EYOKUQALA KWABASEKHORINTE

1 Mina Phawuli engabizwa ukuthi ngibe ngumphostoli+ kaKhristu uJesu ngentando kaNkulunkulu ngiyalibhalela ngiloSosithene umfowethu. 2 Ngibhalela lina elisebandleni likaNkulunkulu eliseKhorinte,+ elangcweliswa laba munye loKhristu uJesu+ futhi elabizelwa ukuthi libe ngabangcwele, lani lonke elikuyo yonke indawo elibiza ibizo leNkosi yethu uJesu Khristu,+ oyiNkosi yethu sonke:

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

4 Ngihlala ngimbonga uNkulunkulu wami ngenxa yomusa wakhe omkhulu eliwuphiweyo ngoKhristu uJesu 5 ngoba uselenze lanotha kukho konke ngoKhristu, lenelisa ukukhuluma ilizwi futhi lathola ulwazi lonke.+ 6 Ubufakazi ngoKhristu+ sebulenze laqina 7 ukuze lingasweli loba yisiphi isipho lisalindele ngabomvu ukwembulwa kweNkosi yethu uJesu Khristu.+ 8 Uzaphinda aliqinise kuze kube sekucineni ukuze lingabi lecala ngosuku lweNkosi yethu uJesu Khristu.+ 9 Uthembekile uNkulunkulu+ owalibiza ukuthi libe ndawonye* leNdodana yakhe uJesu Khristu iNkosi yethu.

10 Ngiyalincenga-ke bafowethu ngebizo leNkosi yethu uJesu Khristu ukuthi lonke livumelane kwelikukhulumayo njalo kungabi lokwehlukana phakathi kwenu+ kodwa limanyane ngokupheleleyo, libe ngqondonye futhi licabange ngendlela efananayo.+ 11 Kulabanye abemuli kaKlowe abangitshele ngani bafowethu, bathi kulezingxabano phakathi kwenu. 12 Okwenza ngitsho njalo yikuthi omunye uyathi: “Mina ngingokaPhawuli,” omunye athi, “Mina ngingoka-Apholo,”+ omunye athi, “Mina ngingokaKhefasi,”* omunye athi, “Mina ngingokaKhristu.” 13 UKhristu wehlukene yini? UPhawuli wabethelwa esigodweni ngenxa yenu yini? Kumbe labhabhathizwa ebizweni likaPhawuli yini? 14 Ngiyambonga uNkulunkulu ngokuthi phakathi kwenu akulamuntu engambhabhathizayo ngaphandle kukaKhrispu+ loGayu,+ 15 ukuze kungabi lomuntu othi labhabhathizwa ebizweni lami. 16 Abanye engababhabhathizayo ngabahlala loStefana.+ Ngaphandle kwalaba angazi kumbe ukhona omunye engambhabhathizayo 17 ngoba uKhristu kangithumanga ukuthi ngibhabhathize. Wangithuma ukuthi ngitshumayele izindaba ezinhle+ kodwa ngingakwenzi ngamazwi okuhlakanipha ukuze isigodo sokuhlutshwa* sikaKhristu singabi yinto engelancedo.

18 Imfundiso yesigodo sokuhlutshwa* iyibuthutha kulabo ababhubhayo,+ kodwa kithi esisindiswayo ingamandla kaNkulunkulu+ 19 ngoba kubhaliwe ukuthi: “Ngizakwenza ukuhlakanipha kwezihlakaniphi kutshabalale, lokukhalipha kwabafundileyo ngizakulahla.”*+ 20 Ungaphi umuntu ohlakaniphileyo? Ungaphi umbhali?* Ungaphi umphikisi wakulo umumo wezinto?* Kanti uNkulunkulu kakwenzanga kwaba yibuthutha yini ukuhlakanipha komhlaba lo? 21 Ukuhlakanipha kukaNkulunkulu kukhanya ngokuthi lanxa umhlaba ungazange umazi+ ngokuhlakanipha kwawo,+ yena kwamthokozisa ukusebenzisa ubuthutha+ balokho okutshunyayelwayo ukuze asindise abakholwayo.

22 AmaJuda acela izibonakaliso,+ lamaGrikhi acela ukuhlakanipha. 23 Kodwa thina sitshumayela ngoKhristu owabethelwa esigodweni njalo lokhu kwenza amaJuda akhubeke futhi kuyibuthutha kwabezizweni.+ 24 Lanxa kunjalo, kulabo ababizwayo abangamaJuda labangamaGrikhi, uKhristu ungamandla kaNkulunkulu lokuhlakanipha kukaNkulunkulu+ 25 ngoba lokho okuyibuthutha okuvela kuNkulunkulu kuhlakaniphile kulabantu, lalokho okubuthakathaka okuvela kuNkulunkulu kulamandla kulabantu.+

26 Lani bafowethu liyazibonela ukuthi ekubizweni kwenu, ababanengi abahlakaniphileyo ngokubona kwabantu,+ ababanengi abalamandla futhi ababanengi abazalelwe esikhosini.*+ 27 Kodwa uNkulunkulu wakhetha abantu umhlaba obabona beyizithutha* ukuze ayangise abantu abahlakaniphileyo njalo wakhetha abantu umhlaba obabona bebuthakathaka* ukuze ayangise abantu abalamandla.+ 28 UNkulunkulu wakhetha lezinto zomhlaba ezingaqakathekanga lezinto ezikhangelelwa phansi kanye lezinto ezingancediyo ukuze achithe izinto ezincedayo.+ 29 Lokhu wakwenza ukuze kungabi lomuntu ozitshaya isifuba phambi kwakhe. 30 Kodwa ngenxa yakhe selimanyene loKhristu uJesu osebe yikuhlakanipha kukaNkulunkulu kithi, lokulunga+ lokungcweliswa+ kanye lokukhululwa ngenhlawulo+ 31 ukuze kube njengoba nje kubhaliwe ukuthi: “Ozigqajayo kazigqaje ngoJehova.”*+

2 Ngathi ngifika kini bafowethu ngimemezela imfihlo engcwele+ kaNkulunkulu, angifikanga ngobugabazi bokukhuluma+ langokuhlakanipha 2 ngoba ngathi ngilani ngakhetha ukungazi lutho ngaphandle kukaJesu Khristu lokubulawa kwakhe esigodweni.+ 3 Ngafika kini ngibuthakathaka, ngisesaba njalo ngiqhuqha kakhulu. 4 Angisebenzisanga amazwi ahugayo okuhlakanipha kwabantu ngesikhathi ngikhuluma futhi ngitshumayela. Kodwa amazwi ami aba yikubonakaliswa komoya ongcwele lamandla+ 5 ukuze libe lokholo olusekelwe emandleni kaNkulunkulu hatshi ekuhlakanipheni kwabantu.

6 Kwabalokholo oluqinileyo*+ sikhuluma ngokuhlakanipha kodwa ayisikho ukuhlakanipha komumo lo wezinto* kumbe okwababusi bomumo lo wezinto abazadlula.+ 7 Sikhuluma ngokuhlakanipha kukaNkulunkulu okusemfihlweni engcwele,+ ukuhlakanipha okufihliweyo, lokho uNkulunkulu akumisa kudala ngaphambi kwezikhathi* ukuze thina sithole inkazimulo. 8 Lokhu yikho ukuhlakanipha bonke ababusi bomumo lo wezinto* abangazange bakwazi+ ngoba ngabe babekwazi babengeke bayibulale* iNkosi elenkazimulo. 9 Kodwa kunjengoba nje kubhaliwe ukuthi: “Ilihlo alibonanga lendlebe ayizwanga njalo kakho osezicabangile enhliziyweni yakhe izinto uNkulunkulu asezilungisele abamthandayo.”+ 10 UNkulunkulu uziveze kithi lezozinto+ esebenzisa umoya wakhe+ ngoba umoya uhlolisisa zonke izinto, ngitsho lezinto ezijulileyo zikaNkulunkulu.+

11 Ngubani okwazi okungaphakathi komuntu ngaphandle kwenhliziyo yakhe?* Ngakho kakho okwazi izinto zikaNkulunkulu ngaphandle komoya kaNkulunkulu. 12 Samukele umoya ovela kuNkulunkulu+ hatshi umoya womhlaba ukuze sizazi izinto esiziphiwe nguNkulunkulu ngomusa wakhe. 13 Sikhuluma izinto lezi ngamazwi esiwafundiswe ngumoya ongcwele+ hatshi ngamazwi esiwafundiswe yikuhlakanipha kwabantu,+ njengoba sichasisa izinto eziphathelane loNkulunkulu ngamazwi esiwaphiwe ngumoya ongcwele.

14 Kodwa umuntu okhokhelwa yizifiso zakhe kazamukeli izinto zomoya kaNkulunkulu ngoba ziyibuthutha kuye njalo ngeke azazi ngoba zihlolwa ngomoya kaNkulunkulu. 15 Loba kunjalo umuntu okhokhelwa ngumoya kaNkulunkulu uhlola izinto zonke+ kodwa yena kahlolwa ngumuntu 16 ngoba “ngubani oseyazi ingqondo kaJehova* okokuthi usengameluleka?”+ Kodwa thina silayo ingqondo kaKhristu.+

3 Yikho bafowethu kangikhulumanga lani angathi ngikhuluma labantu abakhokhelwa ngumoya kaNkulunkulu+ kodwa ngakhuluma lani njengabantu abakhokhelwa yizifiso zenyama, abazinsane+ kuKhristu. 2 Ngalipha uchago hatshi ukudla okuqinileyo ngoba lalingakaqini kangako. Ngitsho lakhathesi lilokhu lingakaqini ngokweneleyo+ 3 ngoba lisakhokhelwa yizifiso zenyama.+ Njengoba phakathi kwenu kulomhawu lokuxabana, alikhokhelwa yizifiso zenyama+ yini futhi alihambi njengabantu balumhlaba na? 4 Nxa omunye esithi, “Mina ngingokaPhawuli,” omunye esithi, “Mina ngingoka-Apholo,”+ liyabe lingenzi njengabantu bomhlaba yini?

5 U-Apholo uyini? UPhawuli yena uyini? Sizinceku+ nje ezenza umsebenzi esawuphiwa yiNkosi futhi ezalinceda ukuthi libe ngamakholwa. 6 Mina ngahlanyela,+ u-Apholo wathelela,+ uNkulunkulu yena waqhubeka ekhulisa. 7 Yikho ohlanyelayo lalowo othelelayo abasilutho, kodwa okumele adunyiswe nguNkulunkulu okhulisayo.+ 8 Ohlanyelayo lalowo othelelayo bamunye,* kodwa umuntu ngamunye uzathola umvuzo ohambelana lomsebenzi awenzileyo.+ 9 Thina sisebenza loNkulunkulu. Lina liyinsimu kaNkulunkulu elinywayo, isakhiwo sikaNkulunkulu.+

10 UNkulunkulu wangenzela umusa omkhulu, yikho ngabeka isisekelo+ njengomakhi oyingcitshi* kodwa omunye usesakha phezu kwaso. Lanxa kunjalo, umuntu ngamunye kaqhubeke enanzelela indlela akha ngayo phezu kwalesosisekelo. 11 Kakho ongabeka esinye isisekelo ngaphandle kwaleso esabekwayo, uJesu Khristu.+ 12 Umuntu angakhela kulesosisekelo ngegolide, ngesiliva, ngamatshe aligugu, ngezigodo, ngotshani obomileyo loba ngamahlanga, 13 kodwa umsebenzi womuntu ngamunye uzavezwa ukuthi unjani sibili. Usuku lokulingwa luzawuveza egcekeni ngoba uzavezwa ngomlilo+ futhi umlilo lo uzatshengisa ukuthi umsebenzi wokwakha owenziwe ngumuntu ngamunye unjani. 14 Nxa lokho umuntu akwakhele esisekelweni leso kungasala kukhona, uzathola umvuzo. 15 Nxa akwakhileyo kungatsha uzalahlekelwa kodwa yena asinde. Lanxa esindile kuzaba angathi udlule phakathi komlilo.

16 Alikwazi yini ukuthi lina lilithempeli likaNkulunkulu+ lokuthi umoya kaNkulunkulu uhlala phakathi kwenu?+ 17 Nxa umuntu angatshabalalisa ithempeli likaNkulunkulu, uNkulunkulu uzamtshabalalisa ngoba ithempeli likaNkulunkulu lingcwele njalo lina lilithempeli lelo.+

18 Lingaziyengi. Nxa ekhona phakathi kwenu ocabanga ukuthi uhlakaniphile kulo umumo wezinto,* kabe yisithutha ukuze ahlakaniphe. 19 Ukuhlakanipha komhlaba lo kuyibuthutha kuNkulunkulu ngoba kubhaliwe ukuthi: “Wenza abahlakaniphileyo babanjwe yimijibila yabo.”+ 20 Kubhaliwe lokuthi: “UJehova* uyakwazi ukuthi imicabango yabahlakaniphileyo kayincedi.”+ 21 Ngakho akungabi lomuntu ozigqaja ngomunye umuntu ngoba zonke izinto ngezenu. 22 Kungelani lokuthi nguPhawuli kumbe ngu-Apholo kumbe nguKhefasi,*+ loba ngumhlaba loba yikuphila loba yikufa, kumbe yizinto ezikhona kumbe ngezizayo, zonke izinto ngezenu 23 njalo lina lingabakaKhristu,+ uKhristu yena ngokaNkulunkulu.

4 Sifuna abantu babone ukuthi sizinceku zikaKhristu* lokuthi singabaphathi bemfihlo kaNkulunkulu engcwele.+ 2 Ngakho kukhangelelwe ukuthi abaphathi bathembeke. 3 Kimi akuqakathekanga ukuthi yini elingihlolayo kumbe ngumthethwandaba wabantu. Lami nginje angizihloli 4 ngoba ngicabanga ukuthi akulalutho olubi engilwenzileyo. Kodwa lokho akutsho ukuthi ngilungile, uJehova* nguye ongihlolayo.+ 5 Ngakho lingahluleli lutho+ isikhathi esifaneleyo singakafiki kodwa melelani iNkosi ize ifike. Izaletha ekukhanyeni izinto zobumnyama eziyimfihlo, yenze ukuthi izinhloso zenhliziyo zaziwe. Ngemva kwalokho umuntu ngamunye uzakwemukela udumo lwakhe luvela kuNkulunkulu.+

6 Bafowethu, ngikhulume izinto lezi ngisebenzisa ibizo lami lelika-Apholo+ njengesibonelo ngisenzela lina ukuthi lifunde umthetho lo othi: “Lingeqeli ngale kwalokho okubhaliweyo” ukuze lingazikhukhumezi+ libone omunye umuntu engcono kulomunye. 7 Pho kuyini okwenza uzibone ungcono kulomunye? Kuyini olakho ongazange ukuphiwe?+ Manje nxa wakuphiwa, uzikhukhumezelani angathi kawuzange ukuphiwe?

8 Selisuthisekile yini? Selinothile yini? Seliqalisile yini ukuba ngamakhosi thina singekho?+ Ngiyafisa ukuthi ngabe seliqalisile ukuba ngamakhosi ukuze lathi sibe ngamakhosi sibuse lani.+ 9 Phela kimi kukhanya angathi uNkulunkulu wenze thina abaphostoli saba ngabokucina enkundleni njengoba sigwetshelwe ukufa+ ngoba sesibe ngababukiswayo enkundleni yemidlalo ukuze sibonwe ngumhlaba wonke+ lezingilosi kanye labantu. 10 Siyizithutha+ ngenxa kaKhristu kodwa lina lihlakaniphile kuKhristu. Sibuthakathaka kodwa lina liqinile, liyahlonitshwa kodwa thina siyadelelwa. 11 Kuze kube khathesi siqhubeka silamba,+ sisoma,+ sigqoka amanikiniki,* sitshaywa,+ singelandawo yokuhlala 12 njalo sisebenza nzima ngezandla zethu.+ Nxa sithethiswa siyabusisa,+ nxa sihlukuluzwa siyaqinisela, sibekezele.+ 13 Nxa sinyundelwa siphendula kuhle.*+ Sesibe yizibi zomhlaba,* saba yimfucuza yazo zonke izinto kuze kube khathesi.

14 Izinto lezi angizibhalelanga ukuthi ngiliyangise kodwa ngizibhalele ukuthi ngilicebise njengabantwabami engibathandayo. 15 Lanxa lingaba labantu abalifundisayo kuKhristu abangu-10 000, kalilabobaba abanengi ngoba kuKhristu uJesu sengibe nguyihlo ngenxa yezindaba ezinhle.+ 16 Ngakho ngiyalincenga ukuthi lingilingisele.+ 17 Yikho ngithuma uThimothi kini ngoba ungumntanami engimthandayo othembekileyo eNkosini. Uzalikhumbuza indlela engizenza ngayo izinto* enkonzweni kaKhristu uJesu+ njengoba nje ngifundisa emabandleni wonke kuzo zonke indawo.

18 Abanye bayazikhukhumeza bebona angathi angisoze ngifike kini. 19 Kodwa nxa uJehova* ethanda ngizafika kini masinyane. Ngifuna ukubabona abazikhukhumezayo, hatshi ukuthi ngikwazi izinto abazikhulumayo kodwa ngifuna ukubona ukuthi bakhokhelwa ngamandla kaNkulunkulu yini kumbe hatshi. 20 UMbuso kaNkulunkulu kawusindaba yokukhuluma kodwa ngeyamandla. 21 Lina likhethani? Likhetha ukuthi ngifike kini lomqwayi+ kumbe ngothando langomoya omnene?

5 Kubikwa ukuthi phakathi kwenu kulabantu abafebayo.*+ Ukuziphatha okubi* okunjalo akukho ngitsho lasebantwini bezinye izizwe,* ukuthi indoda ithathe umkayise.+ 2 Liyazigqaja ngakho yini? Kanti akumelanga lizwe ubuhlungu+ yini ukuze umuntu okwenzileyo lokho asuswe phakathi kwenu?+ 3 Lanxa ngingekho khonangapho, umoya wami ulani njalo umuntu okwenzileyo lokho kudala ngimahlulele angathi ngilani khonangapho. 4 Nxa libuthene ndawonye ngebizo leNkosi yethu uJesu futhi lisazi ukuthi ngilani engqondweni* lokuthi amandla eNkosi yethu uJesu alani, 5 umuntu lowo kumele limnikele kuSathane,+ inyama ibhubhe ukuze umoya usindiswe ngosuku lweNkosi.+

6 Akukuhle ukuthi lizikhukhumeze. Alikwazi yini ukuthi imvubelo encane* iyayibilisa* yonke inhlama?+ 7 Susani imvubelo endala* ukuze libe yinhlama entsha ngoba liyinhlama engabiliswanga. Phela uKhristu, imvana yethu yePhasika+ usebe ngumhlatshelo.+ 8 Ngakho umkhosi lo asiwugcineni+ ngesinkwa esingelamvubelo* sobuqotho leqiniso hatshi ngemvubelo endala kumbe ngemvubelo yobubi lokuxhwala.

9 Encwadini engalibhalela yona ngilitshela ukuthi liyekele ukuba lobudlelwano* labantu abafebayo,* 10 ayisikho ukuthi ngangisitsho ukuthi lehlukane ngokupheleleyo labantu bomhlaba lo abafebayo*+ kumbe abayizihwaba kumbe abayizigebenga loba abakhonza izithombe. Phela lokho bekuzakutsho ukuthi lisuke emhlabeni.+ 11 Kodwa khathesi ngilibhalela ngilitshela ukuthi liyekele ukuba lobudlelwano*+ lomuntu obizwa ngokuthi ngumzalwane yena efeba,* kumbe eyisihwaba+ loba ekhonza izithombe kumbe ethethisa abanye* loba eyisidakwa+ kumbe eliqili,+ lingaqali ukudla lomuntu onjalo. 12 Kambe mina ngahlulela abantu bangaphandle yini? Kanti lina kalahluleli abaphakathi yini, 13 uNkulunkulu yena esahlulela abangaphandle?+ “Susani umuntu owenza okubi phakathi kwenu.”+

6 Ukhona yini phakathi kwenu othi engaxabana lomunye+ aye emthethwandaba phambi kwabantu abangalunganga kulokuthi aye phambi kwabangcwele? 2 Kalikwazi yini ukuthi abangcwele bazakwahlulela umhlaba?+ Manje nxa lizakwahlulela umhlaba, kalenelisi yini ukwahlulela izindaba lezi ezincane kangaka? 3 Kalikwazi yini ukuthi sizakwahlulela izingilosi?+ Pho kungasehlula njani ukwahlulela izindaba zokuphila kwakhathesi? 4 Nxa lilezindaba ezinje okufanele zahlulelwe,+ kambe selingakhetha ukwahlulelwa ngabantu abeyiswa libandla? 5 Ngitsho njalo ukuze libe lenhloni. Kanti kakho loyedwa phakathi kwenu ohlakaniphileyo ongenelisa ukwahlulela abafowabo? 6 Phela umzalwane uhambisa omunye umzalwane emthethwandaba, khonapho emusa phambi kwabantu abangakholwayo!

7 Nxa limangalelana kutsho ukuthi selinqotshiwe. Akungcono yini ukuvuma ukoniwa?+ Akungcono yini ukuvuma ukuqilwa? 8 Kodwa lina liyona futhi liqile abanye bona bengabafowenu!

9 Kalikwazi yini ukuthi abantu abangalunganga abasoze balithole ilifa loMbuso kaNkulunkulu?+ Lingadukiswa.* Abafebayo,*+ labakhonza izithombe,+ labatshadileyo abalala labantu abangasibomkabo,+ lamadoda avuma ukuya emacansini lamanye amadoda,+ lamadoda ayizitabane,*+ 10 lamasela, labayizihwaba,+ lezidakwa,+ labathethisayo* kanye labangamaqili abasoze balithole ilifa loMbuso kaNkulunkulu.+ 11 Kodwa abanye benu babenjalo. Lanxa kunjalo, selageziswa lahlanzeka+ futhi selangcweliswa+ kwathiwa lilungile+ ngebizo leNkosi uJesu Khristu langomoya kaNkulunkulu wethu.

12 Kimi zonke izinto zisemthethweni* kodwa ayisizo zonke ezincedayo.+ Kimi zonke izinto zisemthethweni kodwa angisoze ngivume ukuthi kube lento engibusayo. 13 Ukudla ngokwesisu lesisu ngesokudla kodwa uNkulunkulu uzakuqeda kokubili.+ Umzimba kayisiwo wokufeba* kodwa ngoweNkosi+ futhi iNkosi ngeyomzimba. 14 Loba kunjalo, uNkulunkulu wayivusa ekufeni iNkosi+ njalo lathi uzasivusa ekufeni+ ngamandla akhe.+

15 Kalikwazi yini ukuthi imizimba yenu ingamalunga omzimba kaKhristu?+ Pho kufanele ngiwathathe yini amalunga omzimba kaKhristu ngiwahlanganise lesifebe? Ngitsho sibili! 16 Kalikwazi yini ukuthi loba ngubani ozihlanganisa lesifebe uba mzimba munye laso? Phela uNkulunkulu uthi, “bobabili bazakuba nyamanye.”+ 17 Kodwa loba ngubani omanyene leNkosi munye layo emoyeni.+ 18 Balekelani ubufebe!*+ Loba yisiphi esinye isono umuntu asenzayo asilani lomzimba wakhe kodwa loba ngubani oqhubeka efeba wona umzimba wakhe.+ 19 Kalikwazi yini ukuthi umzimba wenu ulithempeli+ elihlala umoya ongcwele ophakathi kwenu eliwuphiwe nguNkulunkulu?+ Kanti njalo kalisibo benu+ 20 ngoba lathengwa ngentengo.+ Ngakho khazimulisani uNkulunkulu+ ngemizimba yenu.+

7 Mayelana lezinto elazibhalayo kungcono ukuthi indoda ingamthinti* owesifazana 2 kodwa njengoba ubufebe* sebubhahe kangaka, indoda ngayinye kayibe lenkosikazi yayo,+ lowesifazana ngamunye abe lendoda yakhe.+ 3 Indoda kumele inike umkayo imfanelo zakhe, lenkosikazi kumele yenze njalo endodeni yayo.+ 4 Inkosikazi ayilamandla phezu komzimba wayo kodwa umkayo nguye olawo, lendoda ayilamandla phezu komzimba wayo kodwa umkayo nguye olawo. 5 Lingancitshani ngaphandle nxa livumelene ukuthi lime okwesikhathi esithile* ukuze libe lesikhathi sokuzinikela emthandazweni, beseliphinda lihlangana ukuze uSathane angabi elokhu elilinga ngenxa yokwehluleka kwenu ukuzibamba. 6 Engikutshoyo yikuthi liyavunyelwa ukutshada kodwa angilibekeli umlayo wokuthi lenze njalo. 7 Lanxa kunjalo, ngifisa ukuthi ngabe wonke umuntu unjengami. Kodwa lowo lalowo ulesiphiwo sakhe+ esivela kuNkulunkulu, omunye ulalesi, omunye ulalesiya.

8 Kulabo abangatshadanga labangabafelokazi ngithi kungcono ukuthi bahlale benjengami.+ 9 Kodwa nxa besehluleka ukuzibamba kabatshade ngoba kungcono ukutshada kulokutshiswa yimizwa.+

10 Abatshadileyo ngibapha imilayo kodwa kayiveli kimi ivela eNkosini: Inkosikazi akufanelanga yehlukane lomkayo.+ 11 Kodwa nxa inkosikazi ingehlukana lomkayo, kayihlale ingatshadanga kumbe ibuyelelane laye. Indoda layo akufanelanga itshiye umkayo.+

12 Loba kunjalo nanku engikutshoyo kwabanye futhi lokhu kutshiwo yimi hatshi yiNkosi:+ Nxa umzalwane elenkosikazi engakholwayo futhi ivuma ukuhlala laye kangayitshiyi 13 njalo nxa owesifazana elendoda engakholwayo futhi ivuma ukuhlala laye kangayitshiyi. 14 Phela indoda engakholwayo iba ngcwele ngenxa yomkayo, lenkosikazi engakholwayo iba ngcwele ngenxa yomkayo okholwayo. Aluba bekunganjalo abantwabenu bebezabe bengahlanzekanga kodwa khathesi bangcwele. 15 Nxa ongakholwayo ekhetha ukuhamba,* myekeleni ahambe. Nxa sekunjalo umfowethu loba udadewethu uyabe engabotshwanga ukuthi aqhubeke ehlala laye. UNkulunkulu walibizela ukuthi lihlale ngokuthula.+ 16 Mfazi, uyakwazi yini ukuthi ungamsindisa umkakho?+ Lawe ndoda, uyakwazi yini ukuthi ungayisindisa inkosikazi yakho?

17 Lanxa kunjalo uJehova* unike ngamunye isabelo sakhe, ngakho ngamunye kaqhubeke ehamba ngendlela uNkulunkulu ambize ekuyo.+ Umlayo lo ngiwunika amabandla wonke. 18 Ukhona yini owabizwa esesokile?+ Kahlale enjalo esokile. Ukhona yini owabizwa engasokanga? Kangasoki.+ 19 Ukusoka akutsho lutho, lokungasoki akutsho lutho,+ okuqakathekileyo yikulalela imithetho kaNkulunkulu.+ 20 Ngamunye kahlale ekulesosimo abizwe ekuso.+ 21 Wabizwa uyisigqili yini? Ungazikhathazi ngalokho+ kodwa nxa usenelisa ukukhululeka, ungalidlalisi lelothuba. 22 Loba ngubani obizwe eNkosini eyisigqili, ungumuntu weNkosi okhululiweyo,+ lalowo obizwe ekhululekile uyisigqili sikaKhristu. 23 Lathengwa ngentengo,+ yekelani ukuba yizigqili zabantu. 24 Bafowethu, ngamunye kaqhubeke ephambi kukaNkulunkulu ekulesosimo abizwe ekuso.

25 Angilamlayo ovela eNkosini engingawutshela abangakaze batshade,* kodwa ngikhuluma engikucabangayo+ njengoba iNkosi yangenzela isihawu ukuze ngibe ngothembekileyo. 26 Yikho ngibona kungcono ukuthi umuntu ahlale enjalo ngenxa yobunzima obukhona khathesi. 27 Wena ubotshelwe emfazini yini? Yekela ukuzama ukuphunyuka.+ Awulamfazi yini? Yekela ukudinga umfazi. 28 Kodwa uyabe ungenzanga sono lanxa ungatshada. Lomuntu ongatshadanga* uyabe engenzanga sono nxa engatshada. Loba kunjalo, abatshadayo bazakuba lenhlupho.* Kodwa mina ngizama ukulivikela.

