UPawulos, umpostile kaYesu Kristu ngokuthanda kukaThixo, noTimoti umzalwana, ubhalela ibandla likaThixo eliseKorinte, kunye nabo bonke abangcwele abakwelaseAkaya liphela:

uthi, makube lubabalo kuni, noxolo oluvela kuThixo, uBawo wethu, neNkosi yethu uYesu Kristu.

Makabongwe uThixo, uYise weNkosi yethu uYesu Kristu, uSozimfefe, uThixo onako konke ukuthuthuzela,

osithuthuzelayo kuyo yonke imbandezelo yethu, ukuze sibe nako ukubathuthuzela abakwinto yonke eyimbandezelo, ngayo intuthuzelo esithuthuzelwa ngayo nathi nguye uThixo.

Ngokuba, njengokuba iintlungu zikaKristu ziphuphumela kuthi, ngokunjalo ithi nentuthuzelo yethu iphuphume ngoKristu.

Nokuba na ke siyabandezelwa, oko kwenzelwa ukuthuthuzela nokusindisa nina, ukusindisa ke okusebenzayo ngokunyamezela kwenu kwa-ezo ntlungu sizivayo nathi; nokuba na ke siyathuthuzelwa, oko kwenzelwa ukuthuthuzela nokusindisa nina.

Kanjalo ithemba lethu ngani liqinisekile; sisazi ukuba, njengokuba ningamadlelane nathi ngazo iintlungu, ngokunjalo niyakuba ngawo nangentuthuzelo.

Kuba asithandi ukuba ningayazi, bazalwana, imbandezelo yethu eyasihlelayo kwelaseAsiya: ukuba saxineka ngokuncamisileyo, ngaphezu kwamandla ethu, ngokokude sibuncame kanye nobomi.

Sasuka ngokwethu saba nesigwebo sokufa ngaphakathi kwethu, ukuze singabi ngabasazithembayo, sithembele kuThixo lo ubavusayo abafileyo;

owasihlangulayo ekufeni okungako, osihlangulayo nangoku; esithembele kuye ukuba usaya kusihlangula:

nakubon’ ukuba niyancedisa nani ngokusikhungela, ukuze isipho esingokubabalwa, esenzelwe sona thina ngabantu abaninzi, sibulelwe ngabaninzi ngenxa yethu.

Kuba oko kuqhayisa kwethu kukungqina kwesazela sethu, ukuba sithe ehlabathini apha, ngokukodwa ke kuni, sahlala singabangenakumbi, sinokungcwengeka okuvela kuThixo, singenabulumko bubobenyama, sinobabalo lukaThixo.

Kuba asinibhaleli zimbi izinto, ikwazezo nizilesayo, nizaziyo kakuhle. Ndiyathemba ke ukuba niya kuzazi kakuhle, kude kuse nasekupheleni,

njengokuba nasaziyo kakuhle ngokuyinxenye, ukuba siliqhayiya lenu, kwanjengokuba nani nilelethu ngemini yeNkosi uYesu.

Ndinaloo nkoloseko ke, ndanqwenela ukunga ndingeza kuni kuqala, ukuze nibabalwe okwesibini;

ndize ndicande kuni ukuya kwelaseMakedoni; ndibuye, ndivela kwelaseMakedoni, ndize kuni, ndiphelekelelwe nini ukuya kwelakwaYuda.

Xa ngoko ndandifuna oko, ndandifeketha na kanti? Okanye izinto endizicebayo, ndiziceba ngokwenyama yini na ukuze nje kubekho kum uewe, ewe; nohayi, hayi?

Ethembekile nje ke uThixo, ilizwi lethu kuni alibanga nguewe nohayi.

Kuba yena okaThixo uNyana, uYesu Kristu, owavakaliswayo phakathi kwenu sithi (ndim ke noSilvano noTimoti), akabanga nguewe nohayi; kuye nguewe kwakanye;

kuba ngangoko angako amadinga kaThixo, uewe ukuye, noamen ukuye, ukuze kuzukiswe uThixo ngathi.

Osiqiniselayo ke ndawonye nani kuKristu, osithambisayo ke, nguThixo;

ositywine wasiqinisa, wasinika isinyaniso soMoya, saba sezintliziyweni zethu.

Mna ke ndibiza uThixo, ukuba abe lingqina emphefumlweni wam, ukuba kungokunivela, endithe ndaba andikezi eKorinte.

Anditsho ngakulugagamela ukholo lwenu; nditsho ngokuba singabasebenza nani uvuyo lwenu; kuba nimi ngokholo.

Mna ke okwam, ndagqiba kweli lokuba ndingabuyi ndize kuni ndibuhlungu.

Kuba mna ukuba ndinenza buhlungu, kusekho bani na ke ondenza ndibe nemihlali, ongenguye lowo wenziwe wabuhlungu kwandim?

Ndanibhalela ke kwakona oku, ukuze ndakufika ndingabi buhlungu ngabo bendimelwe kukuvuya ngabo; ndikholosile ngani nonke, ukuba uvuyo lwam ikwalolwenu nonke.

Kuba ndanibhalela ekubandezelekeni nasekuxinezelekeni okukhulu kwentliziyo yam, ndineenyembezi ezininzi; ndingenzeli ukuze nenziwe buhlungu, ndisenzela ukuze nilwazi uthando endinithanda ngalo ngokugqithiseleyo.

Ke ukuba ubani wenze kwabuhlungu, akenze kwabuhlungu mna, wenze ngenxenye nina nonke; nditsho ukuze ndingamcinezeli.

Kumanele lowo unjalo oko kumkhalimela kwabona baninzi kuni;

ngokokude nithi kanye senimxolela, nimthuthuzele, hleze lowo unjalo aselesuka edliwa kukuba buhlungu ngokugqithiseleyo.

