< Galatians 4 >
1 Now I say, As long as the heir is a child, he differs nothing from a bondman, though he be lord of all;
Basi, nasema hivi: mrithi, akiwa bado mtoto, hawi tofauti na mtumwa ingawaje mali yote ni yake.
2 but he is under guardians and stewards until the period fixed by the father.
Wakati huo wote yuko chini ya walezi na wadhamini mpaka wakati ule uliowekwa na baba yake.
3 So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the principles of the world;
Hali kadhalika na sisi tulipokuwa bado watoto, tulikuwa watumwa wa pepo watawala wa ulimwengu.
4 but when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, come of woman, come under law,
Lakini wakati ule maalumu ulipotimia, Mungu alimtuma Mwanawe aliyezaliwa na mwanamke, akaishi chini ya Sheria
5 that he might redeem those under law, that we might receive sonship.
apate kuwakomboa wale waliokuwa chini ya Sheria ili sisi tufanywe wana wa Mungu.
6 But because ye are sons, God has sent out the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Kwa vile sasa ninyi ni wana, Mungu amemtuma Roho wa Mwanae mioyoni mwenu, Roho ambaye hulia “Aba,” yaani “Baba.”
7 So thou art no longer bondman, but son; but if son, heir also through God.
Basi, wewe si mtumwa tena, bali mwana. Na ikiwa ni mwana, basi, wewe utapokea yote Mungu aliyowawekea watoto wake.
8 But then indeed, not knowing God, ye were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods;
Zamani hamkumjua Mungu na hivyo mkatumikia miungu isiyo miungu kweli.
9 but now, knowing God, but rather being known by God, how do ye turn again to the weak and beggarly principles to which ye desire to be again anew in bondage?
Lakini sasa, kwa vile mnamjua Mungu, au tuseme mnajulikana na Mungu, mnawezaje tena kurudi kwa wale pepo maskini na dhaifu hata kutaka kuwatumikia tena?
10 Ye observe days and months and times and years.
Bado mnaadhimisha siku, miezi na miaka!
11 I am afraid of you, lest indeed I have laboured in vain as to you.
Nahofu kwamba labda kazi niliyoifanya kwa ajili yenu imepotea bure!
12 Be as I [am], for I also [am] as ye, brethren, I beseech you: ye have not at all wronged me.
Ndugu, nawasihi muwe kama mimi, kwa vile hata mimi nimekuwa kama ninyi. Hamkunitendea ubaya wowote.
13 But ye know that in weakness of the flesh I announced the glad tidings to you at the first;
Mnajua kwamba ugonjwa wangu ndio ulionipatia fursa ya kuwahubirieni Habari Njema kwa mara ya kwanza.
14 and my temptation, which [was] in my flesh, ye did not slight nor reject with contempt; but ye received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.
Hata hivyo, wakati ule hamkunidharau wala kunikataa kwa sababu ya udhaifu wangu ingawa mlishawishiwa kufanya hivyo; lakini mlinipokea kama malaika wa Mungu, kama vile ningekuwa Kristo Yesu mwenyewe.
15 What then [was] your blessedness? for I bear you witness that, if possible, plucking out your own eyes ye would have given [them] to me.
Mlikuwa wenye furaha; sasa kumetokea nini? Naapa kwamba wakati ule mngaliweza hata kuyang'oa macho yenu na kunipa mimi.
16 So I have become your enemy in speaking the truth to you?
Je, sasa nimekuwa adui yenu kwa sababu ya kuwaambieni ukweli?
17 They are not rightly zealous after you, but desire to shut you out [from us], that ye may be zealous after them.
Hao watu wengine wanawahangaikia ninyi, lakini nia zao si njema. Wanataka kuwatenganisha nami ili ninyi muwahangaikie wao.
18 But [it is] right to be zealous at all times in what is right, and not only when I am present with you —
Kwa kweli ni jambo jema daima kuwahangaikia wengine katika mambo mema, na si tu wakati mimi nipo pamoja nanyi.
19 my children, of whom I again travail in birth until Christ shall have been formed in you:
Watoto wangu, kama vile mama mja mzito anavyotaabika wakati wa kujifungua, mimi nataabika tena kwa ajili yenu mpaka hapo hali yake Kristo itakapoundwa ndani yenu.
20 and I should wish to be present with you now, and change my voice, for I am perplexed as to you.
Laiti ningekuwa pamoja nanyi sasa, maana ningalipata msimamo ufaao juu yenu! Nina wasiwasi sana nanyi!
21 Tell me, ye who are desirous of being under law, do ye not listen to the law?
Niambieni, enyi mnaopenda kutawaliwa na sheria: Je, mnasikia isemavyo Sheria?
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons; one of the maid servant, and one of the free woman.
Imeandikwa katika Maandiko Matakatifu kwamba Abrahamu alikuwa na watoto wawili: mmoja kwa mwanamke mtumwa, na wa pili kwa mwanamke huru.
23 But he [that was] of the maid servant was born according to flesh, and he [that was] of the free woman through the promise.
Yule wa mwanamke mtumwa alizaliwa kama kawaida, lakini yule wa mwanamke huru alizaliwa kutokana na ahadi ya Mungu.
24 Which things have an allegorical sense; for these are two covenants: one from mount Sinai, gendering to bondage, which is Hagar.
Mambo hayo yamekuwa mfano; mama hao wawili ni mfano wa maagano mawili; la kwanza ni lile lililofanyika mlimani Sinai, mwakilishi wake ni Hagari, na watoto wake wanazaliwa utumwani.
25 For Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which [is] now, for she is in bondage with her children;
Hagari anawakilisha mlima Sinai ulioko Arabia, na ni mfano wa Yerusalemu ya sasa, ulio mtumwa pamoja na watoto wake.
26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is our mother.
Lakini Yerusalemu ya juu mbinguni ