbele abantu ukuthi balazi iqiniso.+ 19 Phela okungabe kusaziwa mayelana loNkulunkulu kuyabacacela kakhulu. UNkulunkulu ukwenze kwacaca kubo.+ 20 Lanxa engabonakali, ubuntu bakhe lamandla akhe angapheliyo+ kanye lokuthi yena unguNkulunkulu sibili,+ kuyabonakala ngendlela ecacileyo kusukela ekudalweni komhlaba kusiya phambili. Kuyazwisiseka nxa kukhangelwa izinto azidalayo,+ yikho bengelasizatho sokuzigeza. 21 Babekwazi ukuthi unguNkulunkulu kodwa abazange bamkhazimulise futhi abazange bambonge. Baba lemicabango engasizi ngalutho njalo lezingqondo zabo ezilobuphukuphuku zaba semnyameni.+ 22 Lanxa babezithi bahlakaniphile, baba yizithutha 23 ngoba kulokuthi bakhazimulise uNkulunkulu ongafiyo, bona bakhazimulisa izithombe zabantu nje* lezezinyoni, lezezidalwa ezilenyawo ezine kanye lezezinanakazana.*+

24 Ngakho uNkulunkulu wabayekela balandela inkanuko ezingcolileyo zezinhliziyo zabo ukuze bangayihloniphi imizimba yabo. 25 Batshiya iqiniso likaNkulunkulu bakholwa amanga njalo bakhonza izinto ezidaliweyo, bazenzela inkonzo engcwele kulokuthi bakhonze uMdali odunyiswa kuze kube nini lanini. Ameni. 26 Yikho uNkulunkulu wabatshiya belandela inkanuko zabo zemacansini besedlulisa amalawulo+ ngoba abesifazana babo babezitshintsha baziphathe ngendlela engasiyemvelo, betshiya okwemvelo.+ 27 Labesilisa batshiya isifiso semvelo sokulala labesifazana, bavutha betshiswa yinkanuko befuna ukulala labanye abesilisa,+ besenza izinto ezilihlazo, bathola sonke isijeziso esifanele* ukungaziphathi kwabo.+

28 Njengoba bakubona kungafanelanga ukuthi bamukele uNkulunkulu,* laye wabayekela baba lemicabango angayamukeliyo ukuze benze izinto ezingafanelanga.+ 29 Benza konke okungalunganga+ lokubi, baxhwala futhi baba yizihwaba.+ Balomona,+ bayabulala,+ bathanda ingxabano, bangamaqili,+ balolunya,+ bayanyeya, 30 bakhuluma kubi ngabanye,+ bazonda uNkulunkulu, bayiziqholo, bayazikhukhumeza, bazitshaya izifuba, balamacebo alimazayo,* abalaleli abazali,+ 31 abazwisisi,+ abagcwalisi izithembiso, abalathando futhi abalasihawu. 32 Lanxa besazi mhlophe isahlulelo sikaNkulunkulu esilungileyo esokuthi abenza izinto lezi kufanele bafe,+ bona baqhubeka bezenza baphinde bavumelane lalabo abahlala bezenza.

2 Ngakho awulasizatho sokuzigeza wena muntu+ nxa usahlulela ngoba nxa usahlulela omunye uyazigweba. Phela lawe uyazenza lezozinto owahlulela abanye ngazo.+ 2 Siyakwazi ukuthi nxa uNkulunkulu esahlulela labo abahlala besenza lokhu, ukwahlulela kwakhe kuvumelana leqiniso.

3 Nxa usahlulela abenza izinto lezi kodwa lawe uzenza, ucabanga ukuthi uzaphunyuka yini nxa uNkulunkulu esesahlulela? 4 Kumbe awulandaba yini lokuthi uNkulunkulu ugcwele umusa+ lesineke+ kanye lokubekezela?+ Awukwazi ukuthi ngomusa lowo uzama ukukunceda ukuthi uphenduke?+ 5 Kodwa wena uzilethela ulaka lukaNkulunkulu ngenxa yokuthi uyisiqholo njalo ulenhliziyo engaphendukiyo. UNkulunkulu uzaluveza ulaka lwakhe mhla esahlulela abantu futhi uzabahlulela ngendlela elungileyo,+ 6 abuyisele umuntu ngamunye lokho okufanele imisebenzi yakhe.+ 7 Uzabanika ukuphila okungapheliyo labo abaqhubeka besenza imisebenzi emihle, betshengisa ukuthi bafuna inkazimulo lodumo kanye lemizimba engatshabalaliyo.+ 8 Kodwa labo abathanda ingxabano, labangalaleli iqiniso labenza okungalunganga bazaluzwa ulaka lentukuthelo yakhe.+ 9 Wonke umuntu owenza izinto eziyingozi uzahlupheka futhi athwale nzima. Kuzaqala ngomJuda kulandele umGrikhi. 10 Kodwa wonke umuntu owenza okuhle uzathola inkazimulo lodumo kanye lokuthula. Kuzaqala ngomJuda+ kulandele umGrikhi+ 11 ngoba uNkulunkulu kakhethi muntu.+

12 Bonke abone bengelawo umthetho bazabhubha bengelawo.+ Kodwa bonke abone bengaphansi komthetho bazakwahlulelwa ngomthetho.+ 13 Phela abawuzwayo umthetho ayisibo abalungileyo phambi kukaNkulunkulu, kodwa abenza okutshiwo ngumthetho yibo okuzathiwa balungile.+ 14 Nxa abantu bezinye izizwe abangelawo umthetho+ besenza ngokwemvelo izinto ezisemthethweni, abantu laba bangumthetho bona ngokwabo lanxa bengelawo umthetho. 15 Yibo kanye abatshengisa ukuthi okusemthethweni kubhaliwe ezinhliziyweni zabo, lapho imizwangedwa yabo ifakazelana labo, lalapho imicabango yabo ibasola kumbe ibatshela ukuthi abalacala. 16 Lokhu kuzakwenzakala mhla uNkulunkulu esebenzisa uKhristu uJesu ukuthi ahlulele izinto abantu abazifihlileyo,+ njengoba nje zisitsho izindaba ezinhle engizitshumayelayo.

17 Nxa ubizwa ngokuthi ungumJuda+ futhi uthembele emthethweni, uzigqaja ngoNkulunkulu, 18 uyazi intando yakhe, usamukela izinto eziqakatheke kakhulu ngenxa yokuthi uwufundisiwe* uMthetho,+ 19 njalo ungathandabuzi ukuthi wena ungumkhokheli weziphofu lokuthi ukhanyisela abasemnyameni, 20 uqondisa abayizithutha, ufundisa abantwana, uzwisisa ulwazi oluqakathekileyo leqiniso eliseMthethweni 21 futhi ufundisa abanye, kungani ungazifundisi lawe?+ Wena otshumayela usithi, “Ungatshontshi,”+ uyatshontsha yini? 22 Wena othi, “Ungafebi,”*+ uyafeba yini? Wena owenyanya izithombe, ugqekeza amathempeli yini? 23 Wena ozigqaja ngomthetho, uyamyangisa yini uNkulunkulu ngokwephula uMthetho? 24 Phela kubhaliwe ukuthi: “Ibizo likaNkulunkulu liyathukwa ezizweni ngenxa yenu.”+

25 Ukusoka+ kunceda kuphela nxa usenza okusemthethweni,+ kodwa nxa uyisephulamthetho kuyabe sekufanana lokuthi awusokanga. 26 Yikho nxa umuntu ongasokanga+ esenza izinto ezilungileyo eziseMthethweni, angithi kuzathiwa usokile lanxa engasokanga?+ 27 Nxa umuntu ongasokanga elandela uMthetho, uzakwahlulela wena sephulamthetho kungelani lokuthi wena ulawo umthetho obhaliweyo njalo usokile 28 ngoba ukuba ngumJuda ayisikho kuba ngumJuda ngaphandle,+ lokusoka kweqiniso ayisikho kusoka kwangaphandle enyameni.+ 29 Kodwa umJuda ngulowo ongumJuda ngaphakathi,+ lokusoka kwakhe yikusokwa kwenhliziyo+ okwenziwa ngomoya hatshi ngomthetho obhaliweyo.+ Udumo lomuntu lo luvela kuNkulunkulu, aluveli ebantwini.+

3 Manje kungcono ngani ukuba ngumJuda, lokusoka kunceda ngani? 2 Kunceda ngendlela ezinengi. Okokuqala, uNkulunkulu wapha amaJuda amazwi akhe angcwele.+ 3 Pho sithini? Nxa abanye babo babengelakholo, ukungabi lokholo kwabo kungenza uNkulunkulu abe ngongathembekanga yini? 4 Ngitsho sibili! UNkulunkulu katholakale eleqiniso+ lanxa wonke umuntu engatholakala elamanga,+ njengoba kubhaliwe ukuthi: “Ukuze kukhanye ukuthi wena uqondile nxa ukhuluma njalo unqobe nxa usahlulelwa.”+ 5 Manje sithini nxa ukungalungi kwethu kusenza ukuthi ukulunga kukaNkulunkulu kukhanye? Kambe nxa uNkulunkulu eveza ulaka lwakhe kalunganga yini? (Ngikhuluma ngendlela abanye abantu ababona ngayo.) 6 Ngitsho sibili! Aluba bekunjalo uNkulunkulu ubezawahlulela njani umhlaba?+

7 Kodwa nxa kuyikuthi amanga ami aveza ukuthi uNkulunkulu uqinisile, abantu besebemdumisa, kungani sengisahlulelwa ngokuthi ngiyisoni? 8 Kungani singakhulumi njengabanye sithi, “Asenzeni okubi ukuze kubuye izinto ezinhle,” njengoba nje beqamba amanga besithi sitsho njalo? Isigwebo abazasithola sibafanele labobantu.+

9 Pho sithini? Thina singcono yini? Hatshi! Angithi sesitshilo ukuthi amaJuda lamaGrikhi, bonke bangaphansi kwesono+ 10 njengoba kubhaliwe ukuthi: “Akulamuntu olungileyo, akula ngitsho loyedwa.+ 11 Kakho olokuqedisisa, kakho odinga uNkulunkulu. 12 Abantu bonke baphambukile, bonke abasizi ngalutho. Akula ngitsho loyedwa olomusa komunye.”+ 13 “Imiphimbo yabo ilingcwaba elivulekileyo, bayaqila ngolimi lwabo.”+ “Emilonyeni yabo kuphuma amazwi alobuhlungu obunjengobenyoka.”+ 14 “Emilonyeni yabo kugcwele ukuthuka* lamazwi ahlabayo.”+ 15 “Inyawo zabo zigijimela ukuyachitha igazi.”+ 16 “Baphilela ukulimaza abanye lokubahlukuluza 17 njalo abayazi indlela yokuthula.”+ 18 “Abamesabi ngitsho uNkulunkulu.”+

19 Siyakwazi ukuthi konke okutshiwo nguMthetho kuyabe kutshelwa abangaphansi koMthetho ukuze imilomo yonke ivalwe, lomhlaba wonke ufanelwe yisijeziso sikaNkulunkulu.+ 20 Ngakho akulamuntu okuzathiwa ulungile phambi kwakhe ngokwenza imisebenzi yomthetho+ ngoba umthetho usinceda ukuthi sisazi kuhle isono.+

21 Kodwa ukulunga kukaNkulunkulu sekuvezwe egcekeni+ kungazange kulandelwe umthetho. Lokhu kufakazwa nguMthetho labaPhrofethi,+ 22 njalo uNkulunkulu uthi bonke abalokholo balungile ngenxa yokuthi balokholo kuJesu Khristu ngoba uNkulunkulu kakhethi muntu.+ 23 Bonke bonile njalo bayasilela enkazimulweni kaNkulunkulu,+ 24 kodwa ngenxa yomusa wakhe omkhulu+ ubaphe isipho samahala+ sokuthi kuthiwe balungile, ngokubakhulula ngenhlawulo eyabhadalwa nguKhristu uJesu.+ 25 UNkulunkulu wamenza waba ngumnikelo ukuze abantu babuyisane laye*+ ngokukholwa egazini likaKhristu.+ Lokhu wakwenza ukuze atshengise ukuthi ulungile ngoba ukuba lesineke kwamenza wathethelela izono ezenziwa kudala. 26 Wayekwenzela ukuthi aveze ukulunga kwakhe+ ngalesisikhathi ukuze abe ngolungileyo nxa esithi umuntu okholwa kuJesu ulungile.+

27 Manje sikhona yini isizatho sokuthi umuntu azitshaye isifuba? Asikho ngitsho. Uyabe ezigqaja ngawuphi umthetho? Owemisebenzi yini?+ Hatshi bo, uyabe ezigqaja ngomthetho wokholo 28 ngoba thina sithi umuntu kuthiwa ulungile ngokholo hatshi ngemisebenzi yokugcina umthetho.+ 29 Kanti unguNkulunkulu wamaJuda kuphela yini?+ Ayisuye lowezinye izizwe yini?+ Ye lazo unguNkulunkulu wazo sibili.+ 30 Njengoba uNkulunkulu emunye,+ uzakuthi abasokileyo balungile+ ngenxa yokholo, aphinde athi labangasokanga balungile+ ngenxa yokholo lwabo. 31 Manje siwulahle yini umthetho ngenxa yokholo lwethu? Ngitsho sibili! Thina siyawusekela umthetho.+

4 Manje sizakuthi ukhokho wethu u-Abrahama watholani? 2 Ngokwesibonelo, ngabe u-Abrahama kwathiwa ulungile ngenxa yemisebenzi, wayezakuba lesizatho sokuzikhukhumeza kodwa wayengeke azikhukhumeze phambi kukaNkulunkulu. 3 Kanti umbhalo uthini? Uthi: “U-Abrahama wakholwa kuJehova* kwathiwa ulungile.”+ 4 Nxa umuntu osebenzayo ephiwa umholo wakhe ngeke kuthiwe ngumusa omkhulu ngoba uyabe ephiwa lokho okungokwakhe. 5 Kodwa umuntu ongathembelanga emisebenzini yakhe, okholwa kuNkulunkulu, kuthiwa ulungile ngenxa yokholo lwakhe lanxa eyisoni.+ 6 UDavida laye wakhuluma ngentokozo yomuntu uNkulunkulu ambiza ngokuthi ulungile kodwa kungenziwa yimisebenzi yakhe. Wathi: 7 “Bayathokoza abaxolelwe izenzo zabo zokwephula umthetho kanye lalabo abazono zabo zithethelelwe.* 8 Uyathokoza umuntu uJehova* angasoze ambalele isono sakhe loba sekutheni.”+

9 Pho-ke ukuthokoza lokhu ngokwabantu abasokileyo kuphela yini kumbe labangasokanga bayathokoza?+ Phela sithi: “U-Abrahama kwathiwa ulungile ngenxa yokholo lwakhe.”+ 10 Kwatshiwo nini ukuthi ulungile? Esesokile kumbe engakasoki? Wayelokhu engakasoki. 11 Wemukela isibonakaliso,+ okutsho ukuthi wasoka, kwaba luphawu lokulunga* ngenxa yokholo ayelalo engakasoki. Ngakho waba nguyise wabo bonke abalokholo+ lanxa bengasokanga ukuze labo kuthiwe balungile. 12 Kanti njalo u-Abrahama unguyise walabo abasokileyo, hatshi owalabo abanamathela ekusokeni kuphela kodwa lowalabo abalokholo olunjengolwakhe. Ubaba wethu u-Abrahama+ waba lokholo engakasokwa.

13 Yena labantwabakhe* bathenjiswa ukuthi babezakuba zindlalifa zomhlaba+ ngenxa yokulunga okuvela ekukholweni,+ hatshi ngenxa yomthetho. 14 Nxa abanamathela emthethweni beyizindlalifa, ukukholwa kuyabe kungasancedi njalo lesithembiso siyabe singasatsho lutho. 15 UMthetho uletha ulaka+ kodwa kakho ongephula umthetho lapho okungelamthetho khona.+

16 Yikho isithembiso satholakala ngokholo, satshengisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu ulomusa omkhulu+ ukuze bonke abantwana* baka-Abrahama+ babe leqiniso lokuthi sizagcwaliseka, hatshi kulabo abanamathela eMthethweni kuphela kodwa lakulabo abanamathela ekukholweni kuka-Abrahama ongubaba wethu sonke.+ 17 (Kunjengoba nje kubhaliwe ukuthi: “Sengikwenze waba nguyise wezizwe ezinengi.”)+ Lokhu kwenzakala phambi kukaNkulunkulu, lowo ayelokholo kuye njalo owenza abafileyo baphile, abize lezinto ezingekho angathi zikhona. 18 Lanxa kwakungasathembisi, ithemba lamenza wakholwa ukuthi wayezakuba nguyise wezizwe ezinengi njengoba nje wayetsheliwe ukuthi: “Izizukulwane zakho lazo zizakuba* njalo.”+ 19 Lanxa ukholo lwakhe lungazange lube buthakathaka, wayecabanga ngomzimba wakhe owawufanana lokuthi usufile (njengoba wayeseleminyaka engaba ngu-100),+ langoSara owayengatholi abantwana.*+ 20 Kodwa ngenxa yesithembiso sikaNkulunkulu, kavumanga ukuthi ukholo lwakhe luxege. Ukholo lwakhe lwamenza waba lamandla, wanika uNkulunkulu inkazimulo 21 njalo wayengathandabuzi ngitsho ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayesenelisa ukwenza lokho ayekuthembisile.+ 22 Yikho “kwathiwa ulungile.”+

23 Lanxa kunjalo, amazwi athi “kwathiwa ulungile” awabhalelwanga yena kuphela,+ 24 kodwa abhalelwa lathi okuzathiwa silungile ngenxa yokuthi siyakholwa kuNkulunkulu owavusa iNkosi yethu uJesu kwabafileyo.+ 25 Yanikelwa ngenxa yeziphambeko zethu+ yasivuswa kwabafileyo ukuze kuthiwe silungile.+

5 Njengoba khathesi sekuthiwa silungile ngenxa yokholo,+ asiqhubekeni silokuthula loNkulunkulu ngeNkosi yethu uJesu Khristu.+ 2 Siyenelisa ukwamukela umusa omkhulu esesiwuthola ngenxa yokuba lokholo kuye,+ njalo asithokozeni* ngethemba lokwamukela inkazimulo kaNkulunkulu. 3 Kodwa ayisikho lokho kuphela, asithokozeni* nxa siphakathi kwenhlupho+ njengoba sisazi ukuthi inhlupho zenza siqinisele.+ 4 Ukuqinisela khona kwenza samukelwe nguNkulunkulu,+ ukwamukelwa nguNkulunkulu besekusenza sibe lethemba,+ 5 njalo ithemba alisidanisi+ ngoba uthando lukaNkulunkulu seluthululelwe ezinhliziyweni zethu ngomoya ongcwele esawuphiwayo.+

6 Sisesebuthakathaka,*+ uKhristu wafela abantu abayizoni ngesikhathi esibekiweyo. 7 Phela akujayelekanga ukuthi umuntu afele umuntu olungileyo, lanxa engaba khona ongaba lesibindi sokufela umuntu owenza okuhle. 8 Kodwa nansi indlela uNkulunkulu atshengisa ngayo ukuthi uyasithanda: UKhristu wasifela siseseyizoni.+ 9 Njengoba sekuthiwa silungile ngegazi lakhe,+ sileqiniso lokuthi sizasindiswa ngaye elakeni lukaNkulunkulu.+ 10 Nxa sabuyisana loNkulunkulu ngokufa kweNdodana yakhe siseseyizitha,+ asithandabuzi ukuthi sizasindiswa ngokuphila kwayo njengoba khathesi sesibuyisene loNkulunkulu. 11 Kodwa ayisikho lokhu kuphela, okunye okusithokozisayo yikuba lobudlelwano loNkulunkulu ngeNkosi yethu uJesu Khristu esesithole ngayo ukubuyisana.+

12 Isono sangena emhlabeni ngomuntu oyedwa, lokufa kwangena ngesono,+ ngaleyondlela ukufa kwafika ebantwini bonke ngenxa yokuthi bonke bonile+—. 13 Isono sasesikhona emhlabeni uMthetho ungakabi khona, kodwa kakho okungathiwa wonile kungelamthetho.+ 14 Lanxa kunjalo ukufa kwaba yinkosi kwabusa kusukela ku-Adamu kusiya kuMosi, ngitsho laphezu kwalabo abangonanga ngendlela u-Adamu ona ngayo, yena owayehambelana lalowo owayezakuza.+

15 Kodwa isipho asifanani lesiphambeko. Nxa abanengi besifa ngokona komuntu oyedwa, kutsho ukuthi abanengi bayancedakala kakhulu+ ngomusa omkhulu kaNkulunkulu. UNkulunkulu wanika abantu bonke isipho leso ngomusa omkhulu womuntu oyedwa,+ uJesu Khristu. 16 Okwalethwa yisipho samahala akufanani lalokho okwalethwa ngumuntu oyedwa owenza isono+ ngoba ukwahlulelwa okwabakhona ngemva kwesono* esisodwa kwaba yikulahlwa,+ kodwa isipho esabakhona ngemva kwezono* ezinengi ngesokuthi kuthiwe abanengi balungile.+ 17 Nxa ngokona kwalowomuntu oyedwa ukufa kwaba yinkosi kwabusa ngalowomuntu,+ sileqiniso lokuthi labo abathululelwa umusa omkhulu kanye lesipho samahala sokulunga+ bazaphila babe ngamakhosi+ ngenxa yomuntu oyedwa uJesu Khristu!+

18 Njengoba abantu bemihlobo yonke balahlwa ngenxa yesono* esisodwa,+ abantu bemihlobo yonke+ kuzathiwa balungile ngenxa yesenzo esisodwa sokulunga besebethola ukuphila.+ 19 Njengoba nje abanengi benziwa baba yizoni ngokungalaleli komuntu oyedwa,+ abanengi kuzathiwa balungile ngokulalela komuntu oyedwa.+ 20 UMthetho wabekwa ukuze isiphambeko sande,*+ kodwa lapho okwanda khona isono, umusa omkhulu lawo wanda kakhulukazi. 21 Ngenxa yani? Ukuze umusa omkhulu lawo ube yinkosi ubuse ngokulunga njengoba nje isono saba yinkosi sabusa ndawonye lokufa,+ besekusenza ukuthi abantu bathole ukuphila okungapheliyo ngoJesu Khristu iNkosi yethu.+

6 Pho sithini? Siqhubeke sisesonweni yini ukuze umusa omkhulu wande? 2 Ngitsho sibili! Angithi sesafa ekuphileni ngendlela yesono,*+ manje singaqhubeka njani siphila phakathi kwaso?+ 3 Kumbe alikwazi yini ukuthi sonke esabhabhathizelwa kuKhristu uJesu+ sabhabhathizelwa ekufeni kwakhe?+ 4 Sangcwatshwa laye ngokubhabhathizelwa ekufeni kwakhe+ ukuze lathi siphile impilo entsha njengoKhristu owavuswa kwabafileyo ngenkazimulo kaBaba.+ 5 Njengoba sesimunye laye ngokufa njengaye,+ sileqiniso lokuthi sizakuba munye laye ngoba sizavuswa njengaye.+ 6 Siyakwazi ukuthi ubuntu bethu obudala babethelwa laye esigodweni+ ukuze umzimba wethu olesono ungabi lamandla phezu kwethu+ njalo singaqhubeki siyizigqili zesono.+ 7 Phela lowo osefile usekhululiwe esonweni* sakhe.

8 Kanti njalo nxa sife loKhristu siyakholwa ukuthi sizaphila laye futhi. 9 Njengoba uKhristu esevusiwe kwabafileyo,+ siyakwazi ukuthi kasoze aphinde afe.+ Ukufa akuseyiyo nkosi phezu kwakhe 10 ngoba wafa kanye kuphela ukuze akhiphe isono njalo kasoze aphinde afe,+ kodwa impilo ayiphilayo uyiphilela uNkulunkulu. 11 Lani zibaleni ngokuthi lingabafileyo ekuphileni ngendlela yesono lokuthi lingabaphilayo ekwenzeni intando kaNkulunkulu ngoKhristu uJesu.+

12 Ngakho lingavumi ukuthi isono siqhubeke siyinkosi sibusa emizimbeni yenu efayo,+ ukuze lingalandeli inkanuko zayo. 13 Lingaqhubeki linikela imizimba yenu* esonweni ukuthi ibe yizikhali zokwenza okungalunganga. Zinikeleni kuNkulunkulu njengababefile kodwa asebephila khathesi, njalo nikelani imizimba yenu* kuNkulunkulu ibe yizikhali zokwenza okulungileyo.+ 14 Isono akumelanga sibe yinkosi yenu ngoba alikho ngaphansi komthetho+ kodwa lingaphansi komusa omkhulu.+

15 Pho sithini? Sesingona yini ngenxa yokuthi asikho ngaphansi komthetho kodwa singaphansi komusa omkhulu?+ Ngitsho sibili! 16 Kanti alikwazi yini ukuthi nxa lizinikela kuloba ngubani lisiba yizigqili ezimlalelayo, liyizigqili zalowomuntu elimlalelayo?+ Nxa liyizigqili zesono+ lizaphetha ngokufa+ kodwa nxa liyizigqili zokulalela lizahamba ekulungeni. 17 Loba kunjalo, kabongwe uNkulunkulu ngokuthi lanxa laliyizigqili zesono, layilandela* ngenhliziyo yonke imfundiso* elayamukelayo. 18 Laba yizigqili zokulunga+ ngoba lakhululwa esonweni.+ 19 Ngisebenzisa amazwi azwisiswa ngabantu ngenxa yobuthakathaka benu. Njengoba nje lanikela imizimba yenu ukuthi ibe yizigqili zokungcola kanye lezokwephula umthetho okwalenza laba yizephulamthetho, khathesi nikelani imizimba yenu ibe yizigqili zokulunga ukuze lenze okungcwele.+ 20 Ukulunga kwakungasinkosi yenu liseseyizigqili zesono.

21 Lalithela siphi isithelo ngalesosikhathi? Lalithela izinto ezilenza libe lenhloni khathesi. Phela isiphetho salezozinto yikufa.+ 22 Kodwa njengoba selakhululwa esonweni laba yizigqili zikaNkulunkulu, selithela isithelo senu ngokuphila impilo engcwele+ njalo lizathola ukuphila okungapheliyo.+ 23 Phela imbadalo yesono yikufa+ kodwa isipho esisiphiwa nguNkulunkulu yikuphila okungapheliyo+ ngoKhristu uJesu iNkosi yethu.+

7 Kambe alikwazi bafowethu ukuthi uMthetho uyinkosi yomuntu nxa esaphila? (Lapha ngikhuluma labantu abawaziyo umthetho.) 2 Ngokwesibonelo, emthethweni owesifazana otshadileyo ubotshelwe kumkakhe nxa esaphila kodwa umkakhe angafa, owesifazana lo usekhululiwe emthethweni womkakhe.+ 3 Ngakho nxa angatshada lenye indoda umkakhe esaphila, uyabe efeba,*+ kodwa nxa umkakhe esefile, usekhululiwe emthethweni womkakhe, uyabe engafebi nxa angatshada lenye indoda.+

4 Bafowethu, lani lafa eMthethweni ngomzimba kaKhristu ukuze libe ngabakhe,+ yena owavuswa kwabafileyo+ ukuze sithele izithelo kuNkulunkulu.+ 5 Ngesikhathi sisaphila silandela izifiso zenyama, uMthetho waveza inkanuko zesono ezazisebenza emizimbeni yethu zisenza ukuthi sithele izithelo ezibangela ukufa.+ 6 Kodwa khathesi sesikhululiwe eMthethweni+ ngenxa yokuthi sesafa kulokho okwakusibophile, ukuze sibe yizigqili ngendlela entsha sikhokhelwa ngumoya,+ hatshi ngendlela endala sikhokhelwa ngumthetho obhaliweyo.+

7 Pho sithini? UMthetho uyisono yini? Ngitsho sibili! Ngangingasoze ngisazi isono ngabe uMthetho awuzange ubekhona.+ Ngokwesibonelo, ngangingasoze ngikwazi ukuthi kuyini ukuhawukela ngabe uMthetho awuzange uthi: “Ungahawukeli.”+ 8 Kodwa isono savulelwa ithuba ngumlayo, sangenza ngahawukela yonke into ngoba isono sasifile kungelamthetho.+ 9 Ngake ngaphila sibili umthetho ungakabi khona. Kodwa umlayo wathi ufika, isono saphinda saphila, mina ngafa.+ 10 Ngabona ukuthi umlayo okwakumele ungise ekuphileni+ wawungisa ekufeni. 11 Isono savulelwa ithuba ngumlayo, sangihuga sangibulala ngawo. 12 Ngakho uMthetho ngokwawo ungcwele, lomlayo lawo ungcwele, ulungile njalo muhle.+