Kungoko ndiniyalayo, ndithi, luzinziseni uthando kuye;

kuba ndabhalela kona oku, ukuze ndikwazi ukucikideka kwenu, ukuba ningabevayo na ezintweni zonke.

Enimxolelayo ke into, ndiyamxolela nam; kuba nam, ukuba ndixolele into endiyixoleleyo, ndenze ngenxa yenu, phambi kukaKristu;

ukuze singabonelelwa nguye uSathana; kuba amaqhinga akhe siyawazi.

Ke kaloku, ndathi ndakufika eTrowa ngenxa yeendaba ezilungileyo zikaKristu, ndakuba ndiwuvulelwe nomnyango eNkosini,

andibanga nakonwaba emoyeni wam, ngokungamfumani uTito, umzalwana wam; ndesuka ndababulisa, ndanduluka ndava kwelaseMakedoni.

Makubulelwe ke kuThixo, ohlala eduma ngathi sikuKristu, elibonakalalisa ngathi ivumba lokwaziwa kwakhe ezindaweni zonke.

Ngokuba kuye uThixo silivumba elimnandi likaKristu, phakathi kwabasindiswayo naphakathi kwabatshabalalayo.

Kwabanye silivumba lokufa elisa ekufeni; kwabanye silivumba lobomi elisa ebomini. Ngubani na ke ozilingeneyo ezo zinto?

Kuba asithi, njengabaninzi abo, silingxengelele ilizwi likaThixo; sisuka ngokwabokungcwengeka, sisuka ngokwabakwaThixo, sithethe phambi kwamehlo kaThixo, sikuKristu.

Xa sitshoyo, singaba siyawaqala siziyaleze na? Okanye sifuna, njengabathile, kusini na, iincwadi zokuyalezwa kuni, nokuba zezokuyalezwa nini?

Incwadi yethu thina, ebhalwe ezintliziyweni zethu, nini; iyaziwa, ileswa ngabantu bonke;

nibonakalalisiwe nje ukuba niyincwadi kaKristu, eyalungiselelwa sithi, engabhalwanga ngainki, ebhalwe ngoMoya kaThixo ophilileyo; kungekhona emacwecweni amatye, kusemacwecweni angawenyama entliziyo.

Sinenkoloseko enjalo ke kuThixo ngaye uKristu.

Ukutsho andithi, sikulingene ngokwethu ukucamanga nto engathi iphuma kuthi ngokwethu; ukukulingana kwethu oko kuphuma kuThixo,

osenze nokusenza sakulingana ukuba ngabalungiseleli bomnqophiso omtsha; singabi ngabobhalo nje kodwa, sibe singabomoya; kuba ubhalo luyabulala, umoya ke udlisa ubomi.

Ke kaloku, ukuba ulungiselelo olo lubulalayo, lukroliweyo ematyeni ngobhalo, lweza lunobuqaqawuli, ngokude oonyana bakaSirayeli bangabi nakuqwalasela ebusweni bukaMoses, ngenxa yobuqaqawuli bobuso bakhe, ubuqaqawuli ke obebuza kubhanga:

lungathini na ulungiselelo lwakhe uMoya, ukungabi nobuqaqawuli ngokugqithiseleyo?

Kuba, ukuba ulungiselelo olugwebayo lunobuqaqawuli, kokukhona luya kugqithisela ngobuqaqawuli ulungiselelo lobulungisa.

Kuba kwanoko kwenziwe kwaba nobuqaqawuli, akwenziwanga kwaba nobuqaqawuli ngale ndawo, ngenxa ke yobuqaqawuli obu bona bubalaselayo.

Kuba xa oko bekuza kubhanga kunobuqaqawuli, kokukhona oku kuhleliyo kunobuqaqawuli.

Sinethemba elinjalo nje ke ngoko, kokukhona singafihlisiyo ukuthetha;

singaxelisi uMoses, yena wabeka isigqubuthelo ebusweni bakhe, ukuze oonyana bakaSirayeli bangaqwalaseli esiphelweni soko bekuza kubhanga.

Zesuka noko zaqaqadekiswa iingqiqo zabo; kuba nanamhla sisahleli kwaeso sigqubuthelo ekulesweni kwawo umnqophiso omdala, singabhenqwanga, nto leyo ke ibhangayo kuKristu.

Kusuke kwada kwaba namhlanje, kusithi, xenikweni kuleswa uMoses, kusuke kubekho isigqubuthelo entliziyweni yabo.

Ke xenikweni ithe ke yona yabuyela eNkosini sosuswa kuphele isigqubuthelo eso.

INkosi ke inguye uMoya; apho ke akhoyo uMoya weNkosi, kubakho inkululeko.

Thina ke sonke, sinobuso nje obubhenqwe isigqubuthelo, sibukhangela njengokwasesipilini ubuqaqawuli beNkosi, senziwa similise okwaloo mfanekiselo, sivela ebuqaqawulini sisinge ebuqaqawulini, kwanjengokuvela eNkosini enguMoya.

Ngenxa yoko, sinalo nje olu lungiselelo, sithi, njengoko senzelwe inceba, singethi mandla;

sisuke sazilahla izinto ezifihlakeleyo eziziintloni, singahambi ngobuqhetseba, singalikhohlakalisi ilizwi likaThixo; sisuka ngokuyibonakalalisa inyaniso siziyaleze kuso sonke isazela sabantu emehlweni kaThixo.

Ukuba ke zigqutyuthelwe iindaba ezilungileyo zethu, zigqutyuthelwe kwabo batshabalalayo;

athe uthixo weli phakade wazimfamekisa ngaphakathi kwabo iingqiqo zabangakholwayo, ukuze singabengezeli kubo isikhanyiso seendaba ezilungileyo zobuqaqawuli bukaKristu, ongumfanekiselo kaThixo.

Kuba asizivakalisi thina, sivakalisa uKristu Yesu ukuba uyiNkosi; sibe ke thina sizivakalisa ukuba singabakhonzi benu ngenxa kaYesu.

Ngokuba nguThixo, yena wathi ukhanyiso malukhanye ebumnyameni, okhanyisele iintliziyo zethu, ukuze kukhanye ukwaziwa kobuqaqawuli bukaThixo ebusweni bukaYesu Kristu.

Ke kaloku obu butyebi sibuphethe ngezitya zodongwe, ukuze incamisa yamandla ibe yekaThixo, ingaphumi kuthi.

Siyabandezelwa ngeenxa zonke, singaxineki; siyathingaza, singancami; sitshutshiswa, asiyekelwa;

sikhahlelwa phantsi, asitshatyalaliswa;

sihlala sikuthwele ngomzimba ukufa kweNkosi uYesu ukuze nobomi bukaYesu bubonakalaliselwe emzimbeni wethu.

Kuba thina badla ubomi simana sinikelwa ekufeni ngenxa kaYesu, ukuze nobomi bukaYesu bubonakalaliselwe enyameni yethu enokufa.

Ngoko ke kusebenza ukufa kuthi, ke kuni kusebenza ubomi.

Sinawo nje ke kwaloo moya wokholo, ngokoko kubhaliweyo kwathiwa, Ndakholwa, kungoko ndathethayo: nathi ke siyakholwa, kungoko sithethayo nokuthetha;

sisazi ukuba lowo wayivusayo iNkosi uYesu, uya kusivusa nathi ngoYesu, asimise phambi kwakhe, ndawonye nani.

Kuba konke oko kungenxa yenu, ukuze luthi ubabalo, lwakuba lwandile ngabona baninzi, luwuphuphumise umbulelo, use ekuzukiseni uThixo.

Kungoko singethi mandla; kuba nokuba umntu wethu wangaphandle uya esonakala, usuka yena owangaphakathi aye ehlaziyeka imihla ngemihla.

Kuba ubukhaphukhaphu bembandezelo yethu eyeyomzuzwana busisebenzela ngokuncamise kwaphela ubuqaqawuli obukhulukazi obungunaphakade

sakubon’ ukuba asixuneli ezintweni ezibonwayo, sixunela kwezingabonwayo. Kuba ezibonwayo zezomzuzwana, ke zona ezingabonwayo zezonaphakade.

Kuba siyazi ukuba, xa ithe yachithwa indlu yethu esemhlabeni, engulo mnquba, sinesakhiwo esiphuma kuThixo, indlu yona emazulwini, engenakwenziwa ngazandla, engunaphakade.

Kuba kulo siyancwina, silangazelela ukwambatha, saleke indlu yethu yasemazulwini;

ukuba siya kufunyanwa sambethe okunene, singeze.

Kuba kwathina aba bakulo mnquba siyancwina sisindwa, kungengakuba sithanda ukuhlutywa; kungokuba sithanda ukwambathiswa saleke, ukuze okunokufa kufincwe bubomi.

Ke kaloku lo usisebenzele kwaloo nto nguThixo, osinike nokusinika isinyaniso sakhe uMoya.

Ngoko ke sihlala somelele, sisazi ukuba, sikowethu nje emzimbeni, sikude kowethu eNkosini

(kuba sihamba ngokholo, asihambi ngakubona);

somelele ke, sikholisiwe nokukholiswa kanye kukuba kude nekhaya lethu elisemzimbeni, sibekho kwikhaya lethu eliseNkosini.

Kungoko sizondelela ukuthi, nokuba sisekhaya, nokuba sikude nekhaya, sibe ngabakholekileyo kuyo.

Kuba thina aba sonke simelwe kukuthi sibonakalaliswe phambi kwesihlalo sokugweba sikaKristu, ukuze elowo azuziswe okwenziwe ngomzimba, ngoko akwenzileyo, nokuba kokulungileyo, nokuba kokubi.

Sikwazi njalo ke ukoyikeka kweNkosi, sizamela ukuba beyiseke abantu; sibonakalalisiwe ke kuThixo, ndiyathemba ke ukuba nakuzo izazela zenu sibonakalalisiwe.

Kuba asibuyi siziyaleze kuni; sininika ithuba lokuzingca ngathi; ukuze nibe nalo ilizwi ngakwabo bazingcayo ngobuso, bengazingci ngantliziyo.

Kuba, nokuba siyageza, kungenxa kaThixo; nokuba sinengqondo ephilileyo, kungenxa yenu.

Kuba lusifingile nje uthando lukaKristu, sigqibe kwelokuthi, ukuba ufele bonke emnye, ngoko bafile bonke abo;

wabafela ke bonke, ukuze abo badla ubomi bangabi sazidlela ubomi, babudlele owafayo wavuka ngenxa yabo.

Ngoko ke thina, sisusela kweli xesha, asisazi namnye ngokwenyama; nokuba ke besimazi uKristu ngokwenyama, kungoku asisamazi ngokwenyama.

Ngoko ke, ukuba ubani ukuKristu, usisidalwa esitsha; izinto ezindala zidlule; bonani ke, zisuke zaba ntsha izinto zonke zakhe.

Zonke izinto ke ziphuma kuThixo, owasixolelanisa naye ngokwakhe ngoYesu Kristu, wasinika ulungiselelo loxolelaniso;

olu ke lokokuba uThixo waye ekuKristu, elixolelanisa naye ngokwakhe ihlabathi, engazibaleli kubo iziphoso zabo, walimisa kuthi ilizwi loxolelaniso.

Sizizigidimi ke ngoko ngenxa kaKristu, ngokungathi uThixo uniyala ngathi; siyanikhunga ngenxa kaKristu, manixolelaniswe naye uThixo;

kuba lowo ungazani nasono, wamenza isono ngenxa yethu, ukuze thina sibe bubulungisa bukaThixo kuye.

