< 2 Corinthians 12 >

1 I must needs glory, though it is not expedient; but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
Nitajivuna basi, ingawa haifai! Lakini sasa nitasema juu ya maono na ufunuo alivyonijalia Bwana.
2 I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not; or whether out of the body, I know not; God knoweth), such a one caught up even to the third heaven.
Namjua mtu mmoja Mkristo, ambaye miaka kumi na minne iliyopita alinyakuliwa mpaka katika mbingu ya tatu. (Sijui kama alikuwa huko kwa mwili au kwa roho; Mungu ajua.)
3 And I know such a man (whether in the body, or apart from the body, I know not; God knoweth),
Narudia: najua kwamba mtu huyo alinyakuliwa mpaka peponi. (Lakini sijui kama alikuwa huko kwa mwili au kwa roho; Mungu ajua.)
4 how that he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
Huko akasikia mambo ya siri ambayo binadamu hastahili kuyatamka.
5 On behalf of such a one will I glory: but on mine own behalf I will not glory, save in [my] weaknesses.
Basi, nitajivunia juu ya mtu wa namna hiyo, na si juu yangu mimi binafsi, isipokuwa tu juu ya udhaifu wangu.
6 For if I should desire to glory, I shall not be foolish; for I shall speak the truth: but I forbear, lest any man should account of me above that which he seeth me [to be], or heareth from me.
Kama ningetaka kujivuna singekuwa mpumbavu hata kidogo, maana ningekuwa nasema ukweli mtupu. Lakini sitajivuna; sipendi mtu anifikirie zaidi ya vile anavyoona na kusikia kutoka kwangu.
7 And by reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I should not be exalted overmuch.
Lakini, kusudi mambo haya makuu niliyofunuliwa yasinifanye nilewe majivuno, nilipewa maumivu mwilini kama mwiba, mjumbe wa Shetani mwenye kunipiga nisijivune kupita kiasi.
8 Concerning this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
Nilimsihi Bwana mara tatu kuhusu jambo hili ili linitoke.
9 And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for [my] power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Lakini akaniambia: “Neema yangu inatosha kwa ajili yako; maana uwezo wangu hukamilishwa zaidi katika udhaifu.” Basi, ni radhi kabisa kujivunia udhaifu wangu ili uwezo wake Kristo ukae juu yangu.
10 Wherefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Kwa hiyo nakubali kwa radhi udhaifu, madharau, taabu, udhalimu na mateso, kwa ajili ya Kristo; maana ninapokuwa dhaifu, ndipo ninapokuwa na nguvu.
11 I am become foolish: ye compelled me; for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing was I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I am nothing.
Nimekuwa kama mpumbavu, lakini, ninyi mmenilazimisha kuwa hivyo. Ninyi ndio mngalipaswa kunisifu. Maana, ingawa mimi si kitu, kwa vyovyote, mimi si mdogo zaidi kuliko hao “mitume wakuu.”
12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, by signs and wonders and mighty works.
Miujiza na maajabu yaonyeshayo wazi kwamba mimi ni mtume yalifanyika miongoni mwenu kwa uvumilivu wote.
13 For what is there wherein ye were made inferior to the rest of the churches, except [it be] that I myself was not a burden to you? forgive me this wrong.
Je, mlipungukiwa nini zaidi kuliko makanisa mengine, isipokuwa tu kwamba mimi kwa upande wangu sikuwasumbueni kupata msaada wenu? Samahani kwa kuwakoseeni haki hiyo!
14 Behold, this is the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be a burden to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
Sasa niko tayari kabisa kuja kwenu mara ya tatu, na sitawasumbua. Maana ninachotafuta si mali zenu, bali ni ninyi wenyewe. Ni kawaida ya wazazi kuwawekea watoto wao akiba, na si watoto kuwawekea wazazi wao.
15 And I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less?
Mimi ni radhi kabisa kutumia nilicho nacho, na hata kujitolea mimi mwenyewe kabisa, kwa faida ya roho zenu. Je, mtanipenda kidogo ati kwa kuwa mimi nawapenda ninyi mno?
16 But be it so, I did not myself burden you; but, being crafty, I caught you with guile.
Basi, mtakubali kwamba sikuwa mzigo kwenu. Lakini labda mtu mwingine atasema: “Kwa vile Paulo ni mwerevu, amewafanyieni ulaghai.”
17 Did I take advantage of you by any one of them whom I have sent unto you?
Je, mimi niliwanyonyeni kwa njia ya mjumbe yeyote niliyemtuma kwenu?
18 I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? walked we not in the same spirit? [walked we] not in the same steps?
Mimi nilimwita Tito, nikamtuma kwenu na ndugu yetu mwingine. Je, Tito aliwanyonyeni? Je, hamjui kwamba sisi tumekuwa tukiongozwa na roho yuleyule, na mwenendo wetu ni mmoja?
19 Ye think all this time that we are excusing ourselves unto you. In the sight of God speak we in Christ. But all things, beloved, [are] for your edifying.
Labda mnafikiri kwamba mpaka sasa tumekuwa tukijitetea wenyewe mbele yenu! Lakini, tunasema mambo haya mbele ya Mungu, tukiwa tumeungana na Kristo. Mambo hayo, yote, wapenzi wangu, ni kwa ajili ya kuwajenga ninyi.
20 For I fear, lest by any means, when I come, I should find you not such as I would, and should myself be found of you such as ye would not; lest by any means [there should be] strife, jealousy, wraths, factions, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults;
Naogopa, huenda nitakapokuja kwenu nitawakuta katika hali nisiyopenda, nami itanilazimu kuwa katika hali msiyoipenda. Naogopa huenda kukawa na ugomvi, wivu, uhasama, ubishi, masengenyano, kunong'ona, majivuno na fujo kati yenu.
21 lest again when I come my God should humble me before you, and I should mourn for many of them that have sinned heretofore, and repented not of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they committed.
Naogopa huenda hapo nitakapokuja safari ijayo Mungu wangu atanifanya niaibike mbele yenu, nami nitaomboleza kwa ajili ya wengi wa wale waliotenda dhambi lakini hawakujutia huo uchafu, tamaa zao mbaya na uzinzi waliokuwa wamefanya.

< 2 Corinthians 12 >