1 Corinthians 4
1 Let a man so account of us as servants of Christ, and stewards of [the] mysteries of God.
Mtu na atuone sisi kuwa ni watumishi wa Kristo tuliokabidhiwa siri za mungu.
2 Here, further, it is sought in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
Kinachotakiwa kwa yeyote yule aliyekabidhiwa kazi ni kuwa mwaminifu.
3 But for me it is the very smallest matter that I be examined of you or of man's day. Nor do I even examine myself.
Kwangu mimi si kitu nikihukumiwa na ninyi, au na mahakama ya kibinadamu; wala sijihukumu.
4 For I am conscious of nothing in myself; but I am not justified by this: but he that examines me is the Lord.
Dhamiri yangu hainishtaki kwa jambo lolote, lakini hiyo haionyeshi kwamba sina lawama. Bwana ndiye anayenihukumu.
5 So that do not judge anything before [the] time, until the Lord shall come, who shall also both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and shall make manifest the counsels of hearts; and then shall each have [his] praise from God.
Basi, msihukumu kabla ya wakati wake acheni mpaka Bwana atakapokuja. Yeye atayafichua mambo ya giza yaliyofichika, na kuonyesha wazi nia za mioyo ya watu. Ndipo kila mmoja atapata sifa anayostahili kutoka kwa Mungu.
6 Now these things, brethren, I have transferred, in their application, to myself and Apollos, for your sakes, that ye may learn in us the [lesson of] not [letting your thoughts go] above what is written, that ye may not be puffed up one for [such a] one against another.
Ndugu, hayo yote niliyosema juu ya Apolo na juu yangu, ni kielelezo kwenu: kutokana na mfano wangu mimi na Apolo nataka mwelewe maana ya msemo huu: “Zingatieni yaliyoandikwa.” Kati yenu pasiwe na mtu yeyote anayejivunia mtu mmoja na kumdharau mwingine.
7 For who makes thee to differ? and what hast thou which thou hast not received? but if also thou hast received, why boastest thou as not receiving?
Nani amekupendelea wewe? Una kitu gani wewe ambacho hukupewa? Na ikiwa umepewa, ya nini kujivunia kana kwamba hukukipewa?
8 Already ye are filled; already ye have been enriched; ye have reigned without us; and I would that ye reigned, that we also might reign with you.
Haya, mmekwisha shiba! Mmekwisha kuwa matajiri! Mmekuwa wafalme bila ya sisi! Naam, laiti mngekuwa kweli watawala, ili nasi pia tuweze kutawala pamoja nanyi.
9 For I think that God has set us the apostles for the last, as appointed to death. For we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and men.
Nafikiri Mungu ametufanya sisi mitume tuwe watu wa mwisho kabisa, kama watu waliohukumiwa kuuawa, maana tumekuwa tamasha mbele ya ulimwengu wote, mbele ya malaika na watu.
10 We [are] fools for Christ's sake, but ye prudent in Christ: we weak, but ye strong: ye glorious, but we in dishonour.
Sisi ni wapumbavu kwa ajili ya Kristo, lakini ninyi ni wenye busara katika kuungana na Kristo! Sisi ni dhaifu, ninyi ni wenye nguvu. Ninyi mnaheshimika, sisi tunadharauliwa.
11 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and are in nakedness, and buffeted, and wander without a home,
Mpaka dakika hii, sisi tuna njaa na kiu, hatuna nguo, twapigwa makofi, hatuna malazi.
12 and labour, working with our own hands. Railed at, we bless; persecuted, we suffer [it];
Tena twataabika na kufanya kazi kwa mikono yetu wenyewe. Tukitukanwa, tunawatakia baraka; tukidhulumiwa, tunavumilia;
13 insulted, we entreat: we are become as [the] offscouring of the world, [the] refuse of all, until now.
tukisingiziwa, tunajibu kwa adabu. Mpaka sasa tumetendewa kama uchafu wa dunia; na kwa kila mtu sisi ni takataka!
14 Not [as] chiding do I write these things to you, but as my beloved children I admonish [you].
Siandiki mambo haya kwa ajili ya kuwaaibisha ninyi, bali kwa ajili ya kuwafundisheni watoto wangu wapenzi.
15 For if ye should have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the glad tidings.
Maana hata kama mnao maelfu ya walezi katika maisha yenu ya Kikristo, baba yenu ni mmoja tu, kwani katika maisha ya Kikristo mimi ndiye niliyewazaeni kwa kuihubiri Habari Njema.
16 I entreat you therefore, be my imitators.
Kwa hiyo, nawasihi: fuateni mfano wangu.
17 For this reason I have sent to you Timotheus, who is my beloved and faithful child in [the] Lord, who shall put you in mind of my ways [as] they [are] in Christ, according as I teach everywhere in every assembly.
Ndiyo maana nimemtuma Timetheo kwenu. Yeye ni mtoto wangu mpenzi na mwaminifu katika Bwana. Atawakumbusheni njia ninayofuata katika kuishi maisha ya Kikristo; njia ninayofundisha kila mahali katika makanisa yote.
18 But some have been puffed up, as if I were not coming to you;
Baadhi yenu wameanza kuwa na majivuno wakidhani kwamba sitakuja tena kwenu.
19 but I will come quickly to you, if the Lord will; and I will know, not the word of those that are puffed up, but the power.
Lakini, Bwana akipenda, nitakuja kwenu upesi; na hapo ndipo nitakapojionea mwenyewe, sio tu kile wanachoweza kusema hao wenye majivuno, bali pia kila wanachoweza kufanya.
20 For the kingdom of God [is] not in word, but in power.
Maana Utawala wa Mungu si shauri la maneno matupu, bali ni nguvu.
21 What will ye? that I come to you with a rod; or in love, and [in] a spirit of meekness?
Mnapendelea lipi? Nije kwenu na fimbo, ama nije na moyo wa upendo na upole?