Sisebenzisana naye nje ke, siyaniyala, ukuba ubabalo lukaThixo ningafumane nilwamkele;

kuba uthi, Ndakuva ngexesha elamkelekileyo, Ndakusiza ngomhla wosindiso. Yabonani, lingoku ixesha elamkeleke kakuhle; yabonani, ungoku umhla wosindiso:

kungabikho namnye esimmisela isikhubekiso, nokuba kukuwuphi na umcimbi, ukuze ulungiselelo lwethu lungabi nakubekwa bala;

sisuka sithi emicimbini yonke siziqondakalise ngokwabalungiseleli bakaThixo, ngokunyamezela okukhulu, sisezimbandezelweni, sisezingxakekweni, sisezingxinanweni,

sinemivumbo, sisezintolongweni, siseziphithiphithini, sibulaleka, singalali, sizila ukudla,

sinobunyulu, sinokwazi, sinokuzeka kade umsindo, sinobubele, sinoMoya oyiNgcwele, sinothando olungahanahanisiyo,

sinelizwi lenyaniso, sinamandla kaThixo, sineentonga zobulungisa zasekunene nezasekhohlo,

sikuzuko nakwintswela-mbeko, sikudumo olubi nakudumo oluhle;

ngathi singabalahlekisi, ukanti singabenyaniso; ngathi singabangaziwayo, ukanti singabaziwayo; ngathi singabafileyo, nanku Sisidla ubomi; ngathi singababethwayo, singabulawa noko;

ngathi sibuhlungu, ukanti singabahlala bevuya; ngathi singamahlwempu, ukanti singabatyebisa abaninzi ke; ngathi singabangenanto, ukanti singabahlala benezinto zonke.

Umlomo wethu uvulekile kuni, baseKorinte; intliziyo yethu yenziwe yabanzi.

Anixinene kuthi, nixinene ezimfesaneni zenu.

Umbuyekezo ke onjalo (ndithetha njengakubantwana bam), ndithi yibani banzi nani.

Musani ukunxulumana nabolunye uhlobo, abangakholwayo ke; kuba kunakwabelana kuni na ubulungisa nokuchasa umthetho? Kunabudlelane buni na ke ukukhanya nobumnyama?

Unakuvumelana kuni na ke uKristu noBheliyali? Unasahlulelwano sini na okholwayo nongakholwayo?

Inakudibana kuni na ke itempile kaThixo nezithixo? Kuba nina niyitempile kaThixo ophilileyo; njengokuba watshoyo uThixo ukuthi, Ndiya kuhlala phakathi kwabo, ndihambe phakathi kwabo; ndibe nguThixo wabo, babe ngabantu bam bona.

Kungoko ndithi, Phumani phakathi kwabo, nizahlule, itsho iNkosi, Nento engcolileyo ningayichukumisi; Ndandiya kunamkela,

Ndibe nguyihlo, Nina nibe ngoonyana neentombi kum; Itsho iNkosi uSomandla.

Sinawo nje ngoko la madinga, zintanda, masizihlambulule kuko konke ukudyobheka kwenyama nokomoya sibufeza ubungcwele, sisoyika uThixo.

Samkeleni ngeentliziyo zenu; asonanga mntu, asonakalisanga mntu, asiphanganga mntu.

Anditsho ngakunigweba; kuba sendithe ngaphambili, nisezintliziyweni zethu ukuba sife nani, sidle ubomi nani.

Ndinokungafihlisi okukhulu kuni, ndizingca kakhulu ngani; ndizele yintuthuzelo, ndiphuphuma uvuyo kakhulu kuyo yonke imbandezelo yethu.

Kuba sithe sakufika kwelaseMakedoni, ayaba nakuphumla nakanye inyama yethu; sabandezelwa ngeenxa zonke, ngaphandle ikukulwa, ngaphakathi ikukoyika.

Ke lowo ubathuthuzelayo abathobekileyo, uThixo ke, wasithuthuzela ngokufika kukaTito;

akwaba ngakufika kwakhe ke kuphela, kwaba ngayo intuthuzelo awathuthuzeleka ngayo kuni, esityela ulangazelelo lwenu, isijwili senu, nokundizondelela kwenu, ngokokude ndivuye ngakumbi.

Kuba nakuba ndikhe ndanenza nabuhlungu ngencwadi leyo, andizohlwayi, nakuba ndikhe ndazohlwaya; kuba ndiyabona ukuba loo ncwadi yanenza buhlungu, nakuba kwaba ngumzuzwana.

Ngoku ke ndiyavuya, ndingavuyeli kuba neenziwa buhlungu, ndivuyela ukuba nenziwa buhlungu ngokwasinga enguqukweni; kuba nenziwa buhlungu ngokokukaThixo, ukuze ningalahlekwa nto ngathi.

Kuba ubuhlungu obungokukaThixo busebenza inguquko esingisa elusindisweni, ekungekho kuzohlwaya ngayo; ke kona okwehlabathi ukuba buhlungu kusebenza ukufa.

Kuba, yabonani, kwaoko kwenziwa kwenu buhlungu ngokukaThixo, kwanisebenzela ukunyameka okungakanana; nasuka naziphendulela, nasuka nacaphuka, nasuka noyika, nasuka nalangazelela, nasuka nazondelela, nasuka naphindezela! Ngeendawo zonke niziqondakalisile, ukuba kulo mcimbi nimsulwa nina okwenu.

Ngoko ke, noko ndanibhalelayo, andikwenzanga oko ngenxa yalowo wamonayo omnye, kanjalo andikwenzanga ngenxa yalowo woniwayo; ndakwenzela ukuze kubonakalaliswe kuni ukuninyamekela kwethu emehlweni kaThixo.

Ngenxa yoko, sithuthuzelekile ngenxa yokuthuthuzeleka kwenu; sakuvuyela ke ngokugqithiseleyo ngakumbi ukuvuya kukaTito; ngokuba waphunyuzwayo umoya wakhe nini nonke.