13 Manje okuhle yikho okwabangela ukuthi ngife yini? Ngitsho sibili! Ngabulawa yisono ukuze kukhanye ukuthi isono sisebenzisa okuhle*+ ukuze singibulale, njalo umlayo uyakuveza ukuthi isono sibi kakhulu.+ 14 Siyakwazi ukuthi uMthetho uvela kuNkulunkulu kodwa mina ngingumuntu wenyama owathengiselwa esonweni.+ 15 Engikwenzayo angikuzwisisi ngoba lokho engifisa ukukwenza angihlali ngikwenza kodwa ngenza engikuzondayo. 16 Loba kunjalo, nxa ngisenza lokho engingakufisiyo ngiyavuma ukuthi uMthetho muhle. 17 Kodwa khathesi ayisimi engikwenzayo, yisono esihlala kimi+ 18 ngoba ngiyakwazi ukuthi akulalutho oluhle oluhlala ngaphakathi kwami, okutsho ukuthi emzimbeni wami.* Ngilaso isifiso sokwenza okuhle kodwa angenelisi ukukwenza.+ 19 Okuhle engikufisayo angikwenzi kodwa okubi engingakufisiyo yikho engihlala ngikwenza. 20 Manje nxa ngisenza engingakufisiyo ayisimi engikwenzayo, kwenziwa yisono esihlala kimi.

21 Ngakho phakathi kwami kulomthetho lo: Nxa ngifisa ukwenza okuqondileyo, okubi kuyabe kukimi khonapho.+ 22 Enhliziyweni yami ngiyathokoza sibili ngomthetho kaNkulunkulu+ 23 kodwa nginanzelela ukuthi emzimbeni wami kulomunye umthetho olwisana lomthetho wengqondo yami,+ ongenza ngithunjwe ngumthetho wesono+ osemzimbeni wami. 24 Ngaze ngahawula! Kambe ngubani ozangikhulula emzimbeni lo ozangibulalisa? 25 Kabongwe uNkulunkulu ngoJesu Khristu iNkosi yethu! Ngakho engqondweni yami ngiyisigqili somthetho kaNkulunkulu kodwa emzimbeni wami ngiyisigqili somthetho wesono.+

8 Yikho-ke labo abamanyene loKhristu uJesu abalacala. 2 Umthetho womoya usulinike ukuphila ukuze liphile limunye loKhristu uJesu njalo usulikhululile+ emthethweni wesono lokufa. 3 Lokho uMthetho owawungenelisi ukukwenza+ ngenxa yokuthi abantu balesono,+ uNkulunkulu wakwenza ngokuthuma iNdodana yakhe+ isesimeni somuntu olesono+ ukuze isuse isono, isilahle isono esisebantwini.* 4 Lokhu kwenza ukuthi izinto ezilungileyo ezifunwa nguMthetho zigcwaliseke kithi+ esihamba ngomoya hatshi ngezifiso zenyama.+ 5 Abaphila ngokuvumelana lezifiso zenyama bahlala becabanga okufunwa yimizimba yabo+ kodwa abaphila ngokuvumelana lomoya bahlala becabanga okufunwa ngumoya.+ 6 Ukuhlala ucabanga okufunwa yinyama kuphetha ngokufa+ kodwa ukuhlala ucabanga okufunwa ngumoya kuphetha ngokuphila kanye lokuthula,+ 7 ngoba labo abahlala becabanga okufunwa yinyama bacina beyizitha zikaNkulunkulu+ ngenxa yokuthi inyama ayiwulaleli umthetho kaNkulunkulu futhi ayingeke yawulalela. 8 Ngakho abavumelana lezifiso zenyama abangeke bamthokozise uNkulunkulu.

9 Loba kunjalo, nxa lingavumelani lezifiso zenyama njalo likhokhelwa ngumoya+ ekuphileni kwenu, umoya kaNkulunkulu uyabe uhlala kini sibili. Kodwa loba ngubani ongelamoya kaKhristu, lowomuntu kayisuye kaKhristu. 10 Nxa uKhristu emunye lani,+ umzimba ufile ngenxa yesono kodwa umoya unika ukuphila ngenxa yokulunga. 11 Yikho nxa umoya walowo owavusa uJesu kwabafileyo uhlala kini, yena kanye owavusa uKhristu uJesu kwabafileyo+ uzakwenza lokuthi imizimba yenu efayo iphile+ ngomoya wakhe ohlala kini.

12 Ngakho bafowethu silomlandu kodwa ayisiwo wokuthi siphile silandela izifiso zenyama.+ 13 Nxa liphila ngokuvumelana lezifiso zenyama lizakufa loba sekutheni, kodwa nxa lingabulala izenzo ezimbi+ ngomoya, lizaphila+ 14 ngoba bonke abakhokhelwa ngumoya kaNkulunkulu bangamadodana kaNkulunkulu sibili.+ 15 Angithi lina alamukelanga umoya wokuba yizigqili obangela ukuthi liphinde lesabe, kodwa lamukela umoya wokuba ngamadodana. Ngomoya lowo simemeza sisithi: “Abha,* Baba!”+ 16 Umoya wona ngokwawo ufakazelana lomoya wethu+ ukuthi singabantwana bakaNkulunkulu.+ 17 Manje nxa singabantwana sizindlalifa, izindlalifa zikaNkulunkulu sibili lezindlalifa+ kanye loKhristu. Nxa singahlupheka loKhristu+ sizakhazinyuliswa laye.+

18 Inhlupho esihlangana lazo khathesi ngizibona zingatsho lutho nxa ngiziqathanisa lenkazimulo ezavezwa kithi.+ 19 Phela okudaliweyo kulindele ngabomvu ukuvezwa kwamadodana kaNkulunkulu.+ 20 Okudaliweyo kwenziwa kwaphila impilo engelancedo+ kungasintando yakho kodwa kungekaNkulunkulu, njalo kwakulethemba lokuthi 21 khona ngokwakho kuzakhululwa+ ebugqilini bokonakala kuthole inkululeko ekhazimulayo yabantwana bakaNkulunkulu. 22 Siyakwazi ukuthi konke okudaliweyo kuqhubeka kububula ndawonye futhi kusebuhlungwini kuze kube khathesi. 23 Lathi ngokwethu esamukele izithelo zokuqala, okutsho umoya ongcwele, siyabubula ngaphakathi kwethu+ ngapha sikulindele ngabomvu ukuba ngamadodana kaNkulunkulu.+ Ngalesosikhathi sizakhululwa emizimbeni yethu yenyama ngenhlawulo. 24 Sasindiswa silethemba leli. Kodwa ithemba elibonakalayo kayisilo themba ngoba umuntu angaba njani lethemba ngento ayikhangeleyo? 25 Nxa silethemba+ lalokho esingakuboniyo+ siqhubeka sikulindele sibekezela.+

26 Umoya lawo uyasincedisa nxa sibuthakathaka+ ngoba uhlupho yikuthi asikwazi okumele sikuthandazele nxa sekumele sithandaze. Kodwa umoya wona ngokwawo uyasincengela nxa singelamazwi okuchaza ukububula kwethu. 27 Lanxa kunjalo, lowo ohlola izinhliziyo+ uyakwazi okutshiwo ngumoya ngoba umoya uncengela abangcwele ngokuvumelana lentando kaNkulunkulu.

28 Siyakwazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu wenza ukuthi yonke imisebenzi yakhe ibambisane ukuze ancede abamthandayo, labo ababizwe ngokuvumelana lenjongo yakhe.+ 29 Kusukela ekuqaleni wayekwazi ngalabo ayezabakhetha wasesenza isinqumo sokuthi babezakuba njengomfanekiso weNdodana yakhe,+ leyo eyayizakuba lizibulo+ phakathi kwabafowabo abanengi.+ 30 Phezu kwalokho, labo ayebakhethile+ yibo futhi ababizayo.+ Laba ababizayo yibo futhi athi balungile.+ Bona laba athi balungile yibo njalo abakhazimulisayo.+

31 Pho sithini ngalezizinto? Nxa uNkulunkulu elathi, ngubani ongasinqoba?+ 32 Njengoba engazange athikaze ukunikela ngeNdodana yakhe kodwa wayinikela ngenxa yethu sonke,+ pho yena leNdodana yakhe bangehlulwa yini ukuthi basinike ngesihle zonke ezinye izinto? 33 Ngubani ozamangalela abakhethiweyo bakaNkulunkulu?+ Phela uNkulunkulu nguye othi balungile.+ 34 Ngubani ozabagweba? Akula ngoba uKhristu uJesu nguye owafayo njalo wavuswa kwabafileyo. Uhlezi esandleni sokudla sikaNkulunkulu+ futhi uyasincengela.+

35 Kambe kuyini okungasehlukanisa lothando lukaKhristu?+ Kungaba yikuhlupheka yini, kumbe ubunzima, kumbe ukuhlukuluzwa, kumbe ukulamba, kumbe ukuswela izigqoko,* kumbe ingozi kumbe inkemba?+ 36 Umbhalo uthi: “Nsuku zonke sikhangelana lokufa ngenxa yokuthi singabakho, sebesibona angathi siyizimvu zokuhlatshwa.”+ 37 Kodwa kukho konke lokhu siyanqoba ngokupheleleyo+ ngalowo owasithandayo. 38 Ngiyaqiniseka ukuthi ngitsho lokufa, loba ukuphila, loba izingilosi, loba ohulumende, loba izinto ezikhona khathesi loba ezizakuza, loba amandla,+ 39 loba ukuphakama, loba ukutshona, loba yini edaliweyo, akusoze kusehlukanise lothando lukaNkulunkulu asitshengisa lona ngoKhristu uJesu iNkosi yethu.

9 Mina engingumlandeli kaKhristu ngikhuluma iqiniso, angiqambi amanga njengoba umzwangedwa wami ungifakazela ngomoya ongcwele 2 ukuthi ngidabuke kakhulu lokuthi ngilobuhlungu obungapheliyo enhliziyweni yami. 3 Bengingafisa ukuthi kube yimi engehlukaniswe loKhristu ngaqalekiswa ngenxa yabafowethu abayizihlobo zami zegazi, 4 ama-Israyeli. Bona benziwa baba ngamadodana+ futhi bemukela inkazimulo, lezivumelwano,+ loMthetho,+ lenkonzo engcwele+ kanye lezithembiso.+ 5 Bavela kubokhokho bethu,+ labo uKhristu azalelwa kubo.+ Kadunyiswe kuze kube nini lanini uNkulunkulu ophezu kwakho konke. Ameni.

6 Kodwa ayisikho ukuthi ilizwi likaNkulunkulu lehlulekile ukugcwaliseka ngoba ayisibo bonke abayinzalo ka-Israyeli abangama-Israyeli eqiniso.+ 7 Loba kunjalo, ukuthi bayinzalo ka-Abrahama*+ akutsho ukuthi bonke bangabantwana bakhe, kodwa kubhaliwe ukuthi, “Okuzathiwa yinzalo yakho* kuzavela ku-Isaka,”+ 8 okutsho ukuthi abantwana abazelwe ngenyama kayisibo abangabantwana bakaNkulunkulu+ sibili. Kodwa abantwana besithembiso+ yibo ababizwa ngokuthi ngabantwana baka-Abrahama* 9 ngoba ilizwi lesithembiso lalisithi: “Ngizabuya ngalesisikhathi futhi uSara uzakuba lendodana.”+ 10 Isithembiso lesi kwaphinda kwakhulunywa ngaso langesikhathi uRabheka ezithwala amaphahla, uyise wawo kungu-Isaka ukhokho wethu.+ 11 Ngakho ukuze injongo kaNkulunkulu yokukhetha iqhubeke ingathembelanga emisebenzini kodwa kulowo obizayo, amaphahla la athi engakazalwa futhi engakenzi okuhle loba okubi, 12 kwathiwa kuye: “Omdala uzakuba yisigqili somncane,”+ 13 njengoba nje kubhaliwe ukuthi: “Ngathanda uJakhobe, ngazonda u-Esawu.”+

14 Pho sithini? UNkulunkulu kalunganga yini? Hatshi!+ 15 Phela wathi kuMosi: “Ngizakuba lesihawu kuloba ngubani engizakuba lesihawu kuye, ngibe lozwelo kuloba ngubani engizakuba lozwelo kuye.”+ 16 Ngakho akuyi ngesifiso somuntu kumbe ngomzamo wakhe* kodwa kuya ngoNkulunkulu olesihawu.+ 17 Umbhalo uthi kuFaro: “Ngikuyekele waqhubeka ukhona ukuze ngitshengise amandla ami phezu kwakho, ngenze lokuthi ibizo lami limenyezelwe emhlabeni wonke.”+ 18 Yikho yena ulesihawu kuloba ngubani afuna ukuba lesihawu kuye, kodwa abanye uyabavumela ukuthi babe yiziqholo.+

19 Ngakho wena uzakuthi kimi: “Pho kungani eqhubeka ebabeka icala? Kambe ukhona ongaphikisana lentando yakhe?” 20 Kodwa wena muntu ungubani ukuthi uphendulane loNkulunkulu?+ Into ebunjiweyo iyambuza yini umbumbi wayo ithi: “Ungenzeleni ngabanje?”+ 21 Kanti umbumbi kalawo yini amandla okwenza izitsha ezimbili ngebumba linye,+ esinye sibe ngesomsebenzi ohloniphekayo,* esinye sibe ngesomsebenzi ongahloniphekiyo?* 22 Pho sithini njengoba uNkulunkulu waba lesineke wabekezelela izitsha zolaka ezifanele ukubhujiswa, lanxa wayefuna ukuveza ulaka lwakhe lokwenza ukuthi amandla akhe aziwe? 23 Sithini nxa lokhu kwenzelwa ukuthi inotho yenkazimulo yakhe esezitsheni zesihawu yaziwe,+ leyo ayevele wayilungisela inkazimulo yakhe, 24 okutsho thina asibiza wasikhetha phakathi kwamaJuda laphakathi kwabezinye izizwe?+ 25 Kunjengoba nje esitsho kuHosiya esithi: “Abangayisibo bantu bami+ ngizababiza ngokuthi ‘ngabantu bami,’ lowesifazana ongathandwayo ngizambiza ngokuthi ‘yintandokazi.’*+ 26 Endaweni okwathiwa khona kubo, ‘Kalisibo bantu bami,’ bazabizwa ngokuthi ‘ngamadodana kaNkulunkulu ophilayo.’”+

27 Phezu kwalokho u-Isaya wamemezela ngo-Israyeli wathi: “Lanxa inani lamadodana ako-Israyeli lingaba ngangetshebetshebe yolwandle, kuzasindiswa abalutshwana abaseleyo kuphela.+ 28 UJehova* uzalungisa izindaba emhlabeni futhi umsebenzi lo uzawenza masinyane awuqede wonke.”+ 29 Kanti njalo u-Isaya wathi: “Aluba uJehova* wamabutho kenzanga ukuthi kusale ezinye izizukulwane zethu, besizakuba njengeSodoma, sifanane leGomora.”+

30 Pho sithini? Sithi lanxa abantu bezinye izizwe bengazange bazame ngamandla wonke ukuba ngabalungileyo,+ bakuthola ukulunga okuza ngokukholwa.+ 31 Kodwa abako-Israyeli behluleka ukuwulandela ngokugcweleyo umthetho wokulunga lanxa babezama ngamandla wonke ukuwulandela. 32 Ngenxa yani? Ngenxa yokuthi babezama ukuwulandela ngemisebenzi hatshi ngokholo. Bakhubeka ‘elitsheni elikhubayo’+ 33 njengoba kubhaliwe ukuthi: “Khangela! Ngibeka eZiyoni ilitshe+ lami elikhubayo ledwala eliwisa abantu, kodwa lowo okholwa kulo kasoze adane.”+

10 Bafowethu, engikufisayo enhliziyweni yami lengihlezi ngibancengela khona kuNkulunkulu yikuthi basindiswe.+ 2 Ngiyabafakazela ukuthi bakukhuthalele ukukhonza uNkulunkulu+ kodwa lokhu bakwenza bengelalwazi oluqondileyo. 3 Abakwazi ukulunga kukaNkulunkulu+ kodwa bafuna ukuzenzela lokho bona abakubona kulungile,+ yikho bengakulandeli ukulunga kukaNkulunkulu.+ 4 UKhristu uyisiphetho soMthetho+ ukuze wonke umuntu otshengisa ukuthi ulokholo kuthiwe ulungile.+

5 UMosi wabhala ngezinto uMthetho othi zilungile wathi: “Umuntu owenza izinto lezi uzaphila ngazo.”+ 6 Kodwa mayelana lokulunga okuza ngokukholwa kubhalwe ukuthi: “Ungakhulumi enhliziyweni yakho uthi,+ ‘Ngubani ozakuya ezulwini?’+ okutsho ukuthi ngubani ozakuya ezulwini esiyathatha uKhristu. 7 Ungatsho lokuthi, ‘Ngubani ozangena emgodini ongelamkhawulo?’+ okutsho ukuthi ngubani ozakuyavusa uKhristu kwabafileyo.” 8 Kodwa umbhalo uphinda uthi: “Ilizwi liseduze kwakho, lisemlonyeni wakho lasenhliziyweni yakho.”+ Lapha kutshiwo “ilizwi” lokholo esilitshumayelayo. 9 Wena uzasindiswa nxa uvuma ebantwini ngomlomo wakho ukuthi uJesu uyiNkosi+ njalo utshengisa ukuthi uyakholwa enhliziyweni yakho ukuthi uNkulunkulu wamvusa kwabafileyo. 10 Phela ngenhliziyo umuntu uyakholwa athole ukulunga kodwa ngomlomo ukhuluma ngokholo lolu ebantwini+ athole insindiso.

11 Umbhalo uthi: “Kakho okholwa kuye ozadana.”+ 12 Akulamehluko phakathi komJuda lomGrikhi.+ Bonke baleNkosi yinye ephanayo kubo bonke abayibizayo 13 ngoba “wonke umuntu obiza ibizo likaJehova* uzasindiswa.”+ 14 Kodwa bazambiza njani bengazange bakholwe kuye? Bazakholwa njani kuye bona bengazwanga ngaye? Bazakuzwa njani ngaye kungela otshumayelayo? 15 Bazatshumayela njani bengathunywanga?+ Angithi vele kubhaliwe ukuthi: “Ayisibuhle benyawo zalabo abatshumayela izindaba ezinhle ezimayelana lezinto ezinhle!”+

16 Lanxa kunjalo ayisibo bonke ababesamukela izindaba ezinhle. Yikho u-Isaya esithi: “Jehova,* ngubani osekukholiwe lokho abakuzwa ngathi?”*+ 17 Ngakho ukholo luba khona ngemva kokuzwa ilizwi.+ Ilizwi lelo lizwakala nxa umuntu ekhuluma ngoKhristu. 18 Kodwa ngicela ukubuza, kabehlulekanga ukuzwa yini? “Umsindo wazwakala emhlabeni wonke, lamazwi azwakala emikhawulweni yomhlaba.”+ 19 Ngiphinde ngibuze futhi, abako-Israyeli abazange behluleke ukwazi angithi?+ Okokuqala, uMosi uthi: “Ngizalenza libe lobukhwele ngisebenzisa abantu bezinye izizwe, ngilenze libe lolaka olukhulu ngisebenzisa isizwe esiyisiphukuphuku.”+ 20 Kodwa u-Isaya uqunga isibindi athi: “Ngatholwa yilabo ababengangidingi,+ ngaziwa yilabo ababengabuzi ngami.”+ 21 Loba kunjalo, nxa ekhuluma ngabako-Israyeli uthi: “Ilanga lonke bengibavulele izandla zami abantu abangalaleliyo labayiziqholo.”+

11 Ngakho ngiyabuza ngithi, uNkulunkulu wabalahla yini abantu bakhe?+ Ngitsho sibili! Lami ngingum-Israyeli, ngiyisizukulwane sika-Abrahama futhi ngivela esizwaneni sakoBhenjamini. 2 UNkulunkulu kazange abalahle abantu bakhe ayebazi kusukela kuqala.+ Kanti alikwazi yini ukuthi imibhalo ithini ngo-Elija? Wakhuleka kuNkulunkulu esola abako-Israyeli esithi: 3 “Jehova* sebebulele abaphrofethi bakho badiliza lama-alithare akho. Kusele mina ngedwa futhi khathesi sebezama ukungibulala.”+ 4 Kodwa uNkulunkulu wamphendula wathini? Wathi: “Ngilabantu bami abangu-7 000 abangazange bamguqele uBhali.”+ 5 Ngakho lakhathesi bakhona abaseleyo+ abakhethwa ngenxa yomusa omkhulu. 6 Manje nxa bekhethwa ngenxa yomusa omkhulu,+ akusayi ngemisebenzi+ ngoba ngabe bekunjalo umusa omkhulu ubungasoze ube ngumusa omkhulu.

7 Pho sithini? Yona kanye into abako-Israyeli ababeyidinga ngabomvu abazange bayithole kodwa abakhethiweyo bayithola.+ Abanye bonke baba lenhliziyo ezilukhuni,+ 8 njengoba nje kubhaliwe ukuthi: “UNkulunkulu usebanike umoya wobuthongo obukhulu,+ wenza ukuthi amehlo abo angaboni lendlebe zabo zingezwa kuze kube lamuhla.”+ 9 Kanti njalo uDavida wathi: “Kwangathi itafula yabo ingaba ngumjibila, lesilaha, lesikhubekiso kanye lesijeziso sabo. 10 Kwangathi amehlo abo angafiphala bangaboni lutho, wenze lokuthi bahlale begobise imihlane.”+

11 Yikho ngibuza ngisithi: Kanti bakhubeka bawa okokuthi ngeke baphinde bavuke yini? Hatshi! Kodwa isiphambeko sabo senze abantu bezinye izizwe bathola insindiso, njalo lokhu kwenza amaJuda abe lomhawu.+ 12 Nxa isiphambeko sabo siletha inotho emhlabeni, lokuphunguka kwabo kuletha inotho ebantwini bezinye izizwe,+ kutsho ukuthi kuzakuba lenotho enengi kakhulu nxa inani labo selenele!

13 Khathesi ngikhuluma lani lina bantu bezinye izizwe. Njengoba ngingumphostoli kwabezinye izizwe,+ ngikhazimulisa* inkonzo yami+ 14 ukuze ngibone ukuthi ngingaba layo yini indlela yokwenza ukuthi abantu bakithi bahawukele, ngisindise abanye phakathi kwabo. 15 Nxa ukuxotshwa kwabo+ kusenza ukuthi umhlaba ubuyisane loNkulunkulu, ukwamukelwa kwabo kuzabenza bathole ukuphila, kube angathi bavuke kwabafileyo. 16 Phezu kwalokho, nxa ingxenye yenhlama engumnikelo wezithelo zokuqala ingcwele, lenhlama yonke ingcwele, njalo nxa impande ingcwele, lengatsha lazo zingcwele.

17 Kodwa nxa ezinye ingatsha zephulwa, wena waxhunyelwa esihlahleni sama-oliva lanxa wawungum-oliva weganga, wasuwathola lawe amanzi empande yom-oliva, 18 ungazikhukhumezi phambi kwengatsha ezephulwayo. Nxa uzikhukhumeza phambi kwazo,+ khumbula ukuthi kayisuwe othwele impande kodwa impande yiyo ekuthweleyo. 19 Lanxa kunjalo wena uzakuthi: “Ingatsha zephulwa ukuze mina ngixhunyelwe esihlahleni.”+ 20 Liqiniso sibili lelo! Zephulwa ngenxa yokuthi zazingelakholo,+ kodwa wena umi ngokholo.+ Ungazikhukhumezi kodwa yesaba 21 ngoba nxa uNkulunkulu engaziyekelanga ingatsha ezazivele zingezesihlahla sama-oliva kasoze akuyekele lawe. 22 Ngakho cabangisisa ngomusa kaNkulunkulu+ kanye lesijeziso sakhe. Asebawayo+ bayajeziswa kodwa wena uzathola umusa kaNkulunkulu nxa ungahlala usemuseni wakhe. Ungayekela ukwenza njalo, lawe uzaqunywa. 23 Nxa bangaqalisa ukuba lokholo bazaxhunyelwa esihlahleni+ ngoba uNkulunkulu uyenelisa ukuphinda abaxhumele kuso. 24 Nxa wena waqunywa esihlahleni sama-oliva eseganga wasuxhunyelwa esihlahleni sama-oliva esilinywayo, kusenziwa into engayisiyo yemvelo, kuzakuba lula kakhulu ukuthi ababevele bezingatsha zesihlahla sama-oliva baphinde baxhunyelwe kulesosihlahla ababekuso!

25 Bafowethu, nansi imfihlo engcwele+ engifuna liyazi ukuze lingaziboni angani lihlakaniphile: Abanye abantu bako-Israyeli sebelenhliziyo ezilukhuni futhi bazakuba njalo inani labantu bezinye izizwe lize lenele. 26 Ngaleyondlela bonke abako-Israyeli+ bazasindiswa njengoba nje kubhaliwe ukuthi: “Umkhululi* uzavela eZiyoni,+ enze ukuthi uJakhobe atshiye izenzo zakhe ezimbi. 27 Nxa sengisuse izono zabo,+ ngizakwenza isivumelwano labo.”+ 28 Bayizitha zezindaba ezinhle ukuze lina lincedakale, kodwa ekukhetheni kukaNkulunkulu bangabathandwayo ngenxa yabokhokho babo.+ 29 UNkulunkulu kasoze azisole ngezipho zakhe langalabo ababizayo. 30 Lake langamlaleli uNkulunkulu+ kodwa khathesi selenzelwe isihawu+ ngenxa yokungalaleli kwabo.+ 31 Bona abalalelanga futhi lokho kwenze lina lathola isihawu ukuze labo baphinde benzelwe isihawu. 32 UNkulunkulu usebavumele bonke ukuthi babe njengezibotshwa ngenxa yokungalaleli+ kwabo ukuze abe lesihawu kubo bonke.+

33 Inotho kaNkulunkulu lokuhlakanipha kwakhe kanye lolwazi lwakhe kujule kakhulu! Izahlulelo zakhe ngeke uzihlole uzizwisise ngokugcweleyo njalo ngeke sizazi zonke izindlela zakhe. 34 “Ngubani oseyazi ingqondo kaJehova* njalo ngubani ongumeluleki wakhe?”+ 35 “Ngubani owake wapha uNkulunkulu okuthile osekumele yena akubuyisele kulowomuntu?”+ 36 Phela izinto zonke zivela kuye, zikhona ngaye njalo zenzelwe yena. Kakhazinyuliswe kuze kube nini lanini. Ameni.

12 Yikho bafowethu ngiyalincenga ngesisa sikaNkulunkulu ukuthi linikele imizimba yenu+ ibe yimihlatshelo ephilayo, engcwele+ njalo eyamukelwa nguNkulunkulu, inkonzo engcwele eliyenza ngezingqondo zenu.+ 2 Yekelani ukubunjwa ngumumo lo wezinto,* kodwa guqulwani litshintshe indlela elicabanga ngayo+ ukuze lihlolisise+ lizibonele intando kaNkulunkulu enhle, eyamukelekayo lepheleleyo.

