Doing Helpful Things
1 Remind your people to obey the rulers and authorities and not to be rebellious. They must always be ready to do something helpful 2 and not say cruel things or argue. They should be gentle and kind to everyone. 3 We used to be stupid, disobedient, and foolish, as well as slaves of all sorts of desires and pleasures. We were evil and jealous. Everyone hated us, and we hated everyone.
4 God our Savior showed us
how good and kind he is.
5 He saved us because
of his mercy,
and not because
of any good things
we have done.
God washed us by the power
of the Holy Spirit.
He gave us new birth
and a fresh beginning.
6 God sent Jesus Christ
our Savior
to give us his Spirit.
7 Jesus treated us much better
than we deserve.
He made us acceptable to God
and gave us the hope
of eternal life.
8 This message is certainly true.
These teachings are useful and helpful for everyone. I want you to insist that the people follow them, so that all who have faith in God will be sure to do good deeds. 9 But don't have anything to do with stupid arguments about ancestors. And stay away from disagreements and quarrels about the Law of Moses. Such arguments are useless and senseless.
10 Warn troublemakers once or twice. Then don't have anything else to do with them. 11 You know their minds are twisted, and their own sins show how guilty they are.
Personal Instructions and Greetings
12 I plan to send Artemas or Tychicus to you. After he arrives, please try your best to meet me at Nicopolis. I have decided to spend the winter there.
13 When Zenas the lawyer and Apollos get ready to leave, help them as much as you can, so they won't have need of anything.
14 Our people should learn to spend their time doing something useful and worthwhile.
15 Greetings to you from everyone here. Greet all of our friends who share in our faith.
I pray that the Lord will be kind to all of you!
Mazwiibhato e Tjikirisiti
1 Ukumbuludze bathu kuhwilila balauli ne batungamili, bahwe, bagale bakalindila kushinga mishingo mimwe ne mimwe, yakalulwama. 2 Kushaye wabanoleba bubi nge kukwe, bazwiduse mu lilebo, babe nge buthu nenge kuthamila bathu bose mazwiibhato. 3 Nge kuti naswi dumbu takatongobe zwilengwe nge mimwe misi, tisingahwe, takatjengeleka tiyendila ntome tida zwithu zwe shango ino kwakapindilila, tipitsha mazhuba edu. Tithamila bamwe bubi mwaza ne ndandala ne kuyemula kusakalulwama, tibengwa nge bathu, naswibo tibengana. 4 Koga kwakati Ndzimu, Ntjidzi wedu uzumbunula buthu ne ludo gwakanaka, 5 ukatitjidza, usinga titjidze nge mishingo yakanaka yatakashinga, koga nge kwe mahwilo zogwadza awo, nge kusukiwa nge kuzwagwa kakale ne kuthamwa batshwa nge Meya yakayengemala, 6 yawakalonga nge buzhalo mutili ndi Jesu Kirisiti Ntjidzi wedu, 7 kuti ndizo tisibong'we nlandu nge ngoni dzawo, tibe be bagali thaka mu kugalabgwe mu butjilo gusingapele. 8 Ndebo iyeyi inogalikabgwe.
Ndoshaka kuti ulebe wakasima mu zwithu izwezwi, kuti ndizo ibabo bakagalamoyo mu Ndzimu babe nge njele, bashinge mishingo mibuyanana, mishingo yakajali mibuyanana kakale inobuzila. 9 Koga uzwiduse mu kukakabadzana kwe bulengwe nenge kulondolodza bukamu ne zhoba ne kukwebakwebana ngekwe nlayo. Ngobe zwithu zwakajalo azwitobuzila, kakale azwina nshingo. 10 Ha makumbuludza nthu we mpaladzi kabili kose asingateedze, muthubukane naye. 11 Muzibe kuti nthu wakajalo una njalakang'wa dzakakombama kakale ntjinyi. Wakazwisumikilisa kale.
Ndayo ye bupelo
12 Ha ndituma Aritemasi kene Tikikasi kumuli, ugwise nge buzhalo kuzha kundili ku Nikopoli, nge kuti ndoshaka kuti ndipitshe nsi we mbaba ko. 13 Ugwise kwazo kulibilidzisa Zenasi we nlebelekeli we zwe milayo na Apolosi mu gwendo gwabo. Basishete tjimwe. 14 Bathu ba kanyi kwedu ngabazwidiye kushinga mishingo yakanaka, kuti ndizo babhatshe muna zwinobe zwishaka thamiwa tjinyolotjo, kuti basibe basina mitjelo.
15 Bose banami banokudumilisa. Udumilise bose banotida mu kugalamoyo.
Ngoni dze Ndzimu ngadzibe namwi mose.