1 Corinthians

1

1 UPawuli obizelwe ukuba ngumphostoli kaJesu Kristu ngentando kaNkulunkulu, loSostenesi umzalwane,

2 kubandla likaNkulunkulu eliseKorinte, kubo abangcwelisiweyo kuKristu Jesu, ababizelwe ukuba ngabangcwele, kanye labo bonke ababiza ibizo leNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu kuyo yonke indawo, eyabo kanye leyethu:

3 Umusa kawube kini lokuthula okuvela kuNkulunkulu uBaba wethu leNkosini uJesu Kristu.

4 Ngiyambonga uNkulunkulu wami ngesikhathi sonke ngani, ngenxa yomusa kaNkulunkulu eliwuphiweyo kuKristu Jesu;

5 ukuthi kuyo yonke into linothisiwe kuye, ekukhulumeni konke lelwazini lonke,

6 njengalokhu ubufakazi bukaKristu buqinisiwe kini;

7 ngakho kalisileli lasinye isipho, lilindele ukwembulwa kweNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu,

8 ozaliqinisa futhi kuze kube sekupheleni, lingelacala ngosuku lweNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu.

9 UNkulunkulu uthembekile, elabizelwa ngaye ekuhlanganyeleni kweNdodana yakhe uJesu Kristu iNkosi yethu.

10 Kodwa ngiyalincenga, bazalwane, ngebizo leNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu, ukuthi lonke likhulume into ibenye, njalo kungabi khona ukwehlukana phakathi kwenu, kodwa lipheleliswe emqondweni munye lekuboneni kunye.

11 Ngoba ngitsheliwe ngani, bazalwane bami, ngabakoKlowe, ukuthi kukhona izingxabano phakathi kwenu.

12 Njalo ngitsho lokhu, kokuthi ngulowo lalowo wenu uthi: Mina ngingokaPawuli, kodwa mina okaApolosi, kodwa mina okaKefasi, kodwa mina okaKristu.

13 UKristu wehlukanisiwe yini? Kanti uPawuli wabethelelwa lina, kumbe labhabhathizwa yini ebizweni likaPawuli?

14 Ngiyambonga uNkulunkulu ukuthi kangibhabhathizanga lamunye wenu, ngaphandle kukaKrispusi loGayusi;

15 ukuze kungabi khona othi ngabhabhathiza ebizweni lami uqobo.

16 Futhi ngabhabhathiza lendlu kaStefana; ngaphandle kwalokho kangazi ukuthi ngabhabhathiza omunye umuntu.

17 Ngoba uKristu kangithumanga ukuthi ngibhabhathize, kodwa ukuthi ngitshumayele ivangeli; kungeyisikho ngenhlakanipho yelizwi, hlezi isiphambano sikaKristu senziwe ize.

18 Ngoba ilizwi lesiphambano liyibuthutha kulabo ababhubhayo, kodwa kithi abasindiswayo lingamandla kaNkulunkulu.

19 Ngoba kulotshiwe ukuthi: Ngizachitha inhlakanipho yabahlakaniphileyo, lokuqedisisa kwabaqedisisayo ngizakwenza ize.

20 Singaphi isihlakaniphi? Ungaphi umbhali? Ungaphi umphikisi walumhlaba? Angithi uNkulunkulu wayenza yaba yibuthutha inhlakanipho yalumhlaba yini?

21 Ngoba kuthe enhlakaniphweni kaNkulunkulu umhlaba kawumazanga uNkulunkulu ngenhlakanipho, kwaba kuhle kuNkulunkulu ukusindisa abakholwayo ngobuthutha bentshumayelo.

22 Ngoba lamaJuda acela isibonakaliso, lamaGriki adinga inhlakanipho;

23 kodwa thina sitshumayela uKristu obethelweyo, isikhubekiso kumaJuda, lobuthutha kumaGriki;

24 kodwa kulabo ababiziweyo, kumaJuda kanye lakumaGriki, uKristu amandla kaNkulunkulu lenhlakanipho kaNkulunkulu;

25 ngoba ubuthutha bukaNkulunkulu buhlakaniphile kulabantu, lobuthakathaka bukaNkulunkulu bulamandla kulabantu.

26 Ngoba khangelani ubizo lwenu, bazalwane, ukuthi kababanengi abahlakaniphileyo ngokwenyama, kababanengi abalamandla, kababanengi abayizikhulu;

27 kodwa uNkulunkulu ukhethile izinto zobuthutha zomhlaba, ukuze ayangise abahlakaniphileyo; njalo uNkulunkulu ukhethile okubuthakathaka komhlaba, ukuze ayangise okulamandla;

28 lezinto eziphansi zomhlaba lezinto ezidelelekayo uNkulunkulu uzikhethile, lezinto ezingekho, ukuze enze zibe yize izinto ezikhona;

29 ukuze kungabikho inyama ezincomayo phambi kwakhe.

30 Kodwa kuye lina likuKristu Jesu, owenzelwa thina inhlakanipho evela kuNkulunkulu, lokulunga, lokungcweliswa, lohlengo,

31 ukuze, njengokulotshiweyo ukuthi: Ozincomayo, kazincome eNkosini.

2

1 Lami, bazalwane, ekufikeni kwami kini, kangifikanga ngobugabazi belizwi kumbe benhlakanipho, ngitshumayela kini ubufakazi bukaNkulunkulu.

2 Ngoba ngamisa ukuthi ngingazi lutho phakathi kwenu, ngaphandle kukaJesu Kristu, laye ebethelwe.

3 Njalo mina ngangilani ebuthakathakeni lekwesabeni lekuthuthumeleni okukhulu.

4 Lokukhuluma kwami lokutshumayela kwami kakubanga ngamazwi enhlakanipho yabantu ahugayo, kodwa ngokubonakalisa kukaMoya lokwamandla;

5 ukuze ukholo lwenu lungabi enhlakaniphweni yabantu, kodwa emandleni kaNkulunkulu.

6 Kodwa inhlakanipho siyikhuluma phakathi kwabapheleleyo, kodwa inhlakanipho engayisiyo yalelilizwe, kumbe eyababusi balelilizwe, abazakwenziwa ize;

7 kodwa sikhuluma inhlakanipho kaNkulunkulu eyimfihlo, eyayifihliwe, uNkulunkulu ayimisa ngaphambili kungakabi lomhlaba kube yinkazimulo yethu;

8 kungekho loyedwa wababusi balelilizwe owayekwazi; ngoba uba babekwazi, babengayikuyibethela iNkosi yenkazimulo.

9 Kodwa njengokulotshiweyo ukuthi: Izinto ilihlo elingazibonanga, lendlebe engazizwanga, lezingangenanga enhliziyweni yomuntu, uNkulunkulu azilungisele abamthandayo.

10 UNkulunkulu-ke usembulele thina lokhu ngoMoya wakhe; ngoba uMoya uhlolisisa zonke izinto, ngitsho izinto ezijulileyo zikaNkulunkulu.

11 Ngoba ngubani ebantwini owazi okomuntu, ngaphandle komoya womuntu okuye? Ngokunjalo okukaNkulunkulu kakwaziwa muntu, ngaphandle koMoya kaNkulunkulu.

12 Thina-ke kasemukelanga umoya womhlaba, kodwa uMoya ovela kuNkulunkulu, ukuze sazi izinto esiziphiwa ngesihle nguNkulunkulu;

13 futhi esizitshoyo, kungeyisikho ngamazwi inhlakanipho yabantu ewafundisayo, kodwa ngamazwi afundiswa nguMoya oNgcwele, sichasisa okomoya ngokomoya.

14 Kodwa umuntu wemvelo kazemukeli izinto zikaMoya kaNkulunkulu; ngoba ziyibuthutha kuye, njalo kalawo amandla okuqedisisa, ngoba zihlolisiswa ngokomoya;

15 kodwa owomoya uyahlola zonke izinto, kodwa yena kahlolwa muntu.

16 Ngoba ngubani owazi ingqondo yeNkosi, ozayifundisa? Kodwa thina silengqondo kaKristu.

3

1 Lami-ke, bazalwane, bengingelakukhuluma lani njengabomoya, kodwa njengakwabakwenyama, njengakwabayizingane kuKristu.

2 Ngalinathisa uchago, kungeyisikho ukudla okuqinileyo; ngoba belingakenelisi, kodwa lakhathesi kalikenelisi;

3 ngoba lisengabenyama; ngoba lokhu kukhona phakathi kwenu umhawu lokuphikisana lokwehlukana, kalisibo abenyama, lihamba ngokwabantu yini?