29 Phezu kwalokho bafowethu, ngilitshela ukuthi isikhathi esesisele sincane.+ Kusukela khathesi abalabafazi kababe njengabangelabo, 30 abakhalayo bona babe njengabangakhaliyo, labathokozayo babe njengabangathokoziyo, labathengayo babe njengabangelalutho, 31 labasebenzisa umhlaba babe njengabangawusebenzisi ngokugcweleyo ngoba umumo womhlaba lo uyatshintsha. 32 Angifuni likhathazeke ngitsho lakancane. Indoda engatshadanga ikhathazeka ngezinto zeNkosi, ukuthi ingemukelwa njani yiNkosi. 33 Kodwa indoda etshadileyo ikhathazeka ngezinto zomhlaba+ ukuthi ingemukelwa njani ngumkayo 34 njalo yehlukene phakathi. Owesifazana ongatshadanga kumbe oyintombi egcweleyo ukhathazeka ngezinto zeNkosi+ ukuze abe ngcwele emzimbeni lasemoyeni wakhe. Kodwa owesifazana otshadileyo ukhathazeka ngezinto zomhlaba ukuthi angemukelwa njani yindoda yakhe. 35 Lanxa kunjalo angizami ukulicindezela* kodwa engilitshela khona kuzalinceda. Ngifuna lenze okufaneleyo futhi lihlale lizinikele eNkosini kungelanto eliphambanisayo.

36 Kodwa loba ngubani ocabanga ukuthi ukuhlala engatshadanga kwenza aziphathe ngendlela engafanelanga futhi sekwedlule isikhathi lapho imizwa yakhe yobutsha elamandla khona, nanku okumele akwenze: Katshade+ nxa lokho kuyikho akufunayo, uyabe engonanga. 37 Loba kunjalo, nxa umuntu ezimisele enhliziyweni yakhe futhi esizwa engelandaba lokutshada, elamandla okuzibamba njalo esekhethile enhliziyweni yakhe ukuthi ahlale engatshadanga,* uyabe esenza kuhle.+ 38 Ngakho otshadayo* wenza kuhle kodwa ohlala engatshadanga wenza kuhle kakhulu.+

39 Inkosikazi ibotshelwe kumkayo ngesikhathi esaphila.+ Kodwa nxa umkayo angafa ikhululekile ukutshada lomuntu emfunayo, kuphela nxa eseNkosini.+ 40 Lanxa kunjalo, mina ngicabanga ukuthi izathokoza kakhulu nxa ingazihlalela ingatshadanga njalo ngiyaqiniseka ukuthi lami ngilomoya kaNkulunkulu.

8 Nanku engilibhalela khona ngokudla okuhlatshelwe izithombe:+ Siyakwazi ukuthi sonke silolwazi.+ Ulwazi luyakhukhumeza kodwa uthando luyakha.+ 2 Nxa umuntu ecabanga ukuthi into ethile uyayazi, kakayazi ngendlela okufanele ayazi ngayo. 3 Kodwa nxa umuntu emthanda uNkulunkulu, yena waziwa nguye.

4 Khathesi asikhulumeni ngokudla ukudla okuhlatshelwe izithombe. Siyakwazi ukuthi isithombe kasilutho+ emhlabeni lokuthi kuloNkulunkulu oyedwa kakho omunye.+ 5 Lanxa bekhona ababizwa ngokuthi ngonkulunkulu, kungaba sezulwini kumbe emhlabeni,+ njengoba kuvele “kulabonkulunkulu” abanengi “lamakhosi” amanengi, 6 kithi kuloNkulunkulu oyedwa+ uBaba,+ lowo okwavela kuye zonke izinto njalo esikhona ngenxa yakhe+ futhi kuleNkosi eyodwa, uJesu Khristu, lowo zonke izinto ezikhona ngaye+ lathi esikhona ngaye.

7 Kodwa kayisibo bonke abakwaziyo lokhu.+ Abanye nxa besidla ukudla lokho, kibo kuyabe kuyikudla okuhlatshelwe izithombe+ ngoba bake bazikhonza izithombe njalo kungcolisa imizwangedwa yabo ebuthakathaka.+ 8 Loba kunjalo, ukudla akusoze kusisondeze kuNkulunkulu.+ Akulanto esilahlekelayo nxa singadli futhi asizuzi lutho nxa singadla.+ 9 Kodwa nanzelelani lingacini selikhuba abalemizwangedwa ebuthakathaka+ ngelungelo lenu lokuzikhethela. 10 Nxa umuntu angabona wena ololwazi usidla ethempelini lokukhonzela izithombe, umzwangedwa wakhe obuthakathaka ngeke yini umenze abe lesibindi aze acine esesidla ukudla okuhlatshelwe izithombe? 11 Ngakho ulwazi lwakho luyabe selulimaza lowo obuthakathaka, yena engumfowenu owafelwa nguKhristu.+ 12 Nxa lisonela abafowenu ngokwenza njalo futhi lilimaza imizwangedwa yabo ebuthakathaka,+ lonela uKhristu. 13 Yikho kangisoze ngiphinde ngiyidle inyama loba sekutheni nxa engikudlayo kusenza umfowethu akhubeke, ukuze ngingamkhubi umfowethu.+

9 Angikhululekanga yini? Angisimphostoli yini? Angimbonanga yini uJesu iNkosi yethu?+ Lina kalisizithelo zomsebenzi wami eNkosini yini? 2 Lanxa kwabanye ngingasimphostoli, kini ngingumphostoli sibili! Lina liluphawu oluqinisa ubuphostoli bami emsebenzini weNkosi.

3 Kwabangihlolayo ngiyazivikela ngithi: 4 Asilalo yini ilungelo lokudla lokunatha? 5 Asilalo yini ilungelo lokuhamba lamakhosikazi akholwayo+ njengabanye abaphostoli labafowabo beNkosi+ kanye loKhefasi?*+ 6 Yimi loBhanabha+ kuphela yini esingavunyelwayo ukuyekela ukwenza umsebenzi wokuziphilisa? 7 Kambe likhona isotsha elizibhadalela izindleko zalo lona lisemsebenzini? Ngubani ohlanyela izihlahla zamagilebisi kodwa angadli izithelo zazo?+ Ngubani owelusa umhlambi enganathi uchago lwalezozifuyo?

8 Nxa ngisitsho njalo ngikhuluma imibono yabantu yini? UMthetho wona awuzitsho yini izinto lezi? 9 Phela eMthethweni kaMosi kubhaliwe ukuthi: “Ungayifaki isayeke inkunzi nxa ibhula amabele.”+ UNkulunkulu ukhathazeke ngezinkunzi yini? 10 Lokhu kakutshongo ngenxa yethu yini? Kwabhalelwa thina sibili ngoba umuntu olimayo lalowo obhulayo kufanele basebenze belethemba lokuthi labo bazanikwa amabele.

11 Nxa sihlanyele kini izinto ezivela kuNkulunkulu, akuqondanga yini ukuthi sivune kini izinto zokuziphilisa?+ 12 Nxa abanye belelungelo lokuncediswa yini, kutsho ukuthi thina silelungelo elikhulu kakhulu. Lanxa kunjalo, asizange silisebenzise ilungelo leli+ kodwa siyaqinisela kuzo zonke izinto ukuze singenzi loba yini engaphambanisa izindaba ezinhle ezimayelana loKhristu.+ 13 Alikwazi yini ukuthi abantu abenza imisebenzi engcwele bathola ukudla kwabo ethempelini lokuthi abasebenza e-alithareni zikhathi zonke babelwa izinto ze-alithare?+ 14 Yikho leNkosi yathi abamemezela izindaba ezinhle baphile ngezindaba ezinhle.+

15 Kodwa angizange ngisebenzise lelilodwa lamalungelo la.+ Izinto lezi angizibhalelanga ukuthi lokhu ngikwenzelwe ngoba kungangcono ngife kulokuthi ngivume ukuthi umuntu angithathele isizatho sami sokuzigqaja!+ 16 Angilasizatho sokuzikhukhumeza nxa ngitshumayela izindaba ezinhle ngoba kufanele ngikwenze lokho. Maye kimi nxa ngingazitshumayeli izindaba ezinhle!+ 17 Nxa lokhu ngikwenza ngokuthanda kwami ngilawo umvuzo, kodwa lanxa ngikwenza ngingafuni, ngiyabe ngilokhu ngilawo umsebenzi engiwunikiweyo.+ 18 Manje umvuzo wami ngowani? Ngowokuthi nxa ngitshumayela izindaba ezinhle ngizitshumayele kungelambadalo ukuze ngingalisebenzisi kubi ilungelo lami engilithola ngokutshumayela izindaba ezinhle.

19 Lanxa ngikhululekile kubo bonke abantu, sengizenze isigqili sabo bonke ukuze ngizuze bonke engingabathola. 20 KumaJuda ngaba njengomJuda ukuze ngizuze amaJuda.+ Kwabangaphansi komthetho ngaba njengongaphansi komthetho ukuze ngizuze abangaphansi komthetho, lanxa mina ngingekho ngaphansi komthetho.+ 21 Kwabangelamthetho ngaba njengongelamthetho ukuze ngizuze abangelamthetho, lanxa mina ngilandela umthetho kaNkulunkulu futhi ngingaphansi komthetho kaKhristu.+ 22 Kwababuthakathaka ngaba buthakathaka ukuze ngizuze ababuthakathaka.+ Sengibe yizinto zonke kuyo yonke imihlobo yabantu futhi ngenza konke okusemandleni ami ukuze ngisindise abanye. 23 Ngenza zonke izinto ngenxa yezindaba ezinhle ukuze ngizitshumayele kwabanye.+

24 Alikwazi yini ukuthi bonke abasemncintiswaneni bayagijima kodwa ngoyedwa kuphela othola umvuzo? Gijimani ngendlela ezakwenza liwuthole umvuzo.+ 25 Bonke abasemncintiswaneni bayazibamba kuzo zonke izinto. Bona bakwenzela ukuthola umqhele otshabalalayo+ kodwa thina sikwenzela ukuthola ongatshabalaliyo.+ 26 Ngakho-ke angigijimi njengomuntu ongahlosanga lutho,+ lendlela engiphosa ngayo inqindi ngeyokuthi ngingatshayi umoya. 27 Kodwa ngiyawutshaya kakhulu* umzimba wami+ ngiwenze ube yisigqili ukuze ngingathi sengitshumayeze abanye, ngicine ngingasemukelwa.

10 Bafowethu, ngifuna likwazi ukuthi bonke okhokho bethu babengaphansi kweyezi+ lokuthi bonke badabula phakathi kolwandle+ 2 njalo bonke babhabhathizelwa kuMosi bengaphansi kweyezi ngesikhathi bedabula elwandle. 3 Bonke badla ukudla okufananayo okuvela kuNkulunkulu+ 4 futhi bonke banatha okufananayo okuvela kuNkulunkulu+ ngoba babejayele ukunatha edwaleni elivela kuNkulunkulu elalibalandela. Lelodwala kwakunguKhristu.+ 5 Lanxa kunjalo abanengi babo abazange bamthokozise uNkulunkulu, yikho babulawa enkangala.+

6 Izinto lezi zaba yisibonelo kithi ukuze singafisi izinto eziyingozi njengalokho bona abakwenzayo.+ 7 Lingakhonzi izithombe njengalokho abanye babo abakwenzayo, njengoba nje kubhaliwe ukuthi: “Abantu bahlala phansi badla banatha, basebesukuma bazikholisela.”+ 8 Kasingafebi* njengabanye babo abafebayo* kwacina kufe abangu-23 000 ngelanga elilodwa.+ 9 Kasingamlingi uJehova*+ njengabanye babo abamlingayo bacina belunywe zinyoka bafa.+ 10 Lingakhononi njengabanye babo abakhononayo+ bacina bebulewe ngumbhubhisi.+ 11 Izinto lezi zenzakala kubo ukuze zibe yisibonelo kithi futhi zabhalelwa ukuthi zibe yisixwayiso kithi+ thina esesifikelwe yikuphela komumo wezinto.

12 Ngakho lowo ocabanga ukuthi umile kananzelele angawi.+ 13 Akulasilingo esilehleleyo ngaphandle kwalezo ezijayelekileyo ebantwini.+ Lanxa kunjalo, uNkulunkulu uthembekile futhi kasoze avume ukuthi lilingwe ngalokho elingeke lenelise ukukubekezelela.+ Kodwa nxa selilingwa uzakwenza ukuthi kube lendlela yokuphunyuka ukuze lenelise ukuqinisela.+

14 Bathandekayo balekelani ukukhonza izithombe.+ 15 Ngikhuluma njengomuntu okhuluma labantu abaqedisisayo, yikho yahlulelani lina lokho engikukhulumayo. 16 Inkomitsho yesibusiso thina esiyibusisayo kayitsho ukuhlanganyela egazini likaKhristu yini?+ Isinkwa esisihlephunayo kasitsho ukuhlanganyela emzimbeni kaKhristu yini?+ 17 Lanxa thina sibanengi, singumzimba owodwa+ ngenxa yokuthi kulesinkwa esisodwa futhi sonke sidla lesosinkwa esisodwa.

18 Cabangani ngama-Israyeli emvelo: Ama-Israyeli adlayo imihlatshelo ayabe engahlanganyeli e-alithareni yini?+ 19 Lapha ngitshoni? Ngitsho ukuthi okuhlatshelwe isithombe kuqakathekile yini kumbe isithombe yiso esiqakathekileyo? 20 Hatshi, engikutshoyo yikuthi abezinye izizwe banikela imihlatshelo yabo emadimonini hatshi kuNkulunkulu+ futhi angifuni ukuthi lina lihlanganyele lamadimoni.+ 21 Ngeke linathe inkomitsho kaJehova* lenkomitsho yamadimoni. Ngeke lidle “etafuleni kaJehova”*+ lasetafuleni yamadimoni. 22 ‘Kanti sifuna ukwenza uJehova* abe lobukhwele yini’?+ Kambe silamandla kulaye?

23 Izinto zonke zisemthethweni* kodwa kayisizo zonke ezincedayo. Izinto zonke zisemthethweni kodwa kayisizo zonke ezakhayo.+ 24 Umuntu ngamunye kangazifuneli okunceda yena kodwa kaqhubeke esenza okunceda abanye.+

25 Dlanini loba yiphi inyama ethengiswa emakethe njalo lingabuzi ngenxa yemizwangedwa yenu, 26 ngoba “umhlaba lakho konke okukuwo ngokukaJehova.”*+ 27 Nxa ongakholwayo engalinxusa futhi lani lifuna ukuhamba, dlanini loba yini ebekwe phambi kwenu, lingabuzi ngenxa yemizwangedwa yenu. 28 Kodwa nxa umuntu angathi kini, “Lokhu kungumhlatshelo onikeliweyo,” lingadli ngenxa yalowo olitshelileyo langenxa yomzwangedwa.+ 29 Kangitsho umzwangedwa wakho kodwa ngitsho owalowomuntu. Kungani kumele inkululeko yami yahlulelwe ngumzwangedwa womunye umuntu?+ 30 Nxa ngisidla njalo ngibonga, kungani kumele kukhulunywe kubi ngami ngenxa yalokho engibonga uNkulunkulu ngakho?+

31 Ngakho nxa lisidla kumbe linatha kumbe lisenza loba yini, konke elikwenzayo kwenzeleni inkazimulo kaNkulunkulu.+ 32 Nanzelelani ukuthi kalikhubi amaJuda lamaGrikhi kanye lebandla likaNkulunkulu,+ 33 njengoba nje lami ngizama ukuthokozisa bonke abantu ezintweni zonke, ngingazifuneli okunceda mina+ kodwa okunceda abanengi ukuze basindiswe.+

11 Ngilingiselani njengoba lami ngilingisela uKhristu.+

2 Ngiyalincoma ngoba liyangikhumbula ezintweni zonke futhi lilokhu libambelele emasikweni engawadlulisela kini. 3 Kodwa ngifuna likwazi ukuthi inhloko yamadoda wonke nguKhristu,+ lenhloko yowesifazana yindoda+ lokuthi inhloko kaKhristu nguNkulunkulu.+ 4 Loba yiphi indoda ethandaza loba iphrofethe igqoke okuthile ekhanda iyangisa inhloko yayo. 5 Kodwa owesifazana othandaza loba aphrofethe+ engagqokanga lutho ekhanda uyangisa inhloko yakhe ngoba uyabe esefanana lowesifazana ophuce ikhanda, 6 phela nxa owesifazana engagqokanga lutho ekhanda, kuyabe sekumele agele inwele. Kodwa nxa kuyangisa ukuthi owesifazana agele loba aphuce ikhanda, kufanele agqoke okuthile ekhanda.

7 Indoda akumelanga igqoke lutho ekhanda ngoba ingumfanekiso kaNkulunkulu+ lenkazimulo yakhe. Kodwa owesifazana uyinkazimulo yendoda 8 ngoba indoda ayivelanga kowesifazana, owesifazana nguye owavela endodeni.+ 9 Phezu kwalokho indoda ayidalelwanga owesifazana kodwa owesifazana nguye owadalelwa indoda.+ 10 Yikho owesifazana kumele abe lophawu lokuzehlisa ekhanda lakhe ngenxa yezingilosi.+

11 ENkosini ngeke kube lowesifazana indoda ingekho futhi ngeke kube lendoda owesifazana engekho. 12 Njengoba nje owesifazana wavela endodeni,+ indoda layo izalwa ngowesifazana kodwa zonke izinto zivela kuNkulunkulu.+ 13 Yahlulelani lina: Kuqondile yini ukuthi owesifazana athandaze kuNkulunkulu engagqokanga lutho ekhanda? 14 Kanti imvelo ayilifundisi yini ukuthi kulihlazo ukuthi indoda ibe lenwele ezinde? 15 Kodwa kuyinkazimulo ukuthi owesifazana abe lenwele ezinde. Phela yena uphiwe inwele ukuthi zivale ikhanda lakhe. 16 Lanxa engaba khona ofuna ukuphikisana lalokhu alandele omunye umkhuba, thina kasilawo omunye njalo lamabandla kaNkulunkulu kawalawo.

17 Ngilinika imilayo le ngingalincomi ngoba imihlangano eliyenzayo ayilincedi, iyalilimaza. 18 Lalelani, sengizwile ukuthi nxa lihlangene ebandleni liyabe lehlukene futhi ngiphosa ngikukholwe lokho. 19 Kuzakuba khona sibili ukudabukana phakathi kwenu+ ukuze labo abaphakathi kwenu abamukelwayo bakhanye.

20 Nxa lihlangana ndawonye, ayisikho ukuthi liyabe lilande ukuzokudla iSidlo SeNkosi Sakusihlwa+ 21 ngoba liyathi selisidla isidlo, ngamunye aqale adle okwakhe ukudla kwakusihlwa. Yikho omunye uyabe elambile kodwa omunye edakiwe. 22 Kanti kalilazo yini izindlu elingadlela futhi linathele kuzo? Liyalidelela yini ibandla likaNkulunkulu, lisenza abangelalutho bayangeke? Ngingathini kini? Ngilincome? Kulokhu angilincomi sibili.

23 Ngakwamukela eNkosini lokho engakudlulisela kini, ukuthi ngobusuku+ iNkosi uJesu eyayizathengiswa ngabo yathatha isinkwa, 24 yabonga uNkulunkulu, yasihlephuna yathi: “Lokhu kumela umzimba wami+ ozanikelwa ngenxa yenu. Qhubekani likwenza lokhu lingikhumbula.”+ 25 Bathe sebeqedile ukudla, yenza njalo langenkomitsho+ yathi: “Inkomitsho le imela isivumelwano esitsha+ esizakwenziwa ngegazi lami.+ Qhubekani likwenza lokhu loba nini nxa liyinatha, lingikhumbula.”+ 26 Loba nini lapho elidla khona isinkwa lesi linathe lenkomitsho le, liqhubeka limemezela ukufa kweNkosi ize ifike.