Ngokuba ukuqhayisa endaqhayisa ngako ngani, andidaniswanga ngako; njengokuba sazithetha kuni izinto zonke sinyanisile, ngokunjalo nokuqhayisa kwethu oko phambi koTito kwaba yinyaniso.

Imfesane yakhe isenkulu ngakuni ngokugqithiseleyo, akukhumbula ukumva kwenu nonke nokokuba namamkelayo ninokoyika nokugubha.

Ndiyavuya ngoko, kuba ndomelezekile kuni ezintweni zonke.

Ke kaloku, bazalwana, siyanazisa ubabalo lukaThixo oluhlakaziweyo phakathi kwamabandla akwelaseMakedoni;

okokuba ekucikidweni kwawo okukhulu yimbandezelo, kuthe ukuphuphuma kovuyo lwawo, nobuhlwempu bawo obendeleyo, kwaphuphumela ekutyebiseni ukunyanisa kwawo.

Ngokuba ndiyangqina ukuba bathe, ngokwamandla abo, ewe nangaphezu kwamandla, banikela ngokuqhutywa yintliziyo,

besikhunga, besibongoza kakhulu, ukuba silwamkele ubabalo olo, ubudlelane ke obo bokulungiselela abangcwele.

Abanelanga kwenza njengoko sathemba ngako; bathi kuqala bazinikela eNkosini, baza kamva bazinikela nakuthi ngokuthanda kukaThixo;

ngokokude simyale uTito, ukuze athi, njengokuba ebeqalile, alufezele kuni ngokunjalo nolo lubabalo.

Ke, kwanjengokuba niphuphuma iinto zonke, ukholo, nokuthetha, nokwazi, nokunyameka konke, nokusithanda kwenu, maniphuphume nakulo olu lubabalo.

Anditsho ngakwammiselo; ukutsho, ndenziwa kukunyameka kwabanye, ndicikida nenyaniso yolwenu uthando;

kuba niyalwazi ubabalo lweNkosi yethu uYesu Kristu, okokuba yathi, ibisisityebi nje, yaba lihlwempu ngenxa yenu, ukuze nina nibe zizityebi ngobuhlwempu bayo obo.

Ngale ndawo ke ndinipha okwam ukubona; kuba oko kunilungele nina aba nayiqalayo kwanyakenye le nto; ananela kuyenza, nayithanda nokuyithanda.

Ngoku ke yenzeni niyifeze loo nto, ukuze, kwanjengokuba bekukho intumekelelo yokuthanda, kwangokunjalo kubekho nokuyifeza ngeninako.

Kuba intumekelelo, ukuba selikho, yamkeleka kakuhle ngokoko asukuba enako umntu, kungabi ngokoko angenako.

Kuba andithi mabaphumle abanye, nibandezeleke nina;

ndithi, ukuze kubekho ukulingana ngexesha lakalokunje, ukuphuphuma kwenu makufikelele ekusileleni kwabo; ukuze nokuphuphuma kwabo kufikelele ekusileleni kwenu, ukuze ke kubekho ukulingana;

njengokuba kubhaliwe kwathiwa, Owabutha kakhulu akabanga nakusalelayo; nowabutha kancinane akabanga nakusilela.

Makubulelwe ke kuThixo, ongenise kwaoko kuninyamekela entliziyweni kaTito.

Ngokuba wasamkela okunene isiyalo; ke uthe, enyameke okunye, waphuma ngokuqhutywa yintliziyo, waya kuni.

Sathuma ke kunye naye umzalwana odume phakathi kwawo onke amabandla, ngokuvakalisa iindaba ezilungileyo.

Asikuphela ke oko; wanyulwa nokunyulwa ngawo amabandla, ukuba abe ngohamba nathi, nalo olu lubabalo lulungiselelwayo sithi, ukuze izukiswe iNkosi, nibe nokuthumekelela nina:

silumkele oku, ukuba kungabikho mntu usibeka bala kule nyambalala yeminikelo ilungiselelwayo sithi;

sikhathalele izinto ezintle, kungekhona emehlweni eNkosi yodwa, kukwanasemehlweni abantu.

Sithume ke kunye nabo umzalwana wethu, esimcikide futhi ngeendawo ezininzi, samfumana ekhuthele; kokukhona akhuthele kakhulu, ekholose kakhulu ngani.

Nokuba kuthethwa ntoni ngoTito, yazini ukuba ulidlelane nam, nomsebenzisi wam kuni; nokuba kuthethwa ngabazalwana bethu, yazini ukuba bangabathunywa bamabandla kaThixo, baluzuko lukaKristu.

Lo mbonakalaliso ngoko wothando lwenu, nowokuzingca kwethu ngani, wubonakalaliseni kubo, naphambi kwamabandla.

Kuba okunene ngako ukulungiselela abangcwele, akufuneki kona ukuba ndinibhalele.

Kuba ndiyakwazi ukuthumekelela kwenu, endiqhayisa ngako ngani kwabelaseMakedoni, ndisithi elaseAkaya beliselilunge kwanyakenye; nokuzondelela kwenu kwaxhokonxa abona baninzi.

Ke kaloku ndithume abazalwana, ukuze iqhayiya lethu elingani lingalanjathiswa ngale ndawo; ukuze nithi, njengokuba benditshilo, nibe senilungile;

hleze kuthi, ukuba bathe bafika nam abelaseMakedoni, banifumana ningekalungi, sidaniswe thina (ukuba asingethi, kudane nina) koko kukholosa kokuqhayisa.

Ngoko ndaba kuyafuneka ukubavuselela abazalwana, ukuba basandulele ukuya kuni, bayilungise ngaphambili intsikelelo yenu ebiselixeliwe ngaphambili; ilunge yona ngohlobo lwentsikelelo, ingangi yeyokuvimba.

Qondani ke le nto: Lowo uhlwayela ngokuvimba wovuna kwangokuvimba; nalowo uhlwayela ngesisa wovuna kwangesisa.

Elowo makanike njengoko agqibe ngako entliziyweni; makungabi kokuphuma kabuhlungu, nangokunyanzelwa; kuba uThixo uthanda umphi ochwayithileyo.

Unako ke uThixo ukuphuphumisela kuni ubabalo lonke, ukuze nithi, nihlala ninako nje ukwanela konke ngeendawo zonke, niphuphumele emsebenzini wonke olungileyo;

njengokuba kubhaliwe kwathiwa, Wasasaza, wapha abasweleyo; Ubulungisa bakhe buhleli ngonaphakade.

Wanga ke angathi, ompha imbewu umhlwayeli, nesonka sokudliwa, aniphe ayandise imbewu yenu, ahlumise isiqhamo sobulungisa benu;

nithi ngeendawo zonke nityetyiselwe ekunyaniseni konke, kona kusebenzayo ngathi umbulelo kuThixo.

Ngokuba ulungiselelo lwalo mbuso alwaneli kuzalisela iintsilelo zabangcwele; lusuka kananjalo luphuphume imibulelo emininzi kuye uThixo;

besithi nje, ngako ukucikideka kolo lulungiselelo, bamzukise uThixo ngenxa yokulululamela kwenu uvumo lwenu ngokusingisele kwiindaba ezilungileyo zikaKristu, nangenxa yokunyanisa kokudlelana kwenu ngokusingisele kubo nakubantu bonke;

bakubon’ ukuba nabo bayanilangazelela, benikhungela ngenxa yobabalo lukaThixo oluncamisileyo kuni aba.

Makubulelwe ke kuThixo ngenxa yesipho sakhe singenambali.

Ke kaloku ndiyaniyala ngabo ubulali nokuthantamisa kukaKristu, mna Pawulos ngokwam, ndingothobekileyo kambe ngembonakalo, xa ndiphakathi kwenu, kodwa ndakuba ndingekho ndiba nobugagu kuni:

ndiyakhunga ke, ukuze ndingathi, ndakuba ndikho, ndibe nobugagu ngoko kukholosa, ndiba ndoba nobuganga ngako kubo abathile, ababa sihamba ngokwenyama.

Kuba noko sihamba sisenyameni, asiphumi mkhosi ngokwenyama;

kuba zona iintonga esiphuma ngazo umkhosi, azizezenyama; kuye uThixo zinamandla okuwisa iinqaba;

siwisa ngazo nje amabhongo, nayo yonke into ephakamileyo, eziphakamisayo ngokuchasa ukwazi uThixo; iingqiqo zonke sizithimbela ekumlulameleni uKristu;

sizilungisele ukuphindezela konke ukungamlulameli, xa kuthe kwazaliseka okwenu ukumlulamela.

Izinto nizikhangela ngokwembonakalo na? Ukuba umntu ukholose ngokuthi ungokaKristu, makabuye acinge oku ngokwakhe, ukuba njengokuba engokaKristu yena, ngokunjalo singabakaKristu nathi.

Kuba, naxa bendingathi ndigqithisele ukuqhayisa ngalo igunya lethu, esalinikwayo yiNkosi ukuba sinakhe, singanichithi, bendingedaniyo;

nditsho ukuze ndingangi ndifuna ukunoyikisa ngazo iincwadi ezi;

ngokuba kuthiwa, Iincwadi ezi zakhe okunene zinzima, zinamandla; kodwa ke akubakho ngenkqu akanamandla, nokuthetha kwakhe akunto yanto.

Onjalo ke makacinge le nto: njengoko sinjalo ngako ukuthetha ngeencwadi, sakuba singekho, sikwanjalo ngawo umsebenzi, sakuba sikho.

Kuba asinabuganga bakuzibalela nakuzifanisa nabo abathile abaziyalezayo; bona abanangqondo, bezilinganisela nje kwakubo ngokwabo, bezifanisa nje nabo ngokwabo.

Ke thina asisayi kuqhayisa sigqithise emlinganiselweni; soqhayisa ngokomlingani selo womda esiwabelwe nguThixo, ukuba ube ngumlinganiselo oya kufikelela nakuni.

Kuba asizoluli ngokugqithiseleyo, ngathi asifikeleli kuni; kuba sesafikelelayo nakuni sineendaba ezilungileyo zikaKristu.

Asiqhayisi sigqithise emlinganiselweni ngokubulaleka kwabanye; ke sinethemba, ukuba lwakukhula ukholo lwenu, siya kwenziwa bakhulu phakathi kwenu ngokomda wethu, sigqithisele,

side sizishumayele iindaba ezilungileyo ezindaweni ezingaphaya kwenu; singaqhayisi ngesilinganiselo somnye, ngezinto ke esezilungisiwe.

Oqhayisayo ke, makaqhayise ngeNkosi.

Kuba oyena ucikidekileyo asingoziyalezayo, ngoyalezwa yiNkosi.

Akwaba ningandi nyamezela kancinane ekusweleni kuqonda kwam! Kodwa noko niyandinyamezela.

Kuba ndiyanikhweletela ngekhwele likaThixo; kuba ndanendisa ndodeni-nye, ukuze ndinimise phambi koKristu niyintombi enyulu.

Ndiyoyika ke, hleze kuthi, njengokuba inyoka yamlukuhlayo uEva ngobuqhetseba bayo, zonakaliswe ngokunjalo nani iingqiqo zenu, zimke ekunyaniseni kuye uKristu.

Kuba kaloku, xa lowo uzayo avakalisa omnye uYesu, esingamvakalisanga thina, nokuba namkela moya wumbi enaningamkelanga wona, nokuba ziindaba ezilungileyo ezizimbi enaningamkelanga zona, beningaba kambe niyatyapha ukumnyamezela.

Kuba ndiba andisilele nganto kwabona bapostile baziincamisa.