4 Ngoba nxa omunye esithi: Mina ngingokaPawuli, lomunye athi: Mina okaApolosi, kalisibo yini abenyama?

5 Kanti uPawuli uyini, loApolosi uyini, kodwa izisebenzi elakholwa ngazo, lanjengoba iNkosi yanika kulowo lalowo?

6 Mina ngahlanyela, uApolosi wathelela, kodwa uNkulunkulu wakhulisa.

7 Ngakho ohlanyelayo kasilutho, loba othelelayo, kodwa uNkulunkulu okhulisayo.

8 Ohlanyelayo kanye lothelelayo banye; kodwa ngulowo lalowo uzakwemukela owakhe umvuzo njengowakhe umsebenzi.

9 Ngoba siyizisebenzi zikaNkulunkulu kanye laye; liyinsimu kaNkulunkulu, liyisakhiwo sikaNkulunkulu.

10 Ngokomusa kaNkulunkulu engiwuphiweyo, njengomakhi omkhulu ohlakaniphileyo ngabeka isisekelo, lomunye wakha phezu kwaso. Kodwa kakube ngulowo lalowo abone ukuthi wakha njani phezu kwaso.

11 Ngoba akulamuntu ongabeka esinye isisekelo ngaphandle kwaleso esibekiweyo, esinguJesu Kristu.

12 Kodwa uba umuntu esakhela phezu kwalesisisekelo igolide, isiliva, amatshe aligugu, izigodo, utshani, inhlanga,

13 umsebenzi walowo lalowo uzavela obala; ngoba usuku luzawudalula, ngoba luzavezwa emlilweni; umlilo uzahlola umsebenzi walowo lalowo ukuthi unjani.

14 Uba umsebenzi womuntu awakhe phezulu usima, uzakwemukela umvuzo.

15 Uba umsebenzi womuntu uzatshiswa, uzalahlekelwa; kodwa yena uqobo ezasindiswa, kodwa ngokunjalo njengangomlilo.

16 Kalazi yini ukuthi lina lilithempeli likaNkulunkulu, lokuthi uMoya kaNkulunkulu uhlala kini?

17 Uba umuntu echitha ithempeli likaNkulunkulu, uNkulunkulu uzamchitha yena; ngoba ithempeli likaNkulunkulu lingcwele, eliyini.

18 Kakungabi khona ozikhohlisayo; uba umuntu phakathi kwenu ecabanga ukuthi uhlakaniphile kulumhlaba, kumele abe yisithutha, ukuze ahlakaniphe.

19 Ngoba inhlakanipho yalumhlaba iyibuthutha kuNkulunkulu. Ngoba kulotshiwe ukuthi: Ubamba abahlakaniphileyo ebuqilini babo;

20 njalo lokuthi: INkosi iyayazi imicabango yabahlakaniphileyo, ukuthi iyize.

21 Ngakho kakungabi khona ozincoma ngabantu; ngoba zonke izinto ngezenu,

22 loba uPawuli, loba uApolosi, loba uKefasi, loba umhlaba, loba impilo, loba ukufa, loba izinto ezikhona, loba izinto ezizayo; konke ngokwenu,

23 lina-ke lingabakaKristu, loKristu ngokaNkulunkulu.

4

1 Umuntu kanakane ngathi ngokunje, njengezisebenzi zikaKristu labaphathi bezimfihlo zikaNkulunkulu.

2 Futhi-ke, kuyadingeka ebaphathini, ukuthi umuntu aficwe ethembekile.

3 Kodwa kimi kuyinto encinyane kakhulu ukuthi ngithonisiswe yini, kumbe ngokwahlulela kwabantu; kodwa lami kangizithonisisi.

4 Ngoba kanginanzeleli lutho kimi, kanti kangilungisiswanga ngalokho; kodwa ongahlulelayo yiNkosi.

5 Ngakho lingahluleli lutho isikhathi singakafiki, ize ifike iNkosi, ezaveza futhi ekukhanyeni izinto ezifihlakeleyo emnyameni, njalo iveze obala amacebo ezinhliziyo; njalo khona ngulowo lalowo ezakuba lokubongwa okuvela kuNkulunkulu.

6 Njalo lezizinto, bazalwane, ngiziqondanise lami loApolosi ngenxa yenu, ukuze lifunde kithi ukuthi lingakhumbuli phezu kokulotshiweyo, ukuze lingakhukhunyezwa omunye ngomunye limelene lomunye.

7 Ngoba ngubani okwenza ukuthi wehluke? Njalo kuyini olakho ongakwemukelanga? Njalo uba lawe wemukele, uzincomelani ngokungathi kawemukelanga yini?

8 Selisuthi, selinothile, libusile ngaphandle kwethu; yebo-ke kungathi ngabe liyabusa, ukuze lathi sibuse kanye lani.

9 Ngoba ngithi uNkulunkulu usimisile thina abaphostoli bokucina, sibe njengabamiselwe ukufa; ngoba senziwe umbukiso emhlabeni, lakuzo ingilosi, lebantwini.

10 Thina siyizithutha ngenxa kaKristu, kodwa lina lihlakaniphile kuKristu; thina sibuthakathaka, kodwa lina lilamandla; lina liyahlonitshwa, kodwa thina siyadelelwa.

11 Kuze kube lihola lakhathesi silambile, somile, sinqunu, siyatshaywa ngenqindi, siyimihambuma,

12 siyatshikatshika sisebenza ngezethu izandla; sithi sithukwa sibusise; sithi sizingelwa sibekezele;

13 sithi sinyeywa sincenge; senziwa njengamanyala omhlaba, imfucuza yezinto zonke, kuze kube khathesi.

14 Kangilibhaleli lezizinto ukuthi ngilithele inhloni, kodwa ngileluleka njengabantwana bami abathandekayo.

15 Ngoba lanxa lilabeluleki abayizinkulungwane ezilitshumi kuKristu, kodwa kungeyisibo obaba abanengi; ngoba mina ngalizala kuKristu Jesu ngevangeli.

16 Ngakho ngiyalincenga: Banini ngabalingisi bami.

17 Ngalokho ngithume kini uTimothi, ongumntanami othandekayo lothembekileyo eNkosini, ozalikhumbuza ngenhambo zami ezikuKristu, njengoba ngifundisa endaweni zonke kulo lonke ibandla.

18 Kodwa abanye bazikhukhumezile ngokungathi kangiyikuza kini.

19 Kanti ngizakuza kini masinyane, uba iNkosi ivuma, njalo ngizakwazi, kangitsho ilizwi lalabo abazikhukhumezayo, kodwa amandla.

20 Ngoba umbuso kaNkulunkulu kawungelizwi kodwa ngamandla.

21 Lifunani? Ngize kini ngenduku yini, kumbe ngothando lomoya ochumileyo?

5

1 Isibili kuzwakele ukuthi kukhona ukuphinga phakathi kwenu, futhi ukuphinga kohlobo olungaqanjwayo laphakathi kwabezizwe, kuze kuthi omunye abe lomkayise.

2 Kodwa lina liyazikhukhumeza, njalo endaweni yalokho alizange lilile, ukuze owenze lesisenzo asuswe phakathi kwenu.

3 Ngoba mina-ke, njengongekho ngomzimba kodwa okhona ngomoya, sengiqumile owenze kanje lokhu, ngokungathi ngikhona,

4 ebizweni leNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu, selihlangene lomoya wami kanye lamandla eNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu,

5 ukunikela onjalo kuSathane ekubhubheni kwenyama, ukuze umoya usindiswe esukwini lweNkosi uJesu.

6 Kakukuhle ukuzincoma kwenu. Kalazi yini ukuthi imvubelo encinyane ibilisa inhlama yonke?

7 Ngakho khuphani imvubelo endala, ukuze libe yinhlama entsha, njengabangelamvubelo. Ngoba lephasika lethu lihlatshelwe thina, ngitsho uKristu;

8 ngakho asigcine umkhosi, kungabi ngemvubelo endala, njalo kungabi ngemvubelo yobubi lokona, kodwa ngesinkwa esingelamvubelo sobuqotho leseqiniso.

9 Ngalibhalela encwadini ukuthi lingahlanganyeli leziphingi;

10 kodwa kungeyisikho ngokupheleleyo leziphingi zalumhlaba kumbe lezihwaba, kumbe labaphangi, kumbe labakhonza izithombe; ngoba phela ngokunjalo kungafanela ukuthi liphume emhlabeni.

11 Kodwa khathesi-ke ngalibhalela ukuthi lingahlanganyeli, nxa umuntu ebizwa ngokuthi ungumzalwane eyisiphingi, kumbe isihwaba, kumbe okhonza izithombe, kumbe isithuki, kumbe isidakwa, kumbe umphangi; lingaze ladla lonje lakanye.