27 Ngakho loba ngubani odla isinkwa kumbe onatha inkomitsho yeNkosi yena engafanelanga, uzakuba lecala lokudelela umzimba weNkosi legazi layo. 28 Umuntu kaqale azihlole+ ukuze abone ukuthi kumfanele yini. Lapho-ke usengadla isinkwa njalo anathe lenkomitsho, 29 ngoba odla futhi anathe engazange awuzwisise umzimba, udla futhi anathe isigwebo sakhe. 30 Yikho abanengi benu bebuthakathaka njalo begula futhi kulabanengana asebefile.*+ 31 Kodwa nxa singazizwisisa ukuthi sinjani, asisoze sahlulelwe. 32 Lanxa kunjalo, nxa sisahlulelwa silaywa nguJehova*+ ukuze singalahlwa lomhlaba lo.+ 33 Yikho-ke bafowethu, nxa libuthana lizokudla melelanani. 34 Nxa ekhona olambileyo kadle emzini wakhe ukuze lingahlulelwa+ nxa selibuthene. Kodwa lezi ezinye indaba ezisele zilenga ngizazilungisa ngingafika khonangapho.

12 Bafowethu, ngifuna lizazi kuhle izipho* zomoya.+ 2 Liyakwazi ukuthi lisesengabantu bezizweni* laliphanjulwa liyengelwa ezithombeni, izinto ezingakhulumiyo+ futhi lizikhonza. 3 Ngifuna likwazi ukuthi akulamuntu othi ekhuluma eqhutshwa ngumoya kaNkulunkulu athi: “UJesu uqalekisiwe!” Kakho futhi ongathi: “UJesu uyiNkosi!” ngaphandle nxa eqhutshwa ngumoya ongcwele.+

4 Kulezipho ezitshiyeneyo kodwa umoya munye.+ 5 Kulenkonzo ezitshiyeneyo+ kodwa iNkosi yinye. 6 Lanxa kulemisebenzi etshiyeneyo, nguNkulunkulu munye oyenzayo yonke kubo bonke.+ 7 Kodwa umoya ubonakaliswa emuntwini ngamunye ukuze kuncedwe abanye.+ 8 Ngomoya umuntu uphiwa amazwi okuhlakanipha njalo ngawo lowomoya omunye uphiwa amazwi amumethe ulwazi. 9 Ngomoya lo omunye uphiwa ukholo+ futhi ngawo lowomoya omunye uphiwa isipho sokusilisa.+ 10 Omunye uphiwa amandla okwenza izimangaliso,+ omunye ukuphrofetha, omunye ukuqedisisa amazwi aphefumulelweyo,+ omunye izindimi ezitshiyeneyo,+ omunye ukutolika izindimi.+ 11 Kodwa yonke imisebenzi le yenziwa ngomoya munye njalo uyinika ngamunye kusiya ngokuthanda kwawo.

12 Njengoba nje umzimba owodwa ulezitho ezinengi futhi zonke zibumba umzimba owodwa+ lanxa zizinengi, loKhristu unjalo. 13 Sonke sabhabhathizelwa emzimbeni owodwa ngomoya owodwa kungelani lokuthi singamaJuda kumbe singamaGrikhi, kumbe siyizigqili loba sikhululekile futhi sonke semukela umoya munye.

14 Umzimba ubunjwa yizitho ezinengi+ hatshi ngesisodwa kuphela. 15 Nxa unyawo lungathi, “Mina angisiso sitho somzimba ngoba angisiso sandla,” lokho ngeke kwenze ukuthi lungabi yisitho somzimba. 16 Nxa indlebe ingathi, “Mina angisiso sitho somzimba ngoba angisilo lihlo,” lokho ngeke kwenze ukuthi ingabi yisitho somzimba. 17 Ngabe umzimba wonke ubulilihlo besizakuzwa ngani? Aluba umzimba wonke ubuyindlebe besizahogela ngani? 18 Yikho uNkulunkulu ebeke isitho somzimba ngasinye endaweni yaso ngokuthanda kwakhe.

19 Ngabe izitho zonke ziyisitho sinye umzimba ubuzabe unjani? 20 Yikho kulezitho ezinengi kodwa umzimba uwodwa. 21 Ilihlo ngeke lithi esandleni, “Angikudingi,” lekhanda ngeke lithi enyaweni, “Angikudingi.” 22 Kodwa izitho zomzimba ezikhanya zibuthakathaka ziqakathekile 23 njalo izitho zomzimba esicabanga ukuthi zidelelekile sizenza zihlonipheke kakhulu.+ Yikho izitho lezo esibona angani kazizinhle kangako sizipha isithunzi esikhulu, 24 kodwa izitho zethu ezibukekayo azisweli lutho. Lanxa kunjalo, yiyo indlela uNkulunkulu awubumba ngayo umzimba, izitho ezisilelayo wazipha inhlonipho enkulu 25 ukuze kungabi lokwehlukana emzimbeni kodwa izitho zawo zinanzane.+ 26 Nxa esinye isitho sihlupheka, zonke ezinye izitho zihlupheka laso.+ Nxa esinye isitho sikhazinyuliswa, zonke ezinye izitho zithokoza laso.+

27 Lingumzimba kaKhristu+ njalo ngamunye wenu uyisitho salowomzimba.+ 28 UNkulunkulu ubeke umuntu ngamunye endaweni yakhe ebandleni: Abokuqala ngabaphostoli,+ abesibili ngabaphrofethi,+ abesithathu ngabafundisayo,+ besekusiba labenza izimangaliso,+ labalezipho zokusilisa,+ labanceda abanye, labalesiphiwo sokukhokhela+ kanye labakhuluma ngezindimi ezitshiyeneyo.+ 29 Bonke bangabaphostoli yini? Bonke bangabaphrofethi yini? Bonke bayafundisa yini? Bonke benza izimangaliso yini? 30 Bonke balezipho zokusilisa yini? Bonke bakhuluma ngezindimi ezitshiyeneyo yini?+ Bonke bayatolika* yini?+ 31 Qhubekani lizama ngamandla wonke* ukuthola izipho ezinkulu.+ Kodwa ngizalitshengisa indlela engcono kulazo zonke.+

13 Nxa ngikhuluma ngezindimi zabantu lezezingilosi kodwa ngingelathando, ngiyinsimbi elomsindo loba ekhencezayo. 2 Nxa ngilesipho sokuphrofetha futhi ngizwisisa zonke imfihlo ezingcwele lalo lonke ulwazi+ njalo ngilalo lonke ukholo olungasusa izintaba kodwa ngingelathando, angisilutho.*+ 3 Nxa nginganikela ngempahla yami ukuze ngisuthise abanye,+ nginikele langomzimba wami ukuze ngizigqaje kodwa ngingelathando,+ akungincedi ngalutho ngitsho.

4 Uthando+ luyabekezela+ njalo lulomusa.+ Uthando alulamhawu.+ Aluzitshayi isifuba, aluzikhukhumezi,+ 5 aluziphathi ngendlela engafanelanga,*+ aluzifuneli okwalo,+ alucaphuki.+ Alugcini izikhwili.+ 6 Aluthokoziswa ngokungalunganga+ kodwa luthokoziswa liqiniso. 7 Lubekezelela zonke izinto,+ lukholwa zonke izinto,+ luthemba zonke izinto,+ luqinisela ezintweni zonke.+

8 Uthando alupheli.* Kodwa nxa kulezipho zokuphrofetha zizaqedwa, nxa kulezindimi* zizaphela, nxa kulolwazi luzaqedwa 9 ngoba ulwazi esilalo aluphelelanga,+ lesikuphrofethayo akuphelelanga. 10 Kodwa nxa okupheleleyo kungafika, okungaphelelanga kuzaqedwa. 11 Ngisesengumntwana ngangikhuluma njengomntwana, ngicabanga njengomntwana, nginakana njengomntwana. Kodwa khathesi njengoba sengingumuntu omdala sengiyitshiyile imikhuba yobuntwana. 12 Khathesi kasiboni kuhle* ngesibuko sensimbi kodwa esikhathini esizayo sizabona kuhle njengabantu ababonana ubuso ngobuso. Khathesi ulwazi engilalo kalwenelanga kodwa ngizakuba lolwazi oluqondileyo,* njengoba nje ngisaziwa kuhle. 13 Loba kunjalo kuzasala izinto lezi ezintathu: ukholo lethemba lothando. Kodwa okukhulu kulakho konke luthando.+

14 Zamani ngamandla wonke ukuba lothando njalo liqhubeke likukhuthalele ukuthola izipho* zomoya, ikakhulu isipho sokuphrofetha.+ 2 Lowo okhuluma ngezindimi kakhulumi labantu kodwa ukhuluma loNkulunkulu ngoba akulamuntu omlalelayo,+ ukhuluma imfihlo ezingcwele+ ngomoya. 3 Lanxa kunjalo, lowo ophrofethayo uyabakha abanye, abakhuthaze futhi abaduduze ngalokho akukhulumayo. 4 Okhuluma ngezindimi uyazakha yena kodwa ophrofethayo wakha ibandla. 5 Ngiyafisa ukuthi lonke likhulume ngezindimi+ kodwa ngibona kungcono ukuthi liphrofethe.+ Ophrofethayo ungcono sibili kulokhuluma ngezindimi ngaphandle nxa engatolika* ukuze ibandla lakhiwe. 6 Kodwa bafowethu, kulinceda ngani ukuthi ngize kini khathesi ngikhuluma ngezindimi kulokuthi ngikhulume ngokwembulelwa+ kumbe ngolwazi+ kumbe ngesiphrofetho kumbe ngemfundiso?

