Ephesians 2
1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
Kwa habari zenu, mlikuwa wafu katika makosa na dhambi zenu,
2 in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience. (aiōn g165)
ambazo mlizitenda mlipofuatisha namna ya ulimwengu huu na za yule mtawala wa ufalme wa anga, yule roho atendaye kazi sasa ndani ya wale wasiotii. (aiōn g165)
3 All of us also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath.
Sisi sote pia tuliishi katikati yao hapo zamani, tukitimiza tamaa za asili yetu ya dhambi na kufuata tamaa zake na mawazo yake. Nasi kwa asili tulikuwa wana wa ghadhabu, kama mtu mwingine yeyote.
4 But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
Lakini Mungu kwa upendo wake mwingi kwetu sisi, ambaye ni mwingi wa rehema,
5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved!
hata tulipokuwa wafu kwa ajili ya makosa yetu, alitufanya tuwe hai pamoja na Kristo Yesu, yaani, mmeokolewa kwa neema.
6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
Mungu alitufufua pamoja na Kristo na kutuketisha pamoja naye katika ulimwengu wa roho katika Kristo Yesu,
7 in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. (aiōn g165)
ili katika ule ulimwengu ujao apate kuonyesha wingi wa neema yake isiyopimika, iliyodhihirishwa kwetu kwa wema wake ndani ya Kristo Yesu. (aiōn g165)
8 For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God,
Kwa maana mmeokolewa kwa neema, kwa njia ya imani, wala si kwa matendo yenu mema. Hii ni zawadi kutoka kwa Mungu,
9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
si kwa matendo, ili mtu yeyote asije akajisifu.
10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.
Kwa maana sisi ni kazi ya mikono ya Mungu, tulioumbwa katika Kristo Yesu, ili tupate kutenda matendo mema, ambayo Mungu alitangulia kuyaandaa tupate kuishi katika hayo.
11 Therefore remember that formerly you who are Gentiles in the flesh and called uncircumcised by the so-called circumcision (that done in the body by human hands)—
Kwa hiyo kumbukeni kwamba ninyi ambao hapo awali mlikuwa watu wa Mataifa kwa kuzaliwa na kuitwa “wasiotahiriwa” na wale wanaojiita “waliotahiriwa” (yaani tohara ifanyikayo katika mwili kwa mikono ya wanadamu),
12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.
kumbukeni kwamba wakati ule mlikuwa mbali na Kristo, mkiwa mmetengwa kutoka jumuiya ya Israeli, na mkiwa wageni katika yale maagano ya ahadi, nanyi mkiwa hamna tumaini wala Mungu duniani.
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
Lakini sasa katika Kristo Yesu, ninyi ambao hapo kwanza mlikuwa mbali na Mungu, sasa mmeletwa karibu kwa njia ya damu ya Kristo.
14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility
Kwa maana yeye mwenyewe ndiye amani yetu, aliyetufanya sisi tuliokuwa wawili, yaani, Wayahudi na watu wa Mataifa, tuwe wamoja kwa kuvunja kizuizi na kubomoa ule ukuta wa uadui uliokuwa kati yetu,
15 by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees. He did this to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace
kwa kuibatilisha ile sheria pamoja na amri zake na maagizo yake alipoutoa mwili wake, ili apate kufanya ndani yake mtu mmoja mpya badala ya hao wawili, hivyo akifanya amani,
16 and reconciling both of them to God in one body through the cross, by which He extinguished their hostility.
naye katika mwili huu mmoja awapatanishe wote wawili na Mungu kupitia msalaba, ili kwa huo msalaba akaangamiza uadui wao.
17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.
Alikuja na kuhubiri amani kwenu ninyi mliokuwa mbali na pia akahubiri amani kwao waliokuwa karibu.
18 For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Kwa maana kwa kupitia kwake, sisi sote tunaweza kumkaribia Baba katika Roho mmoja.
19 Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household,
Hivyo basi, ninyi sasa si wageni tena wala wapitaji, bali mmekuwa wenyeji pamoja na watakatifu na pia jamaa wa nyumbani mwake Mungu.
20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.
Mmejengwa juu ya msingi wa mitume na manabii, naye Kristo Yesu mwenyewe ndiye jiwe kuu la pembeni.
21 In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
Ndani yake jengo lote limeshikamanishwa pamoja na kusimamishwa ili kuwa Hekalu takatifu katika Bwana.
22 And in Him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God in His Spirit.
Katika yeye ninyi nanyi mnajengwa pamoja ili mpate kuwa makao ambayo Mungu anaishi ndani yake kwa njia ya Roho wake.
