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.
Paulus ta popile oshilonga she
1 Ongame mwene Paulus tandi mu kumagidha, ngame ngoka tamu ti kutya omumbanda, ngele ndi li pune, ihe onda fula, ngele ndaa po pune. Otandi mu indile molwombili nomolwolukeno lwaKristus. 2 Inamu thiminika ndje, ndi kale nda fula, ngele tandi ya kune. Oshoka onde shi inekela kutya otandi vulu okukala ndaa na uumbanda pumboka wo taa ti kutya tse otatu hingwa komahalo gaantu yomuuyuni mbuka. 3 Eeno, osho oshili kutya tse otu li muuyuni, ihe ihatu hingwa komahalo gaantu yomuuyuni mbuka. 4 Iikondjitho mbyoka tatu longitha molugodhi nduka, kayi shi yomuuyuni mbuka, ihe oyo iikondjitho ya kola tatu yi pewa kuKalunga, tayi vulu okuhanagula po omapopilongulu omanene. Otatu hanagula po omadhiladhilo agehe gomaifundjaleko. 5 Otatu kumuna po einenepeko kehe ndyoka tali inenepekele okutseya Kalunga; otatu tula edhiladhilo kehe meti notatu li vulikitha kuKristus. 6 Ngele mwa vulika tango koshili, nena otatu ka kala ihe twi ilongekidha okugeela etangalalo kehe.
7 Taleni iinima, ngaashi tayi monika. Ngele pe na ngoka ti itala kutya ye ogwaKristus, na dhiladhile natango. Ongaashi naanaa ye mwene e li gwaKristus, osho natse wo aantu yaKristus. 8 Ngame itandi ka sa ohoni, nonando ndi itangele epitikilo ndyoka twa pewa kOmuwa, opo tu mu kwathe, haku mu hanagula po. 9 Inandi hala shoka te popi, shi talwe ongaangoka te kambadhala oku mu tilitha noontumwafo dhandje. 10 Otaku tiwa kutya oontumwafo dhaPaulus odha pupyala nodhi na oohapu oonkunkutu, ihe ngele ta holoka ye mwene, omutalala noohapu dhe kadhi na omupondo gwasha. 11 Ngoka ta dhiladhila ngaaka, na kale e shi shi kutya kape na nando eyooloko lyasha pokati kaashoka tatu shi nyola moontumwafo dhetu uuna twaa li pune, naashoka tatu ningi, uuna ndoka tu li pune.
12 Eeno, osho oshili kutya tse inatu fula, tu vule okwiitula mongundu yontumba nenge okwiiyeleka nayamwe yomwaamboka taa itumbaleke. Oyo aagoya ngiini! Otaa iyeleke notaa itokolele yo yene pakuyeleka kwawo. 13 Tse eitango lyetu itali kondo oongamba, ihe otali kala li li meni lyoongamba dhiilonga mbyoka Kalunga e tu uthila. Miilonga mbyoka omwa kwatelwa iilonga yetu yomokati keni. 14 Onkee ano ne sho mu li meni lyoongamba ndhoka, natse wo inatu dhi konda, sho twe mu etele elaka etoye tali hokolola Kristus. 15 Ano tse itatu itangele iilonga mbyoka ya longwa kuyalwe, mboka ya ya kondje yoongamba ndhoka Kalunga e dhi tu uthile. Ihe otwi inekela kutya eitaalo lyeni sho tali koko, nena otatu ka vula ihe okulonga iilonga iinene mokati keni yi vule mbika, shampa ashike aluhe tatu longo meni lyoongamba ndhoka Kalunga e tu uthila. 16 Nena otatu vulu ihe okuuvitha elaka etoye miilongo yilwe, kondje yoongamba dhoshilongo sheni, ihe itatu ki itangela nando iilonga mbyoka ya longwa nale kuyalwe.
17 Ano ngaashi enyolo tali ti: “Kehe ngoka a hala okwiitanga, ni itangele shoka Omuwa e shi longo.” 18 Oshoka omuntu ngoka to opalele Omuwa, oye ngoka iti itumbaleke ye mwene, ihe ota tege, a tumbalekwe kOmuwa.