3 Ngomusa omkhulu engiwuphiweyo ngitshela wonke umuntu phakathi kwenu ukuthi angacabangi ukuthi ungcono kulalokho ayikho khona,+ kodwa acabange ngendlela etshengisa ukuthi usebenzisa kuhle ingqondo, kusiya ngokholo ngamunye aluphiwe* nguNkulunkulu.+ 4 Silezitho ezinengi emzimbeni munye+ kodwa zonke zilemisebenzi etshiyeneyo. 5 Ngakho lanxa thina sibanengi, singumzimba owodwa omanyene loKhristu, kodwa ngamunye wethu unjengesitho esibambane lezinye.+ 6 Njengoba silezipho ezitshiyeneyo kusiya ngomusa omkhulu esiwunikiweyo,+ nxa kuyisipho sokuphrofetha kasiphrofetheni kusiya ngokholo esiluphiweyo. 7 Nxa kuyimisebenzi yebandla asiyenzeni leyomisebenzi. Ofundisayo kafundise,+ 8 okhuthazayo kakhuthaze.+ Owabela abanye* kakwenze ngenhliziyo emhlophe,+ okhokhelayo kakukhuthalele* ukukhokhela,+ lalowo owenzela abanye isihawu kabenzele ethokoza.+

9 Uthando lwenu alungabi ngolwamanga.+ Yenyanyani okubi,+ libambelele kokuhle. 10 Thandanani ngothando lobuzalwane, lithandane ngenhliziyo yonke. Khokhelani ekuhlonipheni abanye.*+ 11 Khuthalani* lingabi ngamavila.*+ Vuthani emoyeni.+ Wobani yizigqili zikaJehova.*+ 12 Jabulani ngenxa yethemba lenu. Qiniselani ebunzimeni.+ Phikelelani ekuthandazeni.+ 13 Phanini abangcwele elilakho kusiya ngalokho abakuswelayo+ njalo libe lomkhuba wokwamukela kuhle abanye.+ 14 Qhubekani libusisa abalihlukuluzayo,+ busisani lingaqalekisi.+ 15 Jabulani labajabulayo, likhale labakhalayo. 16 Bonani abanye ngendlela elizibona ngayo. Lingahlali licabanga ngezinto eziphakemeyo* kodwa thandani izinto eziphansi.+ Lingaziboni angani lihlakaniphile.+

17 Lowo oliphatha kubi lingambuyiseli ngokubi.+ Qalani licabange ukuthi kuyini okuhle emehlweni abantu bonke. 18 Nxa kungenzeka futhi kusemandleni enu, hlalani ngokuthula labantu bonke.+ 19 Lingaziphindiseleli bathandekayo kodwa nikani ulaka lukaNkulunkulu ithuba,+ ngoba kubhaliwe ukuthi: “‘Ukuphindisela ngokwami, yimi engizabuyisela,’ kutsho uJehova.”*+ 20 Ngakho “nxa isitha sakho silambile sinike ukudla. Nxa somile sinike okunathwayo ngoba nxa ungenza njalo uyabe ubuthelela amalahle avuthayo ekhanda laso.”*+ 21 Lingavumi ukunqotshwa ngokubi kodwa qhubekani linqoba okubi ngokuhle.+

13 Wonke umuntu kazehlise kuziphathamandla+ ngoba akulamandla angaveli kuNkulunkulu.+ Iziphathamandla ezikhona zivunyelwe nguNkulunkulu ukuthi zibe sezikhundleni zazo.+ 2 Ngakho loba ngubani ophikisana leziphathamandla uphikisana lalokho okuhlelwe nguNkulunkulu. Labo abaphikisana lakuhlelileyo bazazilethela ukwahlulelwa 3 ngoba ababusi laba besatshwa ngabenza okubi kodwa abenza okuhle kababesabi.+ Uyafuna yini ukuhlala ukhululekile ungesabi iziphathamandla? Qhubeka usenza okuhle.+ Ungenza njalo zizakuncoma 4 ngenxa yokuthi ziyizinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezikuncedayo. Kodwa nxa usenza okubi yesaba ngoba kulesizatho esenza zithwale inkemba. Ziyizinceku zikaNkulunkulu eziphindiselayo, zisehlisela ulaka kulowo* ohlala esenza okubi.

5 Ngakho kulesizatho esikhulu sokuthi lizehlise, hatshi nje ngenxa yolaka lolu kodwa langenxa yemizwangedwa yenu.+ 6 Yikho futhi libhadala imithelo ngoba iziphathamandla ziyizinceku zikaNkulunkulu zomphakathi ezihlala zisenzela abantu imisebenzi ebancedayo. 7 Nikani bonke okubafaneleyo. Lowo ofuna umthelo mnikeni umthelo,+ ofuna imbadalo mnikeni imbadalo, ofuna ukwesatshwa mesabeni,+ lalowo ofuna ukuhlonitshwa mhlonipheni.+

8 Lingabi lesikwelede saloba yini kuloba ngubani ngaphandle kwesikwelede sokuthandana+ ngoba lowo othanda omunye usewugcwalisile umthetho.+ 9 Phela imithetho ethi: “Ungafebi,*+ ungabulali,+ ungatshontshi,+ ungahawukeli,”+ layo yonke eminye imilayo ekhona ihlanganisiwe emazwini la athi: “Kumele uthande umakhelwane wakho ngendlela ozithanda ngayo.”+ 10 Umuntu olothando kamenzeli okubi umakhelwane wakhe.+ Ngakho uthando lugcwalisa umthetho.+

11 Kwenzeni lokhu ngoba liyasazi isikhathi esesikuso, sekuyisikhathi sokuthi livuke ebuthongweni.+ Ukusindiswa kwethu sekuseduze kakhulu kulangesikhathi sisiba ngamakholwa. 12 Sesiside isikhathi kusebusuku, khathesi sekuzakusa. Yikho-ke asilahleni imisebenzi yobumnyama+ sihlome ngezikhali zokukhanya.+ 13 Asiziphatheni kuhle+ njengasemini, singayi emadilini* axokozelayo, singadakwa, singafebi, singabi ngabantu abaxhwalileyo,*+ singaxabani labanye futhi singabi lomhawu.+ 14 Kodwa gqokani iNkosi uJesu Khristu+ njalo lingabumbi amacebo okusuthisa izifiso zenyama.+

14 Yamukelani umuntu olokholo olungaqinanga+ kodwa lingahluleli muntu nxa libona izinto ngendlela etshiyeneyo.* 2 Ukholo lomunye luyamvumela ukuthi adle konke kodwa umuntu olokholo olungaqinanga udla imibhida kuphela. 3 Odlayo kangamkhangeleli phansi lowo ongadliyo, longadliyo kangamahluleli lowo odlayo+ ngoba uNkulunkulu usemamukele. 4 Kanti wena ungubani ukuthi wahlulele inceku yomunye?+ Ukuma kwayo kumbe ukuwa kwayo kuya ngenkosi yayo.+ Izakuma sibili ngoba uJehova* uyenelisa ukwenza ukuthi ime.

5 Omunye uthi ilanga elilodwa liqakathekile kulamanye,+ kodwa omunye uthi wonke amalanga ayafanana.+ Ngamunye kaqiniseke engqondweni yakhe ngalokho akukhethileyo. 6 Lowo othakazelela ilanga elithile wenzela uJehova,* lalowo odlayo wenzela uJehova* ngoba uyabe embonga uNkulunkulu.+ Ongadliyo wenzela uJehova* kodwa laye uyabe ebonga uNkulunkulu.+ 7 Kakho loyedwa phakathi kwethu oziphilela yena yedwa+ futhi kakho ozifela yena yedwa, 8 ngoba nxa siphila siphilela uJehova*+ njalo nxa sisifa sifela uJehova.* Ngakho kungelani lokuthi siyaphila kumbe siyafa, singabakaJehova.*+ 9 UKhristu wafa waphinda waphila ukuze abe yiNkosi yabafileyo labaphilayo.+

10 Manje kungani usahlulela umfowenu?+ Kungani umkhangelela phansi umfowenu? Sonke sizakuma phambi kwesihlalo sikaNkulunkulu sokwahlulela+ 11 ngoba kubhaliwe ukuthi: “‘Ngifunga ngokuphila kwami,’+ kutsho uJehova,* ‘wonke amadolo azangiguqela njalo bonke abantu bazavuma ukuthi nginguNkulunkulu.’”+ 12 Ngakho ngamunye wethu uzaziphendulela kuNkulunkulu.+

13 Kasiyekeleni ukwahlulelana+ kodwa kasizimiseleni ukuthi singabeki phambi komfowethu into engamkhuba kumbe engamgwenxa.+ 14 Ngiyakwazi futhi ngiyaqiniseka eNkosini uJesu ukuthi akulalutho olungahlanzekanga.+ Luba ngolungahlanzekanga emuntwini nxa yena elubona lungahlanzekanga. 15 Kodwa nxa umfowenu ekhubeka ngenxa yalokho okudlayo, wena uyabe utshengisa ukuthi awuselathando.+ Ungamtshabalalisi* ngenxa yokudla kwakho lowo owafelwa nguKhristu.+ 16 Ungenzi ukuthi kukhulunywe kubi ngezinto ezinhle ozenzayo 17 ngoba ukungena eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu akuyi ngokudla lokunatha,+ kodwa kuya ngokulunga lokuthula lokuthokoza ngomoya ongcwele. 18 Loba ngubani oba yisigqili sikaKhristu esenza izinto lezi wamukelwa nguNkulunkulu aphinde amukelwe ngabantu.

19 Ngakho asizameni ngamandla ethu wonke ukwenza izinto eziletha ukuthula+ lalezo ezenza sakhane.+ 20 Yekelani ukudiliza umsebenzi kaNkulunkulu ngenxa yokudla nje.+ Lanxa izinto zonke zihlanzekile, kuyingozi* ukuthi umuntu adle into ezakwenza omunye akhubeke.+ 21 Kungcono ukuthi ungayidli inyama lokuthi ungalinathi iwayini futhi ungenzi loba yini ekhuba umfowenu.+ 22 Ukholo olalo lugcine lungolwakho phambi kukaNkulunkulu. Uyathokoza umuntu ongazahluleli ngalokho yena akwamukelayo. 23 Kodwa nxa ethandabuza uselecala nxa angadla ngoba udlile yena engelakholo. Konke okungaveli okholweni kuyisono.

15 Thina esilamandla kufanele sithwale ubuthakathaka balabo abangelamandla+ kulokuthi sizithokozise thina.+ 2 Ngamunye wethu kathokozise umakhelwane wakhe, amenzele okuhle okuzamakha+ 3 ngoba loKhristu kazange azithokozise,+ njengoba nje kubhaliwe ukuthi: “Amazwi alabo abakuthethisayo ehlele phezu kwami.”+ 4 Zonke izinto ezabhalwa kudala zabhalelwa ukuthi kufundiswe thina.+ Lokho kwenza sibe lethemba+ ngoba iMibhalo le isinceda ukuthi siqinisele+ njalo iyasiduduza. 5 UNkulunkulu osiduduzayo njalo osenza siqinisele kalincede ukuthi licabange ngendlela uKhristu uJesu ayecabanga ngayo, 6 ukuze limanyane+ limkhazimulise ngelizwi linye* uNkulunkulu, onguYise weNkosi yethu uJesu Khristu.

7 Yikho-ke yamukelanani+ njengoba nje loKhristu walamukela,+ ukuze uNkulunkulu akhazinyuliswe. 8 Ngilitshela ukuthi uKhristu waba yinceku yabasokileyo+ emele iqiniso likaNkulunkulu, ukuze atshengise ukuthi ziliqiniso izithembiso uNkulunkulu ayezenze kubokhokho babo,+ 9 futhi enze lokuthi izizwe zikhazimulise uNkulunkulu ngenxa yesihawu sakhe,+ njengoba kubhaliwe ukuthi: “Yikho ngizakudumisa phakathi kwezizwe, ngihlabele ngidumisa ibizo lakho.”+ 10 Uphinda athi: “Jabulani lina zizwe kanye labantu bakhe.”+ 11 Aphinde athi: “Dumisani uJehova* lonke lina zizwe, bonke abantu kabamdumise.”+ 12 Kanti njalo u-Isaya uthi: “Kuzakuba lempande kaJese,+ lowo ozabusa izizwe+ futhi izizwe zizathembela kuye.”+ 13 UNkulunkulu onika ithemba kaliphe intokozo enkulu lokuthula ngoba liyamthemba, ukuze ngamandla omoya ongcwele+ libe lethemba elikhulu.*

14 Bafowethu, ngileqiniso lokuthi lizimisele ukwenza konke okuhle lokuthi lilalo lonke ulwazi njalo liyenelisa ukwelulekana.* 15 Loba kunjalo, kuleminye imicijo engilibhalele yona ngingagudli iguma ukuze ngiphinde ngilikhumbuze yona, ngenxa yokuthi uNkulunkulu ungenzele umusa omkhulu 16 wokuthi ngibe yinceku kaKhristu uJesu kwabezinye izizwe.+ Umsebenzi lo ongcwele wezindaba ezinhle zikaNkulunkulu+ ngiwenzela ukuthi izizwe lezi zibe ngumnikelo owamukelekayo, ongcweliswe ngomoya ongcwele.

17 Ngakho ngilesizatho sokuthokoza ngoKhristu uJesu ngenxa yezinto eziphathelane loNkulunkulu. 18 Angisoze ngikhulume ngaloba yini ngaphandle kwalokho uKhristu akwenzileyo ngami ukuze izizwe zilalele. Lokhu ukwenze ngamazwi ami langezenzo zami, 19 langamandla ezibonakaliso lezimangaliso+ kanye lamandla omoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu. Yikho ngazitshumayela ngokugcweleyo izindaba ezinhle ezimayelana loKhristu+ ngisukela eJerusalema, ngabhoda ngaze ngayafika khonale e-Ilirikhumu. 20 Ngangingafuni ukutshumayela izindaba ezinhle lapho abantu abasebelizwile khona ibizo likaKhristu, ukuze ngingakheli phezu kwesisekelo somunye 21 njengoba nje kubhaliwe ukuthi: “Labo abangawutholanga umbiko omayelana laye bazabona, lalabo abangazwanga bazazwisisa.”+

22 Lokhu kwenze lokuthi ngehluleke kanengi ukuza kini. 23 Kodwa khathesi akuselandawo engingakatshumayeli kuyo ezabelweni lezi. Sekuleminyaka eminengi ngifisa kakhulu ukuza kini. 24 Yikho ngilethemba lokuthi ngizalibona sengisiya eSpeyini. Nxa sengike ngakholisa ukuba lani okwesikhatshana, lizangiphelekezela okomangwana. 25 Kodwa khathesi sengizakuya eJerusalema ngisiyancedisa abangcwele+ 26 ngoba abeMakhedoniya labe-Akhaya banikele ngezinto zabo bethokoza ukuze ziphiwe abangcwele abangabayanga eJerusalema.+ 27 Kuyabathokozisa sibili ukwenza njalo, njengoba bebevele belomlandu kubo. Phela nxa abangcwele babelane labezinye izizwe izinto ezivela kuNkulunkulu, kutsho ukuthi labezinye izizwe balomlandu wokubancedisa ngezinto zokuziphilisa.+ 28 Ngakho nxa sengikwenzile lokhu futhi ngafikisa kuhle umnikelo lo* kubo, ngizadlula kini sengisiya eSpeyini. 29 Ngiyakwazi ukuthi lapho engizakuza khona kini ngizafika ngilesibusiso esigcweleyo esivela kuKhristu.

30 Ngiyalincenga-ke bafowethu ngeNkosi yethu uJesu Khristu langothando oluvela emoyeni ongcwele, ukuthi lincedisane lami ukuthandaza ngenhliziyo yonke kuNkulunkulu,+ 31 ukuze ngikhululwe+ ebantwini beJudiya abangakholwayo lokuthi abangcwele abaseJerusalema bayamukele inkonzo engizabenzela yona.+ 32 Lokhu kuzakwenza ukuthi nxa kuyintando kaNkulunkulu ngifike kini ngithokoza, sivuselelane sindawonye. 33 UNkulunkulu onika ukuthula kabe lani lonke.+ Ameni.

16 Ngilethulela uFebhi, udadewethu okhonza* ebandleni eliseKhenikhreya,+ 2 ukuze limamukele ebizweni leNkosi ngendlela efanele abangcwele njalo limncedise ngakho konke akuswelayo+ ngoba laye wavikela abanengi njalo wangivikela lami.

3 Bingelelani uPriska lo-Akhwila+ esisebenza ndawonye kuKhristu uJesu, 4 abafake impilo* zabo engozini ngenxa yami.+ Ayisimi ngedwa engibabongayo kodwa lamabandla wonke abezinye izizwe ayababonga. 5 Libingelele lebandla elibuthana endlini yabo.+ Bingelelani lo-Ephenethusi engimthandayo, ongomunye wezithelo zikaKhristu zokuqala e-Asiya. 6 Bingelelani uMariya olisebenzele nzima. 7 Libingelele lo-Andironikhu loJuniyasi izihlobo zami+ ezazibotshwe lami. Abaphostoli bawazi kuhle amadoda la njalo aselesikhathi eside kulami emanyene loKhristu.

8 Bingelelani u-Ampiliyathu engimthandayo eNkosini, 9 libingelele lo-Abhanusi esisebenza ndawonye kuKhristu, loStakhisi engimthandayo. 10 Bingelelani u-Aphele owamukelwa nguKhristu, libingelele lalabo abahlala lo-Aristobhulu. 11 Bingelelani isihlobo sami uHerodiyoni, libingelele lalabo abaseNkosini abahlala loNakhisu. 12 Bingelelani uTrayifina loTrayifosa, abesifazana abayisebenzela nzima iNkosi, libingelele loPhesisi esimthandayo ngoba uyisebenzele gadalala iNkosi. 13 Bingelelani uRufusi okhethiweyo eNkosini, lonina ongumama lakimi. 14 Bingelelani u-Asinkirithu, loFilegoni, loHemesi, loPhathirobha, loHemasi labafowethu abandawonye labo, 15 libingelele loFilologu, loJuliya, loNerusi lodadewabo, lo-Olimpasi kanye labo bonke abangcwele abalabo. 16 Bingelelanani ngokuqabuzana okungcwele. Wonke amabandla kaKhristu ayalibingelela.

17 Khathesi-ke ngiyalincenga bafowethu ukuthi libananzelele ababangela ukwehlukana labalenza likhubeke, abakwenzayo kuphikisana lalokho elakufundayo. Lingabi lobudlelwano labo+ 18 ngoba abantu abanjalo bayizigqili zezifiso* zabo hatshi ezeNkosi uKhristu. Bahuga abalibeleyo* ngokubancoma ngamanga langokubatshela izinto ezimnandi endlebeni. 19 Abantu bonke bayakubona ukuthi liyalalela futhi elikwenzayo kuyangithokozisa. Kodwa ngifuna libe ngabahlakaniphileyo ezintweni ezinhle, libe msulwa kokubi.+ 20 Sekuseduze ukuthi uNkulunkulu onika ukuthula achoboze uSathane+ ngaphansi kwenyawo zenu. Umusa omkhulu weNkosi yethu uJesu kawube lani.

21 UThimothi osebenza lami, lezihlobo zami+ uLukhiyu, loJasoni, loSosiphatha bayalibingelela.

22 Mina Thethiyu engibhale incwadi le ngiyalibingelela eNkosini.

23 Uyalibingelela uGayu+ engihlala emzini wakhe, lapho lonke ibandla elibuthana khona. U-Erastu umphathisikhwama* wedolobho lomfowabo uKhwathusi labo bayalibingelela. 24 *——

25 Izindaba ezinhle engizimemezelayo lokutshumayela ngoJesu Khristu kutshengisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu uzaliqinisa. Izindaba lezi ezinhle zimayelana lokwembulwa kwemfihlo engcwele+ ebilokhu ifihliwe kusukela kudaladala. 26 Kodwa khathesi isiveziwe njalo isisaziwa ezizweni zonke ngeMibhalo yesiphrofetho ukuze abantu bakholwe njalo bamlalele. Lokhu kuvumelana lomlayo ovela kuNkulunkulu waphakade. 27 UNkulunkulu onguye yedwa ohlakaniphileyo+ kakhazinyuliswe ngoJesu Khristu kuze kube nini lanini. Ameni.