Paul Defends His Work for Christ
1 Do you think I am a coward when I am with you and brave when I am far away? Well, I ask you to listen, because Christ himself was humble and gentle. 2 Some people have said we act like the people of this world. So when I arrive, I expect I will have to be firm and forceful in what I say to them. Please don't make me treat you that way. 3 We live in this world, but we don't act like its people 4 or fight our battles with the weapons of this world. Instead, we use God's power that can destroy fortresses. We destroy arguments 5 and every bit of pride that keeps anyone from knowing God. We capture people's thoughts and make them obey Christ. 6 And when you completely obey him, we will punish anyone who refuses to obey.
7 You judge by appearances. If any of you think you are the only ones who belong to Christ, then think again. We belong to Christ as much as you do. 8 Maybe I brag a little too much about the authority that the Lord gave me to help you and not to hurt you. Yet I am not embarrassed to brag. 9 And I am not trying to scare you with my letters. 10 Some of you are saying, “Paul's letters are harsh and powerful. But in person, he is a weakling and has nothing worth saying.” 11 Those people had better understand that when I am with you, I will do exactly what I say in my letters.
12 We won't dare compare ourselves with those who think so much of themselves. But they are foolish to compare themselves with themselves. 13 We won't brag about something we don't have a right to brag about. We will only brag about the work God has sent us to do, and you are part of that work. 14 We are not bragging more than we should. After all, we did bring the message about Christ to you.
15 We don't brag about what others have done, as if we had done those things ourselves. But I hope as you become stronger in your faith, we will be able to reach many more of the people around you. That has always been our goal. 16 Then we will be able to preach the good news in other lands where we cannot take credit for work someone else has already done. 17 The Scriptures say, “If you want to brag, then brag about the Lord.” 18 You may brag about yourself, but the only approval that counts is the Lord's approval.
Elipopilo lomuyapostoli
1 Aame Paulus mwene ohandi mu kumaida omolwonheni nolukeno laKristus, ame ou ndi li moipafi yeni, vati, nda fa nde lininipika, ndele ngeenge ndi li kokule nanye, ihandi tila, 2 ndele ohandi indile ngeenge handi uya kunye, ndiha pumbwe okulongifa ouladi ou handi diladila okuholoka nao ndi nonyati kuvamwe ava tave tu fekele nokutya, ohatu ende pambelela. 3 Nande ohatu ende mombelela, ihatu kondjo pambelela; 4 osheshi oilwifo yetu kai fi yopambelela, ndelenee oya pama koshipala shaKalunga okuhanauna po eenguluhote. 5 Ohatu hanauna po omapopilongulu, nelinenepekifo keshe tali nenepekele okushiiva kwaKalunga, nakeshe ediladilo ohatu li tula meti li dulike kuKristus, 6 ndele twe lilongekida okuhandukila okuhadulika keshe, ngeenge eduliko leni ola holoka nawa.
7 Taleni osho shi li komesho yeni. Ngeenge ope na ou a pama momadiladilo aye nokutya, oye owaKristus, oye na diladile muye mwene, nokutya ngaashi oye waKristus, osho nafye yo. 8 Ndele nande ndi litange unene kanini molwepangelo letu olo Omwene e li tu pa oku mu tunga, nohaku mu ngumauna po, ihandi ka fifwa ohoni. 9 Eshi ohandi shi ti, kuha monike nda fa nda hala oku mu tilifa neenhumwafo dange. 10 Osheshi eenhumwafo daPaulus, vati, odi neenghono noda pama, ndelenee okuholoka kwaye kwopalutu okwa nyika oungone nokupopya kwaye kaku noshilonga. 11 Oye ou ta ti ngaha, na kale e shi shii, ngaashi tu li meendjovo domeenhumwafo detu, eshi tu li kokule, osho tu li nomoilonga, eshi tu li punye.
12 Osheshi fye otuhe nonyati okulitula ile okuliyeleka noonima ava tave lieta nokulitanga, ndele vehe neendunge, osheshi tave liyeleke navo vene, notave lishaameke navo vene, 13 ndele fye ihatu litange tu koye oshiyelekifo, ndelenee pashiyelekifo osho Kalunga e shi tu ufila opo tu fike nokunye. 14 Osheshi itatu lovelele kokule unene, twa fa itatu fiki kunye, osheshi okuudifa evaengeli laKristus otwa fika nokunye. 15 Ihatu litange unene tu litangele ngeno oilonga yovanhu, ndele otu neteelelo olo, eitavelo leni eshi tali kulu, opo nee fye, pailonga oyo twe i longa ohatu ka kula mokati keni, 16 opo tu udife evaengeli komadu e li kombada yeni, tuha kale nokulitangela osho sha longwa nale, oko fye inatu longa. 17 “Ndelenee ou te litange, ne litangele mOmwene;” 18 osheshi haye ou te litange ye mwene a dule ngeno eyeleko, ndelenee oyou Omwene te mu tange.