Nakuba ke ndiliyilo ngentetho, andinjalo ngokwazi; sabonakala kuni phakathi kwabo bonke ngeendawo zonke.

Ndenza isono na ngokuzithoba, ukuze niphakanyiswe nina, ngokuba ndanishumayezayo ngesisa iindaba ezilungileyo zikaThixo?

Amanye amabandla kaThixo ndawabhunyula, ndisamkela umvuzo ukuze ndilungiselele nina.

Kanjalo xa ndandikho kuni, ndiswele, andibanga mthwalo mntwini; kuba ukuswela kwam bakwenzelela abazalwana, bakuvela kwelaseMakedoni; ndathi ngeendawo zonke ndazigcina, andaba bunzima kuni, ndisaya kuzigcina nangoku.

Ikum nje inyaniso kaKristu, ndithi olo luqhayiso aluyi kuvingcwa mlomo mayela nam, mna, kwimimandla yelaseAkaya.

Ngani na ke? Ngokuba ndinganithandi na? Hayi, uThixo uyazi.

Endikwenzayo ke ndiya kukwenza, ukuze ndibahluthe ithuba lokujinda abafuna ithuba; ukuze entweni abaqhayisa ngayo, bafunyanwe bekwanjengathi.

Kuba abo banjalo ngabapostile ababuxoki, ngabasebenzi abakhohlisayo, bezimilisa okwabapostile bakaKristu.

Ke akummangaliso oko, kuba noSathana ngokwakhe uzimilisa okwesithunywa sokukhanya.

Akunto inkulu ke ngoko, ukuba abalungiseleli bakhe bazimilise okwabalungiseleli bobulungisa; abasiphelo siya kuba ngokwemisebenzi yabo.

Ndibuya ndithi, Makungabikho mntu uba ndingoswele ukuqonda; okanye ke kambe, ndamkeleni njengoswele ukuqonda, ukuze ke ndiqhayise kancinane nam.

Oku ndikuthethayo, andikuthethi ngokweNkosi; ndikuthetha ngokoswele ukuqonda, ndinoko kukholosa koqhayiso.

Ekubeni bebaninzi ke abaqhayisa ngokwenyama, ndoqhayisa nam.

Kuba niyabanyamezela ngovuyo abaswele ukuqonda, niziingqondi nje nina.

Kuba kaloku niyanyamezela, ukuba umntu unenza amakhoboka, ukuba umntu uyanidla, ukuba umntu uyanibambisa, ukuba umntu uyaziphakamisa, ukuba umntu uyanibetha ebusweni.

Ndithi, ndizihlaza, ngathi sasiswele amandla thina. Entweni ke asukuba umntu enobuganga (ndithetha ndinokuswela ukuqonda), ndinobuganga nam.

BangamaHebhere na? Ndinguye nam. BangamaSirayeli na? Ndinguye nam. Bayimbewu ka-Abraham na? Ndiyiyo nam.

Bangabalungiseleli bakaKristu na? (Ndithetha nxamnye nengqondo.) Ndithi ndingongaphezulu mna, ngokubulaleka okugqithiseleyo, ngemivumbo egqithe emgceni, ngokuba sezintolongweni ngokugqithiseleyo, ngokuba sekufeni futhi.

KumaYuda ndazuza kahlanu imivumbo emashumi mane kwaphuke mnye.

Kukathathu ndibethwa ngeentswazi, okunye ndaxulutywa ngamatye, ndaphukelwa ngumkhombe kathathu, ndenze ubusuku nemini enzulwini;

ndithi ndingongaphezulu ngokuhamba okufuthi, ngeengozi zemilambo, ngeengozi zezihange, ngeengozi zamakowethu, ngeengozi zeentlanga, ngeengozi phakathi komzi, ngeengozi entlango, ngeengozi elwandle, ngeengozi phakathi kwabazalwana ababuxoki;

ngokubulaleka nangemigu, ngokungabi nakulala okufuthi, ngokulamba nokunxanwa, ngokuzila ukudla okufuthi, ngengqele nobuze.

Ndingasazibali zona izinto ezingaphandle kwezo, ndingungelwe imihla ngemihla kukuwaxhalela onke amabandla kaThixo.

Ngubani na okha aswele amandla, ndingasweli mandla nam? Ngubani na okha akhutyekiswe, ndingatshiseki mna?

Ukuba ndimelwe kukuqhayisa, ndoqhayisa ngezinto zokuswela amandla kwam.

UThixo, uYise weNkosi yethu uYesu Kristu, ongowokubongwa ngonaphakade, uyazi ukuba andixoki.

EDamasko umphathi-luhlanga ka-Areta, ukumkani, wayewulinda umzi waseDamasko, efuna ukundibamba;

ndaza ngekroba ndathotywa ngomnyazi eludongeni, ndasinda ezandleni zakhe.

Ukuqhayisa okunene akundilungele; kuba ndiza kuza kwimibono nezityhilelo zeNkosi.

Ndazi umntu okuKristu, ekusekuyiminyaka elishumi elinamine (nokuba ubesemzimbeni na andazi, nokuba ubengekho na emzimbeni, andazi; kwaziwa nguThixo), ethe lowo waxwilwa, wada wasiwa nakwelesithathu izulu.

Ndiyamazi ke umntu onjalo (nokuba ubesemzimbeni na, nokuba ubengekho na emzimbeni, andazi; kwaziwa nguThixo),

okokuba waxwilwa wasiwa eParadisi, weva amazwi angenakuthethwa, ekungavumelekileyo ukuba umntu awathethe.

Onjalo ke ndiya kuqhayisa ngaye, kodwa andiyi kuqhayisa ngokwam nganto ikum; ingaba kungokuswela kwam amandla kodwa.

Kuba xa bendingathi ndithande ukuqhayisa, bendingayi kuba ndiswele ukuqonda, kuba bendiya kuba ndithetha inyaniso; kodwa ndiyayeka, ukuze kungabikho bani ucinga ngam ngaphezu koko abona ndikuko, athi mhlawumbi akuve kum.

Kwathi, ukuze ndingaziphakamisi ngokungaphezulu ngenxa yezityhilelo eziyincamisa, ndanikwa uviko enyameni, isithunywa sikaSathana, ukuze sindintlithe, ukuze ndingaziphakamisi ngokungaphezulu.

Ndayibongoza kathathu iNkosi ngaso isithunywa eso, ukuba sisuke kum.

Ithe yona kum, Ubabalo lwam lukwanele; kuba amandla am azalisekiswa ekuswelekeni kwamandla. Ngoko kokukhona sendiya kuqhayisa kamnandi kakhulu ngokuswela kwam amandla, ukuze ahlale phezu kwam amandla kaKristu.

Kungoko ndikholisiweyo kukuswela amandla, kukuphathwa kakubi, ziingxakeko, ziintshutshiso, ziingxinano, ngenxa kaKristu; kuba xa sukuba ndiswele amandla, kuxa ndinamandla.

Sendisuke ndaba ngoswele ukuqonda ngokuqhayisa; ndinyanzelwe nini. Kuba mna ndibe ndifanele ukuyalezwa nini; kuba andisilelanga nganto kubapostile abo baziincamisa, nakuba ndingento yanto.

Imiqondiso yokuba ngumpostile, inene, yasetyenzwa phakathi kwenu ngokunyamezela konke, ngemiqondiso, nezimanga, nemisebenzi yamandla.

Kuba yintoni na enasilela ngayo kwamanye amabandla kaThixo, ingekukuba mna ngokwam ndingabanga mthwalo kuni? Ndixoleleni oko kungalungisi.

Yabonani, sendilungele ukuza kuni okwesithathu; ndaye ndingayi kuba mthwalo kuni; kuba andifuni zinto zenu, ndifuna nina. Kuba asingabantwana abafanele ukuqwebela abazali, ngabazali abafanele ukuqwebela abantwana.

Mna ke, kuya kuba mnandi kakhulu ukuba ndichithe, ndidleke kuphele, ngenxa yemiphefumlo yenu; nakuba okukhona ndinithandayo kakhulu, kokukhona ndithandwa kancinane.

Kungade kube kunjalo, mna kambe andibanga mthwalo kuni; mandibe, ndinobuqhetseba nje, ndisuke ndanibambisa ngenkohliso.

Kukho mntu na ke kwabo ndabathumayo kuni, endanidlayo ngaye?

Ndamyala uTito, ndathuma umzalwana lowo kunye naye. Wanidla na ke uTito? Asihambanga moyeni mnye, yini na? Asihambanga mkhondo mnye, yini na?

Niyawaseniba siyaziphendulela kusini na kuni? Sithetha phambi kukaThixo, sikuKristu; sizithetha zonke ke izinto ezo, zintanda, ngenxa yokwakheka kwenu.

Kuba ndiyoyika, hleze ndithi ndakufika, ndinifumane ningenjengendikuthandayo, nam ndifunyanwe nini ndingenjengenikuthandayo; hleze kubekho iinkani, amakhwele, imisindo, amayelenqe, iintlebendwane, iintsebezo, iinkukhumalo, iziphithiphithi;

hleze ndithi, ndakufika kunjalo, andithobe uThixo wam phakathi kwenu, ndize ndikhedame ngenxa yabaninzi ababesebonile, abaguquka ekungcoleni, nasembulweni, naseburheletyweni ababenzayo.

Oku kokwesithathu ndisiza kuni. Onke amazwi aya kumiswa ngomlomo wamangqina amabini, nokuba mathathu.

Sendixele kade, ndixela ngenxa engaphambili, njengoko ndandikho okwesibini, nanjengoku ndingekhoyo ngoku, ndibaxelela abo bone kade, nabanye bonke, okokuba xa ndithe ndabuya ndafika, andiyi kubaconga;

ekubeni nifuna isiganeko sokuthetha kukaKristu phakathi kwam, ongaswele amandla ngokusingisele kuni, onamandla phakathi kwenu.

Kuba, nakuba wabethelelwayo emnqamlezweni ngokwasekusweleni amandla, udla ubomi ngokwasemandleni kaThixo. Kuba nathi siswele amandla kuye, noko siya kudla ubomi naye ngokwasemandleni kaThixo, ngokubhekisele kuni.

Zilingeni, ukuba niselukholweni olu na; zicikideni ngokwenu. Okanye anizazi na ukuba uYesu Kristu ungaphakathi kwenu? ukuba okunene aningabo abo bangenakucikideka.

Ndiyathemba ke ukuba niyakwazi, ukuba asingabo abo bangenakucikideka thina.

Ndithandaza ke kuye uThixo, ukuba ningenzi nanye into embi; kungekuko ukuze sibonakale sicikidekile thina, ikukuze nenze into entle nina, ke thina sibe njengabangenakucikideka.

Kuba asinakwenza nto ngokuchasa inyaniso; sinokwenzela inyaniso.

Kuba siyavuya, xa sukuba singenamandla thina, nibe nina ninamandla; sithandazela nokuthandazela oku ke, ukuba nigqibelele ukulunga.

Ngenxa yoko ndibhala ezi zinto ndingekho, ukuze ndingathi, ndakuba ndikho, ndenze kabukhali ngokwegunya, endalinikwa yiNkosi ukuba libe lelokwakha, lingabi lelokuchitha.

Elokugqiba, bazalwana, ndithi, Vuyani, zilungiseni nigqibelele, thuthuzelekani, cingani nto-nye, zolani; wothi ke uThixo wothando noxolo abe nani.

Bulisanani ngolwango olungcwele.

Bayanibulisa bonke abangcwele aba.

Ubabalo lweNkosi uYesu Kristu, nothando lukaThixo, nodlelano loMoya oyiNgcwele, malube nani nonke. Amen.