< Galatians 2 >
1 Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, accompanied by Barnabas. I took Titus along also.
Baada ya miaka kumi na nne nilienda tena Yerusalemu pamoja na Barnaba. Pia nilimchukua Tito pamoja nami.
2 I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I spoke privately to those recognized as leaders, for fear that I was running or had already run in vain.
Nilienda kwa sababu Mungu alijidhihirisha kwangu kwamba nilipaswa kwenda. Niliweka mbele yao Injili ambayo niliitangaza kwa watu wa mataifa. (Lakini niliongea kwa siri kwa waliosemekana kuwa viongozi muhimu). Nilifanya hivi ili kuhakikisha kwamba nilikuwa sikimbii, au nilikimbia bure.
3 Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.
Lakini hata Tito, aliyekuwa pamoja nami, aliyekuwa Myunani, alilazimishwa kutahiriwa.
4 This issue arose because some false brothers had come in under false pretenses to spy on our freedom in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us.
Jambo hili lilitokea kwa sababu ya ndugu wa uongo waliokuja kwa siri kupeleleza uhuru tuliokuwa nao katika Kristo Yesu. Walitamani kutufanya sisi kuwa watumwa wa sheria.
5 We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.
Hatukujitoa kuwatii hata kwa saa moja, ili kwamba injili ya kweli ibaki bila kubadilika kwenu.
6 But as for the highly esteemed—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism —those leaders added nothing to me.
Lakini wale waliosemwa kuwa walikuwa viongozi hawakuchangia chochote kwangu. Chochote walichokuwa wakikifanya hakikuwa na maana kwangu. Mungu hakubali upendeleo wa wanadamu.
7 On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted to preach the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised.
Badala yake, waliniona kwamba nimeaminiwa kuitangaza injili kwa wale ambao hawakutahiriwa. Ilikuwa kama Petro atangaze injili kwa waliotahiriwa.
8 For the One who was at work in Peter’s apostleship to the circumcised was also at work in my apostleship to the Gentiles.
Kwa maana Mungu, aliyefanya kazi ndani ya Petro kwa ajili ya utume kwa wale waliotahiriwa, pia alifanya kazi ndani yangu kwa watu wa mataifa.
9 And recognizing the grace that I had been given, James, Cephas, and John—those reputed to be pillars—gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised.
Wakati Yakobo, Kefa, na Yohana, waliotambulika kuwa waliojenga Kanisa, walifahamu neema niliyopewa mimi, walitupokea katika ushirika mimi na Barnaba. Walifanya hivi ili kwamba twende kwa watu wa mataifa, na ili kwamba waweze kwenda kwa wale waliotahiriwa.
10 They only asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
Pia walitutaka sisi kuwakumbuka masikini. Mimi pia nilikuwa natamani kufanya jambo hili.
11 When Cephas came to Antioch, however, I opposed him to his face, because he stood to be condemned.
Wakati Kefa alipokuja Antiokia, nilimpinga waziwazi kwa sababu alikuwa amekosea.
12 For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself, for fear of those in the circumcision group.
Kabla ya watu kadhaa kuja kutoka kwa Yakobo, Kefa alikuwa akila pamoja na watu wa mataifa. Lakini hawa watu walipokuja, aliacha na kuondoka kutoka kwa watu wa mataifa. Alikuwa anaogopa watu ambao walihitaji tohara.
13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.
Vilevile Wayahudi wengine waliungana na unafiki huu pamoja na Kefa. Matokeo yake yalikuwa kwamba hata Barnaba alichukuliwa na unafiki wao.
14 When I saw that they were not walking in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?”
Lakini nilipoona kwamba walikuwa hawafuati injili ya kweli, nilimwambia Kefa mbele yao wote, “Kama ninyi ni Wayahudi lakini mnaishi tabia za watu wa mataifa badala ya tabia za Kiyahudi, kwa nini mnawalazimisha watu wa mataifa kuishi kama Wayahudi?”
15 We who are Jews by birth and not Gentile “sinners”
Sisi ambao ni Wayahudi kwa kuzaliwa na siyo “Watu wa mataifa wenye dhambi “
16 know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
fahamu kwamba hakuna anayehesabiwa haki kwa matendo ya sheria. Badala yake, wanahesabiwa haki kwa imani ndani ya Yesu Kristo. Tulikuja kwa imani ndani ya Kristo Yesu ili kwamba tunahesabiwa haki kwa imani ndani ya Kristo na siyo kwa matendo ya sheria. Kwa matendo ya sheria hakuna mwili utakao hesabiwa haki.
17 But if, while we seek to be justified in Christ, we ourselves are found to be sinners, does that make Christ a minister of sin? Certainly not!
Lakini kama tunapomtafuta Mungu kwa kutuhesabia haki ndani ya Kristo, tunajikuta wenyewe pia kuwa wenye dhambi, je Kristo alifanywa mtumwa wa dhambi? Siyo hivyo!
18 If I rebuild what I have already torn down, I prove myself to be a lawbreaker.
Maana kama nikijenga tegemeo langu juu ya kutunza sheria, tegemeo ambalo nilikwisha liondoa, najionesha mwenyewe kuwa mvunja sheria.
19 For through the law I died to the law so that I might live to God.
Kupitia sheria nilikufa kwa sheria, kwa hiyo napaswa kuishi kwa ajili ya Mungu.
20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Nimesulubiwa pamoja na Kristo. Si mimi tena ninayeishi, bali Kristo anaishi ndani yangu. Maisha ninayoishi katika mwili ninaishi kwa imani ndani ya Mwana wa Mungu, ambaye alinipenda na akajitoa kwa ajili yangu.
21 I do not set aside the grace of God. For if righteousness comes through the law, Christ died for nothing.
Siikani neema ya Mungu, maana kama haki ilikuwepo kupitia sheria, basi Kristo angekuwa amekufa bure.