Aroma 4
1 Nanga tsono tidzati chiyani za Abrahamu kholo lathu, iyeyu anapezana ndi zotani pa nkhani imeneyi?
What then shall we say that Abraham, our earthly forefather, has gained?
2 Kunena zoona, Abrahamu akanalungamitsidwa ndi ntchito zake, akanakhala nako kanthu kodzitamandira, koma osati pamaso pa Mulungu.
For if he was held to be righteous on the ground of his actions, he has something to boast of; but not in the presence of God.
3 Kodi Malemba akuti chiyani? “Abrahamu anakhulupirira Mulungu, ndipo ichi chinamuchititsa kukhala wolungama.”
For what says the Scripture? "And Abraham believed God, and this was placed to his credit as righteousness."
4 Tsopano munthu amene wagwira ntchito, malipiro ake satengedwa kukhala ngati mphatso koma zimene anayenera kulandira.
But in the case of a man who works, pay is not reckoned a favour but a debt;
5 Koma kwa munthu amene sanagwire ntchito ndipo akhulupirira Mulungu amene amalungamitsa ochimwa, chikhulupiriro chakecho chimatengedwa kukhala chilungamo.
whereas in the case of a man who pleads no actions of his own, but simply believes in Him who declares the ungodly free from guilt, his faith is placed to his credit as righteousness.
6 Davide ponena zomwezi pamene anayankhula za kudala kwa munthu amene Mulungu amulungamitsa osati chifukwa cha ntchito zake akuti,
In this way David also tells of the blessedness of the man to whose credit God places righteousness, apart from his actions.
7 “Odala ndi amene zoyipa zawo zakhululukidwa; amene machimo awo afafanizidwa.
"Blessed," he says, "are those whose iniquities have been forgiven, and whose sins have been covered over.
8 Ngodala munthu amene machimo ake Ambuye sadzawakumbukiranso.”
Blessed is the man of whose sin the Lord will not take account."
9 Kodi madalitso amenewa ali kwa ochita mdulidwe okha kapena kwa amene sanachitepo mdulidwe? Ife takhala tikunena kuti chikhulupiriro cha Abrahamu chinamuchititsa kukhala wolungama.
This declaration of blessedness, then, does it come simply to the circumcised, or to the uncircumcised as well? For Abraham's faith--so we affirm--was placed to his credit as righteousness.
10 Kodi chinatengedwa bwanji? Kodi nʼkuti iye atachita mdulidwe kapena asanachite? Osati atachita mdulidwe koma asanachite!
What then were the circumstances under which this took place? Was it after he had been circumcised, or before?
11 Ndipo iye anachita mdulidwe ngati chizindikiro ndi chitsimikizo cha kulungama kumene anali nako mwachikhulupiriro pomwe anali asanachite mdulidwe. Choncho, iye ndi kholo la onse amene akhulupirira koma sanachite mdulidwe, ndi cholinga chakuti alungamitsidwe.
Before, not after. And he received circumcision as a sign, a mark attesting the reality of the faith-righteousness which was his while still uncircumcised, that he might be the forefather of all those who believe even though they are uncircumcised--in order that this righteousness might be placed to their credit;
12 Ndipo iyenso ndiyenso kholo la ochita mdulidwe osati amene anangochita mdulidwe kokha koma amene amatsata chitsanzo cha chikhulupiriro chimene kholo lathu Abrahamu anali nacho asanachite mdulidwe.
and the forefather of the circumcised, namely of those who not merely are circumcised, but also walk in the steps of the faith which our forefather Abraham had while he was as yet uncircumcised.
13 Abrahamu ndi zidzukulu zake sanalandire lonjezano lakuti adzalandira dziko lapansi kudzera mu Malamulo, koma kudzera mu chilungamo chimene chimabwera ndi chikhulupiriro.
Again, the promise that he should inherit the world did not come to Abraham or his posterity conditioned by Law, but by faith-righteousness.
14 Pakuti ngati amene amadalira Malamulo ndiye olowa mʼmalo, ndiye kuti chikhulupiriro nʼchopanda pake ndipo lonjezano ndi lopanda phindu
For if it is the righteous through Law who are heirs, then faith is useless and the promise counts for nothing.
15 chifukwa Malamulo anabweretsa chilango. Ndipo kumene kulibe Malamulo kulibenso kuwalakwitsa.
For the Law inflicts punishment; but where no Law exists, there can be no violation of Law.
16 Motero, timalandira lonjezo mwachikhulupiriro. Laperekedwa mwachisomo kuti patsimikizidwe kuti lonjezolo liperekedwa kwa ana ndi zidzukulu zonse za Abrahamu, osati kwa iwo okha amene amatsatira Malamulo komanso kwa iwo amene ali ndi chikhulupiriro cha Abrahamu. Iye ndiye kholo la ife tonse.
All depends on faith, and for this reason--that acceptance with God might be an act of pure grace,
17 Monga kwalembedwa kuti, “Ine ndakusandutsa kukhala kholo la mitundu yambiri.” Iye ndiye kholo lathu pamaso pa Mulungu, amene anamukhulupirira, Mulungu amene amapereka moyo kwa akufa ndipo amapereka moyo kwa zinthu zopanda moyo.
so that the promise should be made sure to all Abraham's true descendants; not merely to those who are righteous through the Law, but to those who are righteous through a faith like that of Abraham. Thus in the sight of God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and makes reference to things that do not exist, as though they did, Abraham is the forefather of all of us. As it is written, "I have appointed you to be the forefather of many nations."
18 Ngakhale zinali zosayembekezeka, Abrahamu anakhulupirira ndi chiyembekezo kuti adzakhala kholo la mitundu yambiri. Izi ndi monga zinanenedwa kwa iye kuti, “Ndi mmene adzakhalire ana ako ndi zidzukulu zako.”
Under utterly hopeless circumstances he hopefully believed, so that he might become the forefather of many nations, in agreement with the words "Equally numerous shall your posterity be."
19 Iye sanafowoke mʼchikhulupiriro. Anadziwa choonadi cha thupi lake kuti linali lakufa popeza anali ndi zaka pafupifupi 100 ndiponso mimba ya Sara inali yowuma.
And, without growing weak in faith, he could contemplate his own vital powers which had now decayed--for he was nearly 100 years old--and Sarah's barrenness.
20 Komabe iye sanagwedezeke chifukwa chosakhulupirira pa zokhudzana ndi lonjezo la Mulungu. Iye analimbikitsidwa mʼchikhulupiriro chake ndi kupereka ulemerero kwa Mulungu.
Nor did he in unbelief stagger at God's promise, but became mighty in faith, giving glory to God,
21 Anatsimikiza mu mtima mwake kuti Mulungu anali ndi mphamvu yochita chomwe analonjeza.
and being absolutely certain that whatever promise He is bound by He is able also to make good.
22 Nʼchifukwa chake “chinamuchititsa kukhala wolungama.”
For this reason also his faith was placed to his credit as righteousness.
23 Mawu akuti, “chinatengedwa kwa iye” sanalembedwe chifukwa cha iye yekha,
Nor was the fact of its being placed to his credit put on record for his sake only;
24 komanso chifukwa ife amene Mulungu adzatiyesa olungama, ife amene tikhulupirira mwa Iye amene anamuukitsa kwa akufa, Yesu Ambuye athu.
it was for our sakes too. Faith, before long, will be placed to the credit of us also who are believers in Him who raised Jesus, our Lord, from the dead,
25 Iye anaperekedwa kuti aphedwe chifukwa cha machimo athu ndipo anaukitsidwa ndi kukhala ndi moyo kuti tilungamitsidwe.
who was surrendered to death because of the offences we had committed, and was raised to life because of the acquittal secured for us.