12 Ngoba ngilani lokwahlulela abangaphandle? Lina kalahluleli yini abangaphakathi?

13 Kodwa uNkulunkulu wahlulela abangaphandle. Njalo lina mxotsheni omubi phakathi kwenu.

6

1 Kukhona yini umuntu wakini, othi elecala lomunye, abe lesibindi sokuyakwahlulelwa phambi kwabangalunganga, kungabi phambi kwabangcwele?

2 Kalazi yini ukuthi abangcwele bazakwahlulela umhlaba? Uba-ke umhlaba uzakwahlulelwa yini, kalifanele yini amacala amancinyane?

3 Kalazi yini ukuthi sizazahlulela ingilosi? Kangakanani indaba zalokhukuphila?

4 Ngakho uba lilamacala alokhukuphila, babekeni phezu kwawo labo abadelelekayo ebandleni.

5 Ngikhuluma kini ukuthi libe lenhloni. Ngokunjalo kakho ohlakaniphileyo phakathi kwenu yini, ngitsho loyedwa, ongahlulela phakathi kwabazalwane bakhe?

6 Kodwa umzalwane umangalela umzalwane, lalokho phambi kwabangakholwayo.

7 Ngakho kusekhona isibili ukwehluleka phakathi kwenu, ukuthi lilokumangalelana. Kungani kulalokhu lingavumi ukoniwa? Kungani kulalokhu lingavumi ukuqilibezelwa?

8 Kodwa lina liyona liqilibezele, lalokhu kubazalwane.

9 Kumbe alazi yini ukuthi abangalunganga kabayikulidla ilifa lombuso kaNkulunkulu? Lingakhohliswa; kakulaziphingi, loba abakhonza izithombe, loba izifebe, loba ababuthakathaka ekulalaneni kwabesilisa, loba abesilisa abalalanayo,

10 loba amasela, loba izihwaba, loba izidakwa, loba izithuki, loba abaphangi, abayikulidla ilifa lombuso kaNkulunkulu.

11 Abanye benu babeyilezizinto; kodwa ligezisiwe, kodwa langcweliswa, kodwa lalungisiswa ebizweni leNkosi uJesu Kristu, langoMoya kaNkulunkulu wethu.

12 Zonke izinto zivumelekile kimi, kodwa kayisizo zonke izinto ezisizayo; zonke izinto zivumelekile kimi, kodwa mina kangiyikubuswa lutho.

13 Ukudla ngokwesisu, lesisu ngesokudla; kanti uNkulunkulu uzakuchitha laso lakho. Kodwa umzimba kayisiwo wokuphinga, kodwa ungoweNkosi, njalo iNkosi ingeyomzimba;

14 njalo uNkulunkulu owavusa iNkosi uzasivusa lathi ngamandla akhe.

15 Kalazi yini ukuthi imizimba yenu iyizitho zikaKristu? Pho ngizathatha izitho zikaKristu ngizenze izitho zesifebe yini? Phinde!

16 Kumbe kalazi yini ukuthi onamathelana lesifebe ungumzimba munye laso? Ngoba labo ababili, uthi, bazakuba nyamanye.

17 Kodwa onamathelene leNkosi ungumoya munye layo.

18 Balekelani ukuphinga. Sonke isono umuntu asenzayo singaphandle komzimba; kodwa ophingayo wona umzimba wakhe uqobo.

19 Kumbe kalazi yini ukuthi umzimba wenu ulithempeli likaMoya oNgcwele okini, elilawo uvela kuNkulunkulu? Njalo kalisibo abenu,

20 ngoba lathengwa ngentengo; ngakho dumisani uNkulunkulu emzimbeni wenu, langomoya wenu, okungokukaNkulunkulu.

7

1 Mayelana-ke lezinto elangibhalela ngazo, kuhle emuntwini ukuthi angamthinti owesifazana.

2 Kodwa ngenxa yokuphinga ngulowo lalowo kumele abe lowakhe umfazi, njalo ngulowo lalowomfazi abe leyakhe indoda.

3 Indoda kayenanise kumfazi isifiso esihle esimfaneleyo; langokunjalo lomfazi endodeni.

4 Umfazi kalamandla phezu kowakhe umzimba, kodwa indoda; langokunjalo lendoda kayilamandla phezu kowayo umzimba, kodwa umfazi.

5 Lingagodlelani, ngaphandle kokuvumelana okwesikhathi, ukuthi lizinikele ekuzileni ukudla lekukhulekeni, libuye lihlangane futhi, ukuze uSathane angalilingi ngokungazithibi kwenu.

6 Kodwa lokhu ngikutsho ngemvumo, kungeyisikho ngomlayo.

7 Ngoba ngithanda ukuthi abantu bonke babe njengami labo; kodwa ngulowo lalowo ulesakhe isiphiwo esivela kuNkulunkulu, omunye ngokunjalo, lomunye ngokunjalo.

8 Kodwa kwabangendanga labafelokazi ngithi: Kuhle kibo uba behlala njengami labo.

9 Kodwa uba bengelakuzithiba kabende; ngoba kungcono ukwenda kulokutsha.

10 Kodwa kwabendileyo ngiyabalaya, kungeyisimi kodwa yiNkosi, ukuthi umfazi kangehlukani lendoda;

11 kodwa uba laye esehlukana, kahlale engendanga, kumbe abuyisane lendoda; lendoda kayingamlahli umfazi.

12 Kodwa kwabanye kutsho mina, kungesiyo iNkosi, ukuthi: Uba loba nguwuphi umzalwane elomfazi ongakholwayo, njalo yena evuma ukuhlala laye, angamlahli.

13 Lomfazi olendoda engakholwayo, njalo ivuma ukuhlala laye, angayitshiyi.

14 Ngoba indoda engakholwayo yenziwa ibe ngcwele ngomfazi, lomfazi ongakholwayo wenziwa abe ngcwele ngendoda. Uba kungenjalo abantwana benu ngabangcolileyo, kodwa khathesi bangcwele.

15 Uba-ke ongakholwayo ezehlukanisa, kazehlukanise; kwezinjalo umzalwane kumbe umzalwanekazi kabotshwanga; kodwa uNkulunkulu usibizele ekuthuleni.

16 Ngoba wazi ngani, mfazi, ukuthi uzayisindisa indoda? Kumbe wazi ngani, ndoda, ukuthi uzamsindisa umfazi?

17 Kuphela nje njengokuthi uNkulunkulu ababele ngulowo lalowo, njengoba iNkosi ibizile ngulowo lalowo, akahambe ngokunjalo. Langokunjalo ngiyalaya emabandleni wonke.

18 Ukhona yini owabizwa esokile? Kangabi ngongasokwanga. Ukhona yini owabizwa engasokanga? Kangasokwa.

19 Ukusoka kakusilutho, lokungasoki kakusilutho, kodwa ukulondolozwa kwemilayo kaNkulunkulu.

20 Ngulowo lalowo kahlale kubizo abizwe kulo.

21 Wabizwa uyisigqili yini? Ungakhathazeki ngakho. Kodwa uba lawe ungakhululeka, kungcono ukusebenzise.

22 Ngoba lo obizwa eNkosini eyisigqili ungokhululekileyo weNkosi; ngokunjalo lalowo owabizwa ekhululekile, uyisigqili sikaKristu.

23 Lathengwa ngentengo; lingabi yizigqili zabantu.

24 Ngulowo lalowo abizelwe kukho, bazalwane, kahlale kukho loNkulunkulu.

25 Kodwa mayelana lentombi kangilawo umlayo weNkosi; kodwa ngiyeluleka njengowemukele isihawu eNkosini ukuba athembeke.

26 Ngakho ngikhumbula ukuthi lokhu kuhle ngenxa yenkathazo ezikhona, ukuthi kuhle emuntwini ukubanje.

27 Ubotshelwe emfazini yini? Ungadingi ukukhululwa. Ukhululwe emfazini yini? Ungadingi umfazi.

28 Kodwa uba lawe uthatha, kawoni; lentombi uba isenda, kayoni. Kanti abanjalo bazakuba lenkathazo enyameni; mina-ke ngiyaliphephisa.

29 Kodwa ngitsho lokhu, bazalwane, ukuthi isikhathi sifitshane; kusukela khathesi labalabafazi kababe njengabangelabo;

30 labakhalayo, njengabangakhaliyo; labathokozayo, njengabangathokoziyo; labathengayo, njengabangelalutho;

31 labasebenzisa lumhlaba, njengabangawusebenzisisiyo; ngoba isimo salumhlaba siyedlula.

32 Kodwa ngithanda ukuthi lingabi lakukhathazeka. Ongathathanga ukhathalela izinto zeNkosi, ukuthi uzayithokozisa njani iNkosi;

33 kodwa othetheyo ukhathalela izinto zomhlaba, ukuthi uzamthokozisa njani umfazi.

34 Wehlukene umfazi lentombi. Ongathathwanga ukhathalela okweNkosi, ukuze abe ngcwele emzimbeni kanye lemoyeni; kodwa othethweyo ukhathalela okomhlaba, ukuthi uzayithokozisa njani indoda.

35 Lalokhu ngikutsho ukuthi kube ngolwenu usizo; kungesikuthi ngiliphosele umchilo wokulikhina, kodwa ukuze lihambe ngokufaneleyo lokubambelela eNkosini kungelakuphazamiseka.

36 Kodwa uba umuntu ebona ukuthi uziphatha ngokungafanele entombini yakhe, yona isikhulile, futhi kumele kwenzeke kanje, kenze akufunayo; koni; kabatshade.

37 Kodwa omiyo eqinile enhliziyweni yakhe, engacindezelwa lutho, futhi elamandla ngesakhe isifiso, esekumisile lokhu enhliziyweni yakhe ukuthi uzagcina eyakhe intombi, wenza kuhle;

38 ngakho lowo owendisayo wenza kuhle; kodwa ongendisiyo wenza ngcono.

39 Umfazi ubotshiwe ngomthetho selokhu indoda yakhe iphila; kodwa uba indoda yakhe isifile, ukhululekile ukuthi endele kulowo amthandayo, kuphela eNkosini.

40 Kodwa uyathaba kakhulu uba ehlala enjalo, ngokubona kwami; ngikhumbula-ke ukuthi lami ngiloMoya kaNkulunkulu.

8

1 Mayelana-ke lezinto ezihlatshelwe izithombe, siyazi ukuthi sonke silolwazi. Ulwazi luyakhukhumeza, kodwa uthando luyakha.

2 Uba-ke umuntu esithi uyazi ulutho, kakazi lutho njengoba kufanele ukuthi azi;

3 kodwa uba umuntu ethanda uNkulunkulu, yena uyaziwa nguye.

4 Ngakho mayelana lokudla izinto ezihlatshelwe izithombe, siyazi ukuthi isithombe kasilutho emhlabeni, lokuthi kakho omunye unkulunkulu ngaphandle koyedwa;

5 ngoba lanxa kukhona okuthiwa ngonkulunkulu, loba kusezulwini loba kusemhlabeni (njengoba kukhona onkulunkulu abanengi, lamakhosi amanengi),

6 kanti kithi kuloNkulunkulu munye, uBaba, okuvela kuye izinto zonke, lathi sikuye; leNkosi inye, uJesu Kristu, okwavela ngaye konke, lathi sikhona ngaye.

7 Kodwa ulwazi kalukho kubo bonke; kanti abanye belesazela sesithombe kuze kube khathesi bayadla njengokuhlatshelwe isithombe, lesazela sabo esibuthakathaka siyangcola.

8 Kodwa ukudla kakusisondezi kuNkulunkulu; ngoba kungesikuthi nxa sisidla, silenzuzo; njalo kungesikuthi nxa singadli, silokulahlekelwa.

9 Qaphelani-ke, hlezi amandla enu la abe yisikhubekiso kwababuthakathaka.

10 Ngoba uba umuntu ekubona wena ololwazi uhlezi ekudleni ethempelini lesithombe, isazela salowo obuthakathaka kasiyikuqiniswa yini ukuthi adle izinto ezihlatshelwe izithombe?

11 Ngenxa yolwazi lwakho lomzalwane obuthakathaka uzabhubha yini, amfelayo uKristu?

12 Kodwa uba lisona ngokunjalo kubazalwane, lilimaza isazela sabo esibuthakathaka, liyona kuKristu.

13 Ngakho-ke uba ukudla kumkhubekisa umzalwane wami, kangisoze ngidle inyama loba nininini, ukuze ngingamkhubekisi umzalwane wami.

9

1 Kangisuye umphostoli yini? Kangikhululekanga yini? Angithi ngibone uJesu Kristu iNkosi yethu yini? Lina kalisiwo yini umsebenzi wami eNkosini?

2 Uba ngingesuye umphostoli kwabanye, kodwa nginguye sibili kini; ngoba lina liluphawu lobuphostoli bami eNkosini.

3 Ukuziphendulela kwami kwabangihlolayo yilokhu.

4 Kasilamandla yini okudla lokunatha?

5 Kasilamandla yini okuhambahamba lomzalwanekazi oyinkosikazi, njengabanye abaphostoli labo, labafowabo beNkosi, loKefasi?

6 Kumbe yimi ngedwa loBarnabasi yini esingelamandla okungasebenzi?

7 Ngubani owake waphuma impi ngezakhe indleko? Ngubani ohlanyela isivini, angadli okwesithelo saso? Kumbe ngubani owelusa umhlambi, angadli okochago lomhlambi?

8 Kambe lezizinto ngizitsho ngokomuntu? Kumbe lomlayo kawutsho lezizinto yini?

9 Ngoba kulotshiwe emlayweni kaMozisi ukuthi: Ungayifaki isayeke inkabi nxa ibhula amabele. Kambe uNkulunkulu ukhathalela inkabi?

10 Kumbe utsho ngenxa yethu isibili? Ngoba kubhalwe ngenxa yethu, ukuze kuthi olimayo kufanele alime ethembeni, lobhulayo esethembeni uhlanganyela ethembeni lakhe.

11 Uba thina sahlanyela kini okomoya, kuyinto enkulu yini uba sivuna okwenu okwenyama?

12 Uba abanye behlanganyela lamandla phezu kwenu, kakhulu kangakanani thina? Kodwa kasiwasebenzisanga lawomandla, kodwa sibekezelela konke, ukuze singabeki isikhubekiso lakanye evangelini likaKristu.

13 Kalazi yini ukuthi labo abasebenza ezintweni ezingcwele badla okwethempeli, labo abalinda ilathi bahlanganyela lelathi?

14 Ngokunjalo iNkosi layo ilayile ukuthi labo abatshumayela ivangeli baphile ngevangeli.

15 Kodwa mina angisebenzisanga lalunye lwalezizinto; futhi kangibhalanga lezizinto ukuze kwenziwe njalo kimi, ngoba kungaba ngcono kimi ukuthi ngife, kulokuthi umuntu akwenze ize ukuzincoma kwami.

16 Ngoba loba ngitshumayela ivangeli, kangilakuzincoma; ngoba imfanelo yetheswe mina; kodwa maye kimi, uba ngingatshumayeli ivangeli!

17 Ngoba uba ngisenza lokhu ngokuzithandela, ngilomvuzo; kodwa nxa kungeyisikho ngokuzithandela, ubuphathi bunikelwe kimi.

18 Pho umvuzo wami uyini? Uyikuthi nxa ngitshumayela ivangeli ngenze ukuthi ivangeli likaKristu lingabizi lutho, ukuze ngingasebenzisi kakhulu amandla ami evangelini.

19 Ngoba ngikhululekile kibo bonke, ngizenze isigqili sabo bonke, ukuze ngizuze abanengi kakhulu.

20 LakumaJuda ngaba njengomJuda, ukuze ngizuze amaJuda; kwabangaphansi komlayo njengongaphansi komlayo, ukuze ngizuze abangaphansi komlayo;

21 kwabangelamlayo njengongelamlayo, ngingesuye ongelamlayo kuNkulunkulu kodwa ngiphakathi komlayo kuKristu, ukuze ngizuze abangelamlayo;

22 kwababuthakathaka ngaba njengobuthakathaka, ukuze ngizuze ababuthakathaka; ngaba yikho konke kubo bonke, ukuze ngakho konke ngisindise abanye.

23 Lalokho ngikwenza ngenxa yevangeli, ukuze lami ngibe ngohlanganyela kulo.

24 Kalazi yini ukuthi abagijima emjahweni bagijima bonke, kodwa munye owemukela umvuzo; gijimani ngokunjalo, ukuze liwuphuthume.

25 Labo bonke abancintisanayo bayazithiba ezintweni zonke; labo-ke ukuze bemukele umqhele ophelayo, kodwa thina ongapheliyo.

26 Mina-ke ngigijima ngokunjalo njengongaqondanga lutho; ngilwa ngokunjalo kungenjengodabula umoya;

27 kodwa ngiyawudinda umzimba wami ngiwenze isigqili, hlezi kuthi, sengitshumayeze abanye ngilahlwe mina uqobo.

10

1 Kangithandi-ke ukuthi lingazi, bazalwane, ukuthi bonke obaba bethu babengaphansi kweyezi, njalo bonke badabula ulwandle,

2 futhi bonke babhabhathizwa kuMozisi eyezini lolwandle,

3 labo bonke badla ukudla kunye komoya,

4 futhi bonke banatha okunathwayo kunye komoya; ngoba banatha edwaleni lomoya elabalandelayo; lalelodwala lalinguKristu.