7 Kuyafanana nje lezinto ezingaphiliyo ezikhipha umsindo, kungaba yifluthi loba ihabhu.* Abantu bangayizwisisa njani ingoma etshaywa ngefluthi kumbe ngehabhu nxa imisindo yakhona ingatshiyananga? 8 Nxa icilongo lingakhipha umsindo ongazwakali kuhle, ngubani ongalungiselela impi? 9 Kunjalo lakini, ngaphandle kokuthi lina ngolimi lwenu likhulume ngendlela ezwisiseka lula, omunye umuntu angakuzwisisa njani okukhulunywayo? Kuyabe kufanana lokuthi likhuluma lomoya nje. 10 Zingabe zizinengi sibili izindimi emhlabeni kodwa zonke ziyazwisiseka. 11 Phela nxa ngingazwisisi okukhulunywayo, sengingowezizweni kulowo okhulumayo, laye okhulumayo usengowezizweni kimi. 12 Ngakho lani njengoba lifisa kakhulu ukuba lezipho* zomoya, zamani ukuba lezipho ezinengi ezizakwakha ibandla.+

13 Yikho-ke okhuluma ngezindimi kathandazele ukuthi atolike.*+ 14 Nxa ngithandaza ngezindimi kuyabe kuyisipho sami somoya esithandazayo kodwa ingqondo yami iyabe ingatheli izithelo. 15 Pho kwenziweni? Ngizathandaza ngesipho somoya ngithandaze langengqondo yami. Ngizahlabela ngidumisa ngesipho somoya ngiphinde ngihlabele ngidumisa ngengqondo yami. 16 Kodwa nxa ungadumisa ngesipho somoya, umuntukazana ophakathi kwenu uzakutsho njani ukuthi “Ameni” emthandazweni wakho wokubonga yena engakuzwa ukuthi uthini? 17 Uyabe umbonga kuhle sibili uNkulunkulu kodwa uyabe ungamakhi omunye. 18 Ngiyambonga uNkulunkulu ngokuthi ngikhuluma ngezindimi ezinengi kulani lonke. 19 Lanxa kunjalo, ebandleni kungaba ngcono ukuthi ngikhulume amabala amahlanu azwisisekayo ukuze ngifundise abanye, kulokuthi ngikhulume angu-10 000 ngezindimi.+

20 Bafowethu, akumelanga libe ngabantwana abancane ekuzwisiseni kwenu,+ kodwa kumele libe ngabantwana abancane ezintweni ezimbi+ njalo libe ngabantu abadala ekuzwisiseni kwenu.+ 21 EMthethweni kubhaliwe ukuthi: “‘Ngizakhuluma labantu laba ngolimi lwabezizweni langamazwi ezihambi* kodwa bazakwala ukungilalela,’ kutsho uJehova.”*+ 22 Ngakho izindimi ziyisibonakaliso kwabangakholwayo hatshi kwabakholwayo+ kodwa isiphrofetho sona ngesabakholwayo hatshi abangakholwayo. 23 Yikho nxa ibandla lonke libuthene njalo bonke abalapho bekhuluma ngezindimi, besekufika abantukazana kumbe abangakholwayo, abasoze bathi seliphambene yini? 24 Kodwa nxa lonke liphrofetha besekungena umuntu ongakholwayo loba umuntukazana, uzakhuzwa futhi ahlolisiswe yibo bonke. 25 Izinto ezifihlakeleyo enhliziyweni yakhe zizavela egcekeni njalo yena uzazilahla phansi athi mbo ngobuso akhonze uNkulunkulu, athi: “UNkulunkulu uphakathi kwenu sibili.”+

26 Pho kwenziweni bafowethu? Nxa libuthana ndawonye, omunye ulehubo, omunye ulemfundiso, omunye ulesambulo, omunye ulezindimi futhi omunye uyatolika.+ Zonke izinto kazenzelwe ukwakhana. 27 Nxa bekhona abakhuluma ngezindimi kababe babili loba babe bathathu, bakhulume betshintshana njalo akube lotolikayo.*+ 28 Kodwa nxa engekho otolikayo,* kabathule ebandleni futhi bazikhulumele bodwa, baphinde bakhulume loNkulunkulu. 29 Akukhulume abaphrofethi ababili kumbe abathathu,+ besekusithi abanye bahlolisise ukuze bazwisise okukhulunywayo. 30 Kodwa nxa omunye engambulelwa ngesikhathi ehlezi khonapho, lowo okhulumayo kathule. 31 Lingenza njalo, kuzaphrofetha oyedwa ngasikhathi sinye ukuze wonke umuntu afunde futhi akhuthazwe.+ 32 Abaphrofethi kufanele bazisebenzise ngonanzelelo izipho zomoya abalazo 33 ngoba uNkulunkulu kasiNkulunkulu wengxabangxoza kodwa ngowokuthula.+

Njengoba kunjalo kuwo wonke amabandla abangcwele, 34 abesifazana kabathule emabandleni ngoba abavunyelwa ukukhuluma.+ Kabazehlise+ njengoba nje loMthetho usitsho. 35 Nxa kukhona abafuna ukukuzwisisa, kababuze omkabo ngekhaya ngoba kulihlazo ukuthi owesifazana akhulume ebandleni.

36 Ilizwi likaNkulunkulu laqalisela kini yini njalo lafika kini kuphela yini?

37 Nxa ekhona ocabanga ukuthi yena ungumphrofethi kumbe ulesipho somoya, kumele akwamukele ukuthi izinto engilibhalela zona zingumlayo weNkosi. 38 Kodwa nxa umuntu ekwala lokho laye uzakwaliwa.* 39 Yikho bafowethu qhubekani lizama ngamandla wonke ukuphrofetha+ kodwa lingalisi muntu ukukhuluma ngezindimi.+ 40 Loba kunjalo, izinto zonke kazenziwe ngendlela efaneleyo lehlelwe kuhle.+

15 Bafowethu, khathesi ngilikhumbuza ngezindaba ezinhle engazitshumayela kini+ lazamukela njalo lama kuzo laqina. 2 Nxa lingabambelela kulezozindaba ezinhle engazitshumayela kini, lizasindiswa ngazo, ngaphandle nxa ukukholwa kwenu kungancedanga ngalutho.

3 Phakathi kwezinto zokuqala engazidlulisela kini kwakulalezo lami engazamukelayo, ukuthi uKhristu wafela izono zethu njengoba iMibhalo isitsho+ 4 lokuthi wangcwatshwa+ wasevuswa+ ngelanga lesithathu+ njengoba iMibhalo isitsho.+ 5 Kanti njalo wabonakala kuKhefasi,*+ wasebonakala kwabaliTshumi Lambili.+ 6 Ngemva kwalokho wabonakala kubafowethu abedlula 500 ngasikhathi sinye+ njalo abanengi silokhu silabo lanxa abanye sebafa.* 7 Wasebonakala kuJakhobe,+ ngemva kwalokho wabonakala kubo bonke abaphostoli.+ 8 Ekucineni wabonakala lakimi+ futhi ngenxa yalokho nginjengomntwana ozelwe isikhathi singakafiki.

9 Mina ngingomncinyane kubaphostoli njalo akungifanelanga ukubizwa ngokuthi ngingumphostoli ngoba ngangihlukuluza ibandla likaNkulunkulu.+ 10 Kodwa ngiyilokho engiyikho khona ngenxa yomusa omkhulu kaNkulunkulu. Umusa wakhe omkhulu angenzele wona awuzange ube yize ngoba ngasebenza ukwedlula bonke abaphostoli. Lanxa kunjalo kwakungayisimi, kwakungumusa omkhulu uNkulunkulu angenzela wona. 11 Kodwa kungelani lokuthi yimi kumbe yibo abatshumayelayo, le yiyo indlela esitshumayela ngayo njalo yiyo indlela elakholwa ngayo.

12 Manje nxa kutshunyayelwa ngokuthi uKhristu wavuswa kwabafileyo,+ kuyini okwenza ukuthi phakathi kwenu kube labanye abathi abafileyo abasoze bavuswe? 13 Phela nxa kuyikuthi abafileyo abasoze bavuswe, kutsho ukuthi uKhristu kavuswanga. 14 Kodwa nxa uKhristu engavuswanga kutsho ukuthi ukutshumayela kwethu akusizi ngalutho, lokholo lwenu aluncedi. 15 Phezu kwalokho, lathi siyabe safakaza amanga ngoNkulunkulu+ ngoba safakaza ngaye sisithi wavusa uKhristu kwabafileyo,+ into ayabe engayenzanga nxa kuyikuthi abafileyo abasoze bavuswe. 16 Nxa abafileyo bengasoze bavuswe, kutsho ukuthi uKhristu laye kazange avuswe. 17 Kanti njalo nxa uKhristu engazange avuswe ukholo lwenu lalo aluncedi, lilokhu lisezonweni zenu.+ 18 Lalabo abafa* bemanyene loKhristu bayabe sebetshabalele.+ 19 Lathi nxa besiphila impilo le sithembele kuKhristu, kutsho ukuthi sisosizini ukwedlula abanye bonke.

20 Kodwa uKhristu usevusiwe kwabafileyo, yena oyizithelo zokuqala zalabo asebafayo.*+ 21 Njengoba ukufa kweza ngomuntu*+ lokuvuswa kwabafileyo kuza ngomuntu.+ 22 Njengoba nje bonke abantu besifa+ ngenxa ka-Adamu, bonke bazakwenziwa baphile ngenxa kaKhristu,+ 23 kodwa ngamunye ngethuba lakhe elifaneleyo: Owokuqala nguKhristu oyizithelo zokuqala,+ besekulandela abangabakaKhristu ngesikhathi sokuba khona kwakhe.+ 24 Besekusithi ekucineni abuyisele uMbuso kuNkulunkulu wakhe onguYise, esetshabalalise bonke ohulumende kanye lalabo abalamandla.+ 25 Kumele abuse kuze kube yisikhathi lapho uNkulunkulu azabeka khona zonke izitha zakhe ngaphansi kwenyawo zakhe.+ 26 Lokufa okuyisitha sokucina kuzatshabalaliswa.+ 27 UNkulunkulu “wabeka izinto zonke ngaphansi kwenyawo zakhe.”+ Kodwa nxa esithi, ‘izinto zonke zibekwe ngaphansi kwenyawo zakhe,’+ kuyakhanya ukuthi akubalwa loNkulunkulu owabeka zonke izinto ngaphansi kwakhe.+ 28 Loba kunjalo, nxa konke sekubekwe ngaphansi kweNdodana, layo izazibeka ngaphansi kwalowo owabeka zonke izinto ngaphansi kwayo,+ ukuze uNkulunkulu abe yikho konke kubo bonke.+

29 Aluba bekungenjalo, ababhabhathizelwa ukuba ngabafileyo bebezakwenzani?+ Pho kungani bebhabhathizelwa ukuba ngabafileyo nxa kuyikuthi abafileyo abasoze bavuswe? 30 Kungani lathi sihlala sisengozini?+ 31 Nsuku zonke ngikhangelana lokufa njalo lokhu kuliqiniso njengokuziqhenya engilakho ngani bafowethu kuKhristu uJesu iNkosi yethu. 32 Nxa lami njengabanye* ngilwe lezinyamazana zeganga e-Efesu,+ kunginceda ngani lokho? Nxa abafileyo bengasoze bavuswe, “kasidleni sinathe ngoba kusasa sizakufa.”+ 33 Lingayengwa. Ukuba lobudlelwano labantu abenza okubi kona imikhuba emihle.*+ 34 Vukani lenze okulungileyo, lingaqhubeki lisenza isono. Abanye abalalwazi oluphathelane loNkulunkulu. Ngitsho njalo ukuze libe lenhloni.

35 Lanxa kunjalo, omunye angathi: “Abafileyo bazavuswa njani? Bazavuswa belomzimba onjani sibili?”+ 36 Wena muntu ongelangqondo! Okuhlanyelayo akwenziwa kuphile kungaqalanga kwafa. 37 Nxa uhlanyela awuhlanyeli umzimba ozakuba khona, uhlanyela uhlamvu kuphela, kungelani lokuthi ngolwengqoloyi kumbe ngolwenye inhlanyelo nje. 38 Kodwa uNkulunkulu uyipha umzimba ngokuthanda kwakhe njalo upha inhlanyelo ngayinye umzimba wayo yodwa. 39 Inyama yonke itshiyene. Kuleyabantu, leyenkomo, leyenyoni kanye leyenhlanzi 40 njalo kulemizimba yasezulwini+ lemizimba yasemhlabeni.+ Kodwa inkazimulo yemizimba yasezulwini ingolunye uhlobo, lenkazimulo yemizimba yasemhlabeni ingolunye uhlobo. 41 Inkazimulo yelanga ingolunye uhlobo, lenkazimulo yenyanga ingolunye uhlobo+ njalo inkazimulo yezinkanyezi layo ingolunye uhlobo. Inkazimulo yenkanyezi ngayinye itshiyene lenkazimulo yezinye.

42 Ukuvuswa kwabafileyo lakho kunjalo. Umzimba ohlanyelwayo uyabola uvuswe ungasaboli.+ 43 Uhlanyelwa udelelekile uvuswe usulenkazimulo.+ Uhlanyelwa ubuthakathaka uvuswe usulamandla.+ 44 Uhlanyelwa ungumzimba wenyama uvuswe usungumzimba womoya. Nxa kulomzimba wenyama, lomzimba womoya ukhona. 45 Ngakho kubhaliwe ukuthi: “Indoda yokuqala u-Adamu yaba ngumuntu* ophilayo.”+ U-Adamu wokucina yena waba ngumoya onika ukuphila.+ 46 Lanxa kunjalo, okomoya ayisikho okokuqala. Okokuqala ngokwenyama besekusiza okomoya. 47 Indoda yokuqala yavela emhlabeni njalo yenziwa ngothuli,+ indoda yesibili yona yavela ezulwini.+ 48 Abenziwa ngothuli banjengalowo owenziwa ngothuli futhi abezulwini banjengalowo owavela ezulwini.+ 49 Njengoba sinjengalowo owenziwa ngothuli+ sizaphinda sibe njengaye yena owezulwini.+

50 Kodwa bafowethu ngilitshela ukuthi inyama legazi ngeke kulithole ilifa loMbuso kaNkulunkulu, lokubolayo ngeke kulidle ilifa lalokho okungaboliyo. 51 Nansi imfihlo engcwele engilitshela yona: Kayisithi sonke esizalala ekufeni kodwa sonke sizatshintshwa+ 52 ngesikhatshana nje, ngokucwayiza kwelihlo ngesikhathi sokukhala kwecilongo lokucina. Icilongo lizakhala,+ abafileyo bavuswe belemizimba engeke ibole njalo sonke sizatshintshwa. 53 Lokhu okubolayo kumele kutshintshwe kube ngokungaboliyo+ njalo lokho okufayo kumele kutshintshwe kube yilokho okungeke kufe.+ 54 Kodwa nxa okubolayo sekutshintshe kwaba ngokungaboliyo lokufayo sekutshintshe kwaba yilokho okungeke kufe, kuzagcwaliseka amazwi la abhaliweyo athi: “Usekuqede du* ukufa, akusoze kuphinde kube khona.”+ 55 “Kufa, kungaphi ukunqoba kwakho? Kufa, lungaphi udonsi lwakho?”+ 56 Udonsi olubangela ukufa yisono+ njalo amandla esono nguMthetho.*+ 57 Kodwa kabongwe uNkulunkulu ngoba usenza sinqobe ngeNkosi yethu uJesu Khristu!+

58 Yikho-ke bafowethu abathandekayo manini liqine+ linganyikinyeki, lihlale lisenza okunengi+ emsebenzini weNkosi, lisazi ukuthi umsebenzi wenu eNkosini awusoze uphelele emoyeni.+

16 Endabeni ephathelane leminikelo eya kwabangcwele,+ lingalandela imilayo engayipha amabandla aseGalathiya. 2 Ngelanga lokuqala leviki ngayinye, ngamunye wenu kufanele abeke eceleni lokho alakho kusiya ngokuthi uthola okunganani ukuze iminikelo ingacini isiqoqwa sengifikile. 3 Ngizathi ngifika lapho ngithume amadoda elibhale ezincwadini zenu ukuthi liyawathemba,+ ukuze ahambise isipho senu somusa eJerusalema. 4 Kodwa nxa kukhanya kungcono ukuthi lami ngiye khonale, ngizahamba lawo.

5 Loba kunjalo, ngizafika kini nxa sengivela eMakhedoniya ngoba ngizadlula khona.+ 6 Mhlawumbe ngizahlala lani okwesikhatshana kumbe ubusika bonke ukuze lingiphelekezele okomangwana sengisiya lapho engiyabe ngilubangise khona. 7 Engingakufuniyo yikulibona khathesi ngidlula nje ngoba ngilethemba lokuthi ngizakuba lani okwesikhathi esithile+ nxa uJehova* evuma. 8 Kodwa ngizaqhubeka ngise-Efesu+ kuze kube nguMkhosi wePhentekhosti 9 ngoba ngivulelwe umnyango omkhulu ongisa emisebenzini eminengi+ kodwa banengi abangiphikisayo.

10 Nxa uThimothi+ engafika kini, libone ukuthi akulalutho alwesabayo ngesikhathi elani ngoba wenza umsebenzi kaJehova*+ njengami. 11 Yikho akungabi lomuntu omkhangelela phansi. Nxa esesuka limphelekezele okomangwana ukuze azofika kuhle kimi ngoba ngimlindele labafowethu.

12 Mayelana lomfowethu u-Apholo,+ ngamqonqosela ukuthi abuye kini labazalwane. Ubengahlosanga ukuza kini khathesi kodwa uzabuya nxa engaba lethuba.

13 Hlalani liphapheme+ futhi liqinile ekholweni,+ libe lesibindi*+ lamandla.+ 14 Konke elikwenzayo kwenzeni ngothando.+

15 Nanku engilikhuthaza khona bafowethu: Liyakwazi ukuthi abomuzi kaStefana bayizithelo zokuqala zase-Akhaya lokuthi bazinikela ukuthi bancedise abangcwele. 16 Ngicela liqhubeke lizehlisa ebantwini abanjalo lakubo bonke abancedisayo emsebenzini lo futhi abasebenza nzima.+ 17 Kodwa kuyangijabulisa ukuthi ngiloStefana+ loFothunathu lo-Akhayikhu ngoba bangincedise kakhulu njengoba lina lingekho lapha. 18 Bawuvuselele umoya wami lowenu. Yikho waqakathekiseni amadoda anjalo.

19 Amabandla ase-Asiya ayalibingelela. U-Akhwila loPriska kanye lebandla elibuthana emzini wabo+ labo bayalibingelela ngenhliziyo yonke eNkosini. 20 Bonke abafowethu bayalibingelela. Bingelelanani ngokuqabuzana okungcwele.

21 Mina Phawuli ngiyalibingelela ngibhala ngesami isandla.

22 Nxa umuntu engayithandi iNkosi kaqalekiswe. Woza Nkosi yethu! 23 Umusa omkhulu weNkosi uJesu awube lani. 24 Ngiyalithanda lonke elimanyene loKhristu uJesu.