2 Corinthians 12
1 Well, it is not of profit to me to boast, for 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 out of the body I know not, God knows; ) such [a one] caught up 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 out of the body I know not, God knows; )
Narudia: najua kwamba mtu huyo alinyakuliwa mpaka peponi. (Lakini sijui kama alikuwa huko kwa mwili au kwa roho; Mungu ajua.)
4 that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable things said which it is not allowed to man to utter.
Huko akasikia mambo ya siri ambayo binadamu hastahili kuyatamka.
5 Of such [a one] I will boast, but of myself I will not boast, unless 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 shall desire to boast, I shall not be a fool; for I will say [the] truth; but I forbear, lest any one should think as to me above what he sees me [to be], or whatever he may hear of 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 that I might not be exalted by the exceeding greatness of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn for the flesh, a messenger of Satan that he might buffet me, that I might not be exalted.
Lakini, kusudi mambo haya makuu niliyofunuliwa yasinifanye nilewe majivuno, nilipewa maumivu mwilini kama mwiba, mjumbe wa Shetani mwenye kunipiga nisijivune kupita kiasi.
8 For this I thrice besought the Lord that it might depart from me.
Nilimsihi Bwana mara tatu kuhusu jambo hili ili linitoke.
9 And he said to me, My grace suffices thee; for [my] power is perfected in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather boast in my weaknesses, that the power of the Christ may dwell 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 insults, in necessities, in persecutions, in straits, for Christ: for when I am weak, then I am powerful.
Kwa hiyo nakubali kwa radhi udhaifu, madharau, taabu, udhalimu na mateso, kwa ajili ya Kristo; maana ninapokuwa dhaifu, ndipo ninapokuwa na nguvu.
11 I have become a fool; ye have compelled me; for I ought to have been commended by you; for I have been nothing behind those who were in surpassing degree apostles, if also 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 The signs indeed of the apostle were wrought among you in all endurance, signs, and wonders, and works of power.
Miujiza na maajabu yaonyeshayo wazi kwamba mimi ni mtume yalifanyika miongoni mwenu kwa uvumilivu wote.
13 For in what is it that ye have been inferior to the other assemblies, unless that I myself have not been in laziness a charge upon you? Forgive me this injury.
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 third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be in laziness a charge; for I do not seek 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 Now I shall most gladly spend and be utterly spent for your souls, if even in abundantly loving you I should be less loved.
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 burden you, but being crafty I took you by guile.
Basi, mtakubali kwamba sikuwa mzigo kwenu. Lakini labda mtu mwingine atasema: “Kwa vile Paulo ni mwerevu, amewafanyieni ulaghai.”
17 Did I make gain of you by any of those whom I have sent to you?
Je, mimi niliwanyonyeni kwa njia ya mjumbe yeyote niliyemtuma kwenu?
18 I begged Titus, and sent the brother with [him]: did Titus at all make gain of you? have we not walked in the same spirit? [have 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 have long been supposing that we excuse ourselves to you: we speak before God in Christ; and all things, beloved, for your building up.
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 perhaps coming I find you not such as I wish, and that I be found by you such as ye do not wish: lest [there might be] strifes, jealousies, angers, contentions, evil speakings, whisperings, puffings up, disturbances;
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 my God should humble me as to you when I come again, and that I shall grieve over many of those who have sinned before, and have not repented as to the uncleanness and fornication and licentiousness which they have practised.
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.