5 Kodwa ubunengi babo uNkulunkulu wayengathokozi ngabo; ngoba bachithwa enkangala.

6 Lalezizinto zaba yizibonelo kithi, ukuze singaloyisi okubi, njengalokhu labo baloyisa.

7 Njalo lingabi ngabakhonza izithombe, njengabanye babo; njengokulotshiweyo ukuthi: Abantu bahlala phansi ukudla lokunatha, basebesukuma ukudlala.

8 Njalo kasingaphingi, njengabanye babo abaphingayo, basebesiwa ngasuku lunye inkulungwane ezingamatshumi amabili lantathu.

9 Njalo asingamlingi uKristu, njengabanye babo futhi bamlinga, basebebhujiswa zinyoka.

10 Lingasoli-ke, njengabanye babo labo basola, babhujiswa ngumbhubhisi.

11 Lalezizinto zonke zabehlela labo kube yizibonelo, njalo zabhalelwa ukuba yisixwayiso sethu, osekufike ukucina kwezikhathi.

12 Ngakho lowo ocabanga ukuthi umi, kabone ukuthi kawi.

13 Kakulakulingwa okulibambileyo ngaphandle kokusebantwini; kodwa uNkulunkulu uthembekile, ongayikuvuma ukuthi lilingwe ngokungaphezu kwamandla enu, kanti kanye lesilingo uzakwenza lendlela yokuphepha, ukuze libe lamandla okusithwala.

14 Ngakho-ke, bathandiweyo bami, balekelani ukukhonza izithombe.

15 Ngikhuluma njengakwabahlakaniphileyo, lina yehlukanisani engikutshoyo.

16 Inkezo yesibusiso esiyibusisayo, kayisiyo yini eyokuhlanganyela kwegazi likaKristu? Isinkwa esisihlephunayo, kayisiso yini esokuhlanganyela komzimba kaKristu?

17 Ngoba thina abanengi siyisinkwa sinye, simzimba munye; ngoba thina sonke sihlanganyela sinkwa sinye.

18 Khangelani uIsrayeli ngokwenyama; abadlayo imihlatshelo kabasibo yini abahlanganyela lelathi?

19 Ngithini pho? Ukuthi isithombe siyilutho yini? Kumbe ukuthi okuhlatshelwe izithombe kuyilutho?

20 Kodwa ukuthi izinto abezizwe abazihlabayo, bazihlabela amadimoni, njalo kungeyisikho kuNkulunkulu; kodwa kangithandi ukuthi libe lenhlanganyelo lamadimoni.

21 Lingenathe inkezo yeNkosi lenkezo yamadimoni; lingehlanganyele itafula leNkosi letafula lamadimoni.

22 Kumbe sizayivusela umona iNkosi? Kambe silamandla kulayo?

23 Zonke izinto zivunyelwe kimi, kodwa kayisizo zonke izinto ezisizayo. Zonke izinto zivunyelwe kimi, kodwa kayisizo zonke izinto ezakhayo.

24 Kakungabi khona ozidingela okwakhe, kodwa ngulowo lalowo okomunye.

25 Konke okuthengiswa esilaheni kudleni, lingabuzi lutho ngenxa yesazela;

26 ngoba umhlaba ungoweNkosi lokugcwala kwawo.

27 Njalo uba omunye kwabangakholwayo elinxusa, njalo lithanda ukuya, dlanini konke okubekwa phambi kwenu, lingabuzi lutho ngenxa yesazela.

28 Kodwa uba umuntu esithi kini: Lokhu kuhlatshelwe isithombe; lingadli ngenxa yalowo olitshelileyo lesazela; ngoba umhlaba ungoweNkosi lokugcwala kwawo.

29 Kodwa isazela ngithi, esingeyisiso esakho, kodwa esomunye; ngoba kungani inkululeko yami yahlulelwe yisazela somunye?

30 Njalo uba mina ngomusa ngihlanganyela, ngikhulunyelwani kubi ngalokho mina engikubongayo?

31 Ngakho uba lisidla, loba linatha, loba lisenzani, konke kwenzeleni udumo lukaNkulunkulu.

32 Lingabi ngabakhubekisi lakumaJuda lakumaGriki lebandleni likaNkulunkulu;

33 njengami futhi ezintweni zonke ngithokozisa bonke, ngingadingi olwami usizo, kodwa olwabanengi, ukuze basindiswe.

11

1 Banini ngabalandeli bami, njengoba lami okaKristu.

2 Ngiyalidumisa-ke, bazalwane, ukuthi liyangikhumbula ezintweni zonke, lokuthi libambelele ezimisweni njengoba ngalinika.

3 Kodwa ngithanda ukuthi lazi, ukuthi inhloko yawo wonke amadoda nguKristu; lenhloko yowesifazana yindoda; lenhloko kaKristu nguNkulunkulu.

4 Yonke indoda ekhulekayo loba eprofethayo, ilolutho ekhanda ilithela ihlazo ikhanda layo.

5 Kodwa wonke owesifazana okhuleka kumbe aprofethe ikhanda lingambombozwanga, ulithela ihlazo elakhe ikhanda; ngoba lokhu kufanana-ke lophuciweyo.

6 Ngoba uba owesifazana engagubuzeli, futhi kagele; kodwa uba kukubi kowesifazana ukugela kumbe ukuphucwa, kagutshuzelwe.

7 Ngoba indoda kayifanele ukumbomboza ikhanda, ngoba ingumfanekiso lodumo lukaNkulunkulu; kodwa owesifazana uludumo lwendoda.

8 Ngoba indoda kayivelanga kowesifazana, kodwa owesifazana endodeni;

9 ngoba futhi indoda kayidalelwanga owesifazana, kodwa owesifazana indoda;

10 ngenxa yalokhu owesifazana kufanele abe lamandla phezu kwekhanda ngenxa yezingilosi.

11 Kodwa indoda kayingaphandle kowesifazana, lowesifazana kangaphandle kwendoda, eNkosini.

12 Ngoba njengoba owesifazana evela endodeni, ngokunjalo lendoda ivela ngowesifazana, kodwa konke kuvela kuNkulunkulu.

13 Ziboneleni lina; kufanele yini ukuthi owesifazana akhuleke kuNkulunkulu engambombozanga?

14 Imvelo uqobo lwayo kayilifundisi yini, ukuthi uba indoda ilenwele ezinde, kulihlazo kuyo?

15 Kodwa uba owesifazana elenwele ezinde, kuludumo kuye. Ngoba inwele uziphiwe ukuthi zibe yisimbombozo.

16 Kodwa uba umuntu ebonakala elenkani, thina kasilawo umkhuba onjalo, ngitsho lamabandla kaNkulunkulu.

17 Kodwa ngokulaya lokhu kangidumisi, ngoba libuthana ngokungekuhle kodwa ngokubi.

18 Okokuqala ngoba nxa libuthana ebandleni, ngizwa ukuthi kukhona ukwehlukana phakathi kwenu; njalo nganxanye ngiyakukholwa.

19 Ngoba kufanele ukuba lobubhazuka futhi phakathi kwenu, ukuze labo abaqinisileyo babonakale phakathi kwenu.

20 Ngakho nxa libuthana ndawonye, lokhu kakusikho ukudla isidlo seNkosi;

21 ngoba ngulowo lalowo uthatha kuqala esakhe isidlo ekudleni, lomunye ulambile, lomunye udakiwe.

22 Kanti kalilazo izindlu zokudlela lezokunathela? Kumbe lidelela ibandla likaNkulunkulu, liyangise yini abangelalutho? Ngingathini kini? Ngingalidumisa kulokhu yini? Kangilidumisi.

23 Ngoba mina ngakwemukela eNkosini, lokho lami engalinika khona, ukuthi iNkosi uJesu ngobusuku eyanikelwa ngabo yathatha isinkwa,

24 isibongile yasihlephuna, yathi: Thathani, lidle, lokhu kungumzimba wami owahletshunelwa lina; lokhu kwenzeni ukungikhumbula.

25 Ngokunjalo lenkezo, sebedlile, yathi: Inkezo le iyisivumelwano esitsha egazini lami; lokhu kwenzeni, loba nini liyinatha, ukungikhumbula.

26 Ngoba loba nini nxa lisidla lesisinkwa, linatha linkezo, litshumayela ukufa kweNkosi ize ifike.

27 Ngakho loba ngubani odla lesisinkwa kumbe anathe inkezo yeNkosi ngokungafanelanga, uzakuba lecala lomzimba legazi leNkosi.

28 Kodwa umuntu kumele azihlole, ngokunjalo-ke adle okwesinkwa anathe okwenkezo;

29 ngoba odlayo anathe ngokungafanele, uzidlela azinathele isigwebo, engawehlukanisi umzimba weNkosi.

30 Ngenxa yalokhu banengi kini ababuthakathaka labagulayo, lenengi lilele.

31 Kodwa uba besizihlolile thina, besingayikwahlulelwa;

32 kodwa nxa sisahlulelwa, sikhuzwa yiNkosi, ukuze singalahlwa kanye lomhlaba.

33 Ngakho, bazalwane bami, nxa libuthana ukuthi lidle, kalibomelelana.

34 Njalo uba omunye elambile, kabokudla ekhaya; ukuze lingabuthaneli ukugwetshwa. Okuseleyo-ke, ngizakulungisa mhla ngifikayo.

12

1 Mayelana-ke lezipho zomoya, bazalwane, kangithandi ukuthi lingazi.

2 Lazi ukuthi lalingabezizwe lakhokhelelwa ezithombeni eziyizimungulu, njengabadonswayo.

3 Ngakho ngiyalazisa, ukuthi kakho umuntu okhuluma ngoMoya kaNkulunkulu othi: UJesu uyisiqalekiso; futhi kakho umuntu ongathi: UJesu uyiNkosi, ngaphandle ngoMoya oNgcwele.

4 Kukhona-ke izipho ezehlukeneyo, kodwa uMoya munye.

5 Njalo kukhona inkonzo ezehlukeneyo, kodwa iNkosi yinye.

6 Kukhona-ke imisebenzi eyehlukeneyo, kodwa nguNkulunkulu munye, osebenza konke kibo bonke.

7 Kodwa ngulowo lalowo uphiwa ukubonakalisa kukaMoya kulokho okulusizo.

8 Ngoba omunye uphiwa ngoMoya ilizwi lenhlakanipho, lakomunye ilizwi lolwazi, ngoMoya ofananayo;

9 lakomunye ukholo, ngoMoya ofananayo; lakomunye izipho zokusilisa, ngoMoya ofananayo;

10 lakomunye imisebenzi yamandla, lakomunye isiprofetho, lakomunye ukwehlukanisa imimoya, lakomunye inhlobo yendimi, lakomunye ukuchasisa indimi;

11 kodwa konke lokho uMoya munye ofananayo uyakusebenza, ebabela ngulowo lalowo ngamunye njengokuthanda kwakhe.

12 Ngoba njengoba umzimba umunye, njalo ulezitho ezinengi, kodwa zonke izitho zalowomzimba munye, zizinengi, zingumzimba munye; kunjalo-ke loKristu;

13 ngoba ngoMoya munye lathi sonke sabhabhathizelwa emzimbeni munye, loba amaJuda loba amaGriki, loba izigqili loba abakhululekileyo; futhi thina sonke sanathiswa kuMoya munye.

14 Ngoba umzimba lawo kawusiso isitho sinye kodwa ezinengi.

15 Uba unyawo lungathi: Lokhu ngingesisandla, kangisikho okomzimba; kungeyisikho ngalokho kakusilo olomzimba;

16 uba-ke indlebe ingathi: Lokhu ngingesilo ilihlo, kangisikho okomzimba; kungeyisikho ngalokho kayisiyo yini eyomzimba?

17 Uba umzimba wonke ubuyilihlo, ngabe kungaphi ukuzwa? Uba wonke ubuyikuzwa, ngabe kungaphi ukunuka?

18 Kodwa khathesi-ke uNkulunkulu umisile izitho, yileso laleso sazo, emzimbeni, njengokuthanda kwakhe.

19 Kodwa uba zonke beziyisitho sinye, umzimba ngabe ungaphi?

20 Kodwa khathesi izitho zinengi, kodwa umzimba munye.

21 Ilihlo-ke lingeke latsho esandleni ukuthi: Kangikusweli. Kumbe futhi ikhanda ezinyaweni ukuthi: Kangilisweli;

22 kodwa kakhulukazi izitho zomzimba ezikhangeleka zibuthakathaka kakhulu, ziyadingeka;

23 lalezo ezomzimba esicabanga ukuthi zidelelekile kakhulu, yizo esizihlonipha ngokwengezelelwe kakhulu; lalezo ezethu ezingezinhle zilobuhle obengezelelwe kakhulu;

24 kanti ezinhle zethu kazikusweli; kodwa uNkulunkulu wawuhlanganisa umzimba, enika udumo olwengezelelwe kakhulu kwesikuswelayo,

25 ukuze kungabi khona ukwehlukana emzimbeni, kodwa izitho zinanzelelane ngokufananayo.

26 Uba-ke kuhlupheka isitho sinye, izitho zonke zihlupheka kanye laso; uba kudunyiswa isitho sinye, izitho zonke ziyajabula kanye laso.

27 Lina-ke lingumzimba kaKristu, lezitho ngamunye ngamunye.

28 Njalo uNkulunkulu umisile abathile ebandleni kuqala abaphostoli, okwesibili abaprofethi, okwesithathu abafundisi, besekusiba amandla, besekusiba izipho zokusilisa, izenzo ezisizayo, ubukhokheli, indimi ezehlukeneyo.

29 Bonke bangabaphostoli yini? Bonke bangabaprofethi yini? Bonke bangabafundisi yini? Bonke benza amandla yini?

30 Bonke balezipho zokusilisa yini? Bonke bakhuluma ngendimi yini? Bonke bayachasisa yini?

31 Kodwa fisani kakhulu izipho ezingcono. Njalo ngisalitshengisa indlela engcono kakhulukazi.

13

1 Nxa ngingakhuluma ngendimi zabantu lezezingilosi, kodwa ngingelathando, ngizakuba lithusi elikhalayo kumbe insimbi encencethayo.

2 Njalo loba ngingaba lesiprofetho, ngisazi imfihlo zonke lokwazi konke, njalo uba ngilokholo lonke, ukuze ngisuse izintaba, kodwa ngingelathando, angisilutho.

3 Njalo loba ngingabela abayanga konke engilakho, njalo uba nginganikela umzimba wami ukuthi ngitshiswe, kodwa ngingelathando, kakungisizi ngalutho.

4 Uthando luyabekezela, lulobubele; uthando kalulamona; uthando kaluzincomi, kalukhukhunyezwa,

5 kaluziphathi ngokungafanelanga, kaluzidingeli okwalo, kalucunuki, kalunakani okubi,

6 kaluthokozi ngokungalunganga, kodwa luthokoza eqinisweni;

7 lusibekela izinto zonke, lukholwa izinto zonke, luthemba izinto zonke, lubekezelela izinto zonke.

8 Uthando kalungeke lwehluleke. Kumbe-ke iziprofetho, zizakwenziwa ziphele; kumbe indimi, zizakhawula; kumbe ulwazi, luzakwenziwa luphele.

9 Ngoba sazi nganxanye, siprofetha nganxanye;

10 kodwa lapho sekufikile okupheleleyo, khona okuyingxenye kuzakwenziwa ize.

11 Lapho ngilusane, ngakhuluma njengosane, ngaqedisisa njengosane, nganakana njengosane; kodwa kuthe sengiyindoda, ngazenza ize izinto zosane.

12 Ngoba khathesi sibona esibukweni kaluvivi, kodwa ngalesosikhathi ubuso ngobuso; khathesi ngazi nganxanye, kodwa ngalesosikhathi ngizakwazi njengoba-ke ngangisaziwa.

13 Njalo khathesi-ke kumi ukholo, ithemba, uthando, lokhu kokuthathu; kodwa okukhulu kulokhu luthando.

14

1 Landelani uthando; lifise kakhulu izipho zomoya, kodwa ikakhulu ukuthi liprofethe.

2 Ngoba okhuluma ngendimi kakhulumi ebantwini, kodwa kuNkulunkulu; ngoba kakho ozwayo, kanti ukhuluma izimfihlo ngomoya.

3 Kodwa oprofethayo ukhuluma ebantwini ukwakha lenkuthazo lenduduzo.

4 Okhuluma ngendimi uyazakha yena, kodwa oprofethayo wakha ibandla.

5 Njalo ngiyathanda ukuthi lonke likhulume ngendimi, kodwa kakhulu ukuthi liprofethe; ngoba oprofethayo mkhulu kulokhuluma ngendimi, ngaphandle kokuthi atolike, ukuze ibandla lemukele ukwakhiwa.

6 Khathesi-ke, bazalwane, uba ngifika kini ngikhuluma ngendimi, ngizalisiza ngani, nxa ngingakhulumi kini kumbe ekwembulelweni, loba ekwazini, loba kusiprofetho, kumbe ekufundiseni?

7 Ngokunjalo izinto ezingelampilo ezikhalayo, loba umhlanga, loba ichacho, uba zinganiki umehluko ngokukhala, kuzakwaziwa njani okuvuthelwayo ngomhlanga kumbe okutshaywayo ngomqangala?

8 Ngoba-ke nxa uphondo lunika ukukhala okungaqondakaliyo, ngubani ozazilungisela impi?

9 Kunjalo lani, uba linganiki inkulumo ecacileyo ngolimi, kuzakwaziwa njani okukhulunywayo? Ngoba lizakuba likhuluma emoyeni.

10 Kukhona, nxa kungenzakala, imihlobo eminengi kangaka yemisindo emhlabeni kodwa kawukho ongatsho lutho;

11 ngakho uba ngingawazi umqondo welizwi, ngizakuba ngowezizweni kulowo okhulumayo, lalowo okhulumayo uzakuba ngowezizweni kimi.

12 Kunjalo lani, lokhu litshisekela izipho zomoya, dingani ukuthi livame ekwakhiweni kwebandla.

13 Ngakho-ke okhulumayo ngendimi kakhuleke ukuthi atolike.

14 Ngoba uba ngikhuleka ngendimi, umoya wami uyakhuleka, kodwa ingqondo yami kayilasithelo.

15 Ngakho kuyini? Ngizakhuleka ngomoya, njalo ngizakhuleka langengqondo; ngizahlabelela indumiso ngomoya, njalo ngizahlabelela indumiso langengqondo.

16 Uba kungenjalo, nxa ubonga ngomoya, lowo ogcwalisa indawo yongafundanga uzamutsho njani uAmeni ekubongeni kwakho, lokhu engakwazi okutshoyo?

17 Ngoba isibili wena ubonga kuhle, kodwa omunye kakhiwa.

18 Ngiyambonga uNkulunkulu wami ukuthi ngikhuluma ngendimi kakhulu kulani lonke;

19 kodwa ebandleni ngithanda ukukhuluma amazwi amahlanu ngengqondo yami, ukuze ngifundise labanye, kulokuthi amazwi ayizinkulungwane ezilitshumi ngendimi.

20 Bazalwane, lingabi ngabantwana engqondweni; kodwa ebubini banini zingane, lekunakaneni libe ngabakhulileyo.

21 Emlayweni kulotshiwe ukuthi: Ngezinye indimi langezinye indebe ngizakhuluma lalesisizwe, langokunjalo labo kabayikungizwa, itsho iNkosi.

22 Ngakho indimi zingezesibonakaliso, kungeyisikho kwabakholwayo, kodwa kwabangakholwayo; kanti isiprofetho, kungayisiso sabangakholwayo, kodwa sabakholwayo.

23 Ngakho uba ibandla lonke libuthene ndawonye, labo bonke bakhulume ngendimi, besekungena abangafundanga loba abangakholwayo, kabazukuthi liyahlanya yini?

24 Kodwa uba bonke beprofetha, njalo kungene othile ongakholwayo loba ongafundanga, uyakhuzwa yibo bonke, ahlolwe yibo bonke,

25 langokunjalo izinto ezifihliweyo zenhliziyo yakhe ziyadalulwa; ngokunjalo uzakuwa ngobuso akhonze uNkulunkulu, ebika ukuthi uNkulunkulu ngoqotho uphakathi kwenu.

26 Ngakho kuyini, bazalwane? Loba nini libuthana, ngulowo lalowo wenu elesihlabelelo, elemfundiso, elolimi, elesambulelo, elokutolika. Konke kakwenzelwe ekwakheni.

27 Uba umuntu ekhuluma ngendimi, kakube ngababili kumbe ebunengini abathathu, njalo badedelane, lomunye kumele atolike;

28 kodwa uba kungekho umtoliki, kumele athule ebandleni; akhulume kuye ngokwakhe lakuNkulunkulu.

29 Abaprofethi-ke ababili loba abathathu kabakhulume, labanye kabahlolisise.

30 Kodwa uba kusembulwa komunye ohleziyo, kathule owokuqala.

31 Ngoba lonke lingaprofetha munye ngamunye, ukuze bonke bafunde, njalo bonke bakhuthazwe;

32 lemimoya yabaprofethi iyathotshiselwa abaprofethi.

33 Ngoba uNkulunkulu kayisuye owesiphithiphithi, kodwa ngowokuthula, njengemabandleni wonke abangcwele.

34 Abesifazana benu kabathule emabandleni; ngoba kabavunyelwa ukukhuluma, kodwa ukuzithoba, njengoba lawo umlayo usitsho.

35 Uba-ke bethanda ukufunda ulutho, kababuze kubomkabo ekhaya; ngoba kulihlazo kowesifazana ukukhuluma ebandleni.

36 Kumbe ilizwi likaNkulunkulu laphuma kini? Kumbe lafika kini lodwa yini?

37 Uba umuntu ecabanga ukuthi ungumprofethi loba ungowomoya, umele ukwemukela izinto engilibhalela zona, ukuthi ziyimilayo yeNkosi;

38 uba umuntu engazi, kumele engazi.

39 Ngakho, bazalwane, tshisekelani ukuprofetha, njalo lingakuvimbeli ukukhuluma ngendimi;

40 konke kakwenziwe ngemfanelo langokulandelana.

15

1 Ngakho, bazalwane, ngilazisa ivangeli engalitshumayeza lona, lani elalemukelayo, njalo elimi kulo,

2 njalo elisindiswa ngalo; uba libambelela emazwini lawo awevangeli engalitshumayela kini, ngaphandle kokuthi lakholwa ize.

3 Ngoba okokuqala ngalinika lokho engakwemukelayo lami, ukuthi uKristu wafa ngenxa yezono zethu, njengokwemibhalo;

4 lokuthi wangcwatshwa; lokuthi wavuswa kwabafileyo ngosuku lwesithathu, njengokwemibhalo;

5 lokuthi wabonakala kuKefasi, emva kwalokho kwabalitshumi lambili;

6 emva kwalokho wabonakala ngesikhathi sinye kubazalwane abedlula amakhulu amahlanu, ubunengi babo basekhona kuze kube lamuhla, kodwa labanye sebalala;

7 emva kwalokho wabonakala kuJakobe, emva kwalokho wabonakala kubaphostoli bonke;

8 lekucineni kwabo bonke wabonakala lakimi njengongazalwanga ngesikhathi esiqondileyo.

9 Ngoba mina ngingomncinyane kubaphostoli, engingafanele ukuthiwa ngumphostoli, ngoba ngazingela ibandla likaNkulunkulu.

10 Kodwa ngomusa kaNkulunkulu ngiyikho lokho engiyikho khona, lomusa wakhe okimi kawubanga yize; kodwa ngisebenze okwengezelelwe kulabo bonke, kanti kungesimi, kodwa ngumusa kaNkulunkulu olami.

11 Ngakho loba kuyimi, loba kuyibo, ngokunjalo sitshumayela langokunjalo lakholwa.

12 Kodwa uba uKristu etshunyayelwa ukuthi uvusiwe kwabafileyo, batsho njani abanye phakathi kwenu ukuthi kakukho ukuvuka kwabafileyo?

13 Kodwa uba kungekho ukuvuka kwabafileyo, kavuswanga laye uKristu;

14 uba-ke uKristu engavuswanga, ngakho ukutshumayela kwethu kuyize, lokholo lwenu lalo luyize,

15 lathi futhi sificwa singabafakazi bamanga bakaNkulunkulu, ngoba safakaza ngoNkulunkulu ukuthi wamvusa uKristu, ongamvusanga, nxa sibili abafileyo bengavuswa.

16 Ngoba uba abafileyo bengavuswa, kavuswanga laye uKristu;

17 njalo uba uKristu engavuswanga, ukholo lwenu luyize; lisesezonweni zenu.

18 Ngakho lalabo abalele bekuKristu sebaphela.

19 Uba singabathembela kuKristu kule impilo kuphela, singabalosizi kulabo bonke abantu.

20 Kodwa khathesi-ke uKristu uvusiwe kwabafileyo, waba yisithelo sokuqala sabaleleyo.

21 Ngoba lokhu ngomuntu ukufa kweza, langomuntu ukuvuka kwabafileyo kweza.

22 Ngoba njengalokhu kuAdamu bonke bayafa, ngokunjalo futhi kuKristu bonke bazakwenziwa baphile.

23 Kodwa ngulowo lalowo ngesakhe isigaba; isithelo sokuqala uKristu, besekusiba ngabakaKristu ekufikeni kwakhe,

24 besekusiba ukuphela, lapho esenikela umbuso kuNkulunkulu uBaba, lalapho esechithile konke ukubusa labo bonke ubukhosi lamandla.

25 Ngoba umele yena ukubusa, aze abeke zonke izitha zakhe ngaphansi kwenyawo zakhe.

26 Isitha sokucina esizachithwa yikufa.

27 Ngoba izinto zonke uzehlisele ngaphansi kwenyawo zakhe. Kodwa nxa esithi izinto zonke zehlisiwe, kusobala ukuthi ungaphandle kwazo ozehlisileyo izinto zonke ngaphansi kwakhe.

28 Nxa izinto zonke sezehlisiwe ngaphansi kwakhe, lapho-ke layo iNdodana ngokwayo izazehlisa ngaphansi kwalowo owehlisela zonke izinto ngaphansi kwayo, ukuze uNkulunkulu abe yikho konke kukho konke.

29 Pho, bazakwenzani ababhabhathizelwa abafileyo uba abafileyo bengavuki isibili? Babhabhathizelwa labo abafileyo njani?

30 Kungani lathi sisengozini ihola ngehola?

31 Ngiyafa usuku ngosuku, ngiyaqinisa ngokuzincoma ngani engilakho kuKristu Jesu iNkosi yethu.

32 Uba ngokwabantu ngalwa lezilo eEfesu, nzuzo bani kimi, uba abafileyo bengavuki? Asidle sinathe, ngoba kusasa siyafa.

33 Lingakhohliswa; ukwejwayelana lababi kuyonakalisa izimilo ezinhle.

34 Vusani ingqondo ngokulunga njalo lingoni; ngoba abanye balokungamazi uNkulunkulu; ngikhulumela ukuthi libe lenhloni.

35 Kodwa omunye uzakuthi: Abafileyo bavuswa njani? Njalo beza lomzimba onjani?

36 Siphukuphuku, lokho okuhlanyelayo wena, kakwenziwa kuphile ngaphandle kokuthi kufe;

37 lalokho okuhlanyelayo, kawuhlanyeli umzimba ozakuba khona, kodwa uhlamvu oluze, mhlawumbe, olwebele kumbe olokunye nje;

38 kodwa uNkulunkulu uyinika umzimba njengokuthanda kwakhe, lakuleyo laleyo yenhlanyelo owayo umzimba.

39 Inyama yonke kayisinyamanye; kodwa enye yinyama yabantu, lenye yinyama yenyamazana, lenye eyenhlanzi, lenye eyezinyoni.

40 Ikhona lemizimba yezulwini, lemizimba yemhlabeni; kodwa yehlukene inkazimulo yezulu, njalo yehlukene leyemhlabeni.

41 Enye yinkazimulo yelanga, lenye yinkazimulo yenyanga, lenye yinkazimulo yezinkanyezi; ngoba inkanyezi yehlukile kwenye inkanyezi enkazimulweni.

42 Kunjalo-ke ukuvuka kwabafileyo. Kuhlanyelwa ekuboleni, kuyavuswa kungekho ekuboleni;

43 kuhlanyelwa ekudelweni, kuvuswe enkazimulweni; kuhlanyelwa ebuthakathakeni, kuvuswe emandleni;

44 kuhlanyelwa umzimba wemvelo, kuvuswe umzimba womoya. Kukhona umzimba wemvelo, njalo kukhona umzimba womoya.

45 Langokunjalo kulotshiwe ukuthi: Umuntu wokuqala uAdamu waba ngumphefumulo ophilayo; uAdamu wokucina ngumoya ophilisayo.

46 Kodwa okokuqala kakusikho okomoya, kodwa okwemvelo, besekusiza okomoya.

47 Umuntu wokuqala wavela emhlabeni, ungowomhlabathi; umuntu wesibili uyiNkosi evela ezulwini.

48 Njengoba enjalo owomhlabathi, banjalo labo abomhlabathi; lanjengoba enjalo owezulwini, banjalo labo abezulwini;

49 futhi njengoba silesimo sowomhlabathi, lathi sizakuba lesimo sowezulwini.

50 Kodwa ngitsho lokhu, bazalwane, ukuthi inyama legazi kungelidle ilifa lombuso kaNkulunkulu; lokubola kakulidli ilifa lokungaboli.

51 Khangelani, ngilitshela imfihlo: Kasiyikulala sonke, kodwa sizaphendulwa sonke,

52 ngesikhatshana, ngokucwayiza kwelihlo, ekukhaleni kophondo lokucina; ngoba uphondo luzakhala, labafileyo bazavuswa bengelakubola, lathi sizaphendulwa.

53 Ngoba lokhu okubolayo kumele ukwembatha ukungaboli, lalokho okufayo kwembathe ukungafi.

54 Nxa-ke lokho okubolayo sekwembethe ukungaboli, lalokho okufayo sekwembethe ukungafi, kuzakwenzeka ngalesosikhathi ilizwi elilotshiweyo lokuthi: Ukufa kuginyiwe ekunqobeni.

55 Lungaphi, kufa, udonsi lwakho? Kungaphi, ngcwaba, ukunqoba kwakho?

56 Lodonsi lokufa yisono; lamandla esono ngumlayo.

57 Kodwa kabongwe uNkulunkulu osinika ukunqoba ngeNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu.

58 Ngakho, bazalwane bami abathandekayo, manini, linganyikinyeki, lengezelelwe emsebenzini weNkosi kokuphela, lazi ukuthi ukutshikatshika kwenu kakusilo ize eNkosini.

16

1 Mayelana-ke lokuqoqelwa okwabangcwele, njengoba ngalaya amabandla eGalathiya, yenzani ngokunjalo lani.

2 Ngalo lonke usuku lokuqala lweviki kakube ngulowo lalowo wenu azibekele aqogelele loba yini aphumelela ngayo, ukuze kungabi ng’khona kuzaqoqwa nxa ngifikayo.

3 Njalo loba nini ekufikeni kwami, loba ngobani elibakhethileyo, ngezincwadi, laba ngizabathuma ukuze base isipho senu somusa eJerusalema;

4 njalo uba kufanele ukuthi lami ngihambe, bazahamba lami.

5 Kodwa ngizakuza kini, nxa sengidabule eMakedoniya; ngoba ngizadabula eMakedoniya;

6 futhi ngingahle ngihlale lani, loba ngiqede lobusika, ukuze lina lingidlulisele loba ngaphi lapho engiya khona.

7 Ngoba kangifisi ukulibona khathesinje ekwedluleni; kodwa ngithemba ukuhlala lani isikhathi esithile, uba iNkosi ivuma.

8 Kodwa ngizahlala eEfesu kuze kufike iPentekoste*;

9 ngoba ngivulelwe umnyango omkhulu lolamandla, labaphikisayo banengi.

10 Nxa-ke uTimothi engafika, bonani ukuthi ulani engelakwesaba; ngoba usebenza umsebenzi weNkosi njengami futhi.

11 Ngakho kakungabi khona omdelelayo; kodwa mdluliseni ngokuthula, ukuze eze kimi; ngoba ngimlindele kanye labazalwane.

12 Njalo mayelana lomzalwane uApolosi, ngamkhuthaza kakhulu ukuze eze kini kanye labazalwane; kodwa kwakungesiyo intando yakhe lakanye ukuthi eze khathesi, kodwa uzakuza nxa eselethuba.

13 Lindani, lime ekholweni, liziphathe njengamadoda, libe lamandla.

14 Izinto zenu zonke kazenziwe ngothando.

15 Futhi ngiyalincenga bazalwane, liyayazi indlu kaStefana, ukuthi yisithelo sokuqala seAkaya, lokuthi bazimisele ukusebenzela abangcwele;

16 ukuze lani lehliselwe ngaphansi kwabanjalo, labo bonke abasebenza kanye lathi betshikatshika.

17 Sengithokoza ngokufika kukaStefana loFortunatu loAkayiko, ngoba bona bagcwalisile ukusilela kwenu;

18 ngoba bawuvuselele umoya wami lowenu. Ngakho bananzeleleni abanjalo.

19 Amabandla eAsiya ayalibingelela; bayalibingelela kakhulu eNkosini oAkwila loPrisila, kanye lebandla elisemzini wabo.

20 Bonke abazalwane bayalibingelela. Bingelelanani ngokwanga okungcwele.

21 Isibingelelo ngesami isandla esikaPawuli.

22 Uba umuntu engayithandi iNkosi uJesu Kristu, kabe yisithuko. Woza Nkosi!

23 Umusa weNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu kawube lani.

24 Uthando lwami kalube lani lonke kuKristu Jesu. Ameni.

AMAZING GRACE BIBLE INSTITUTE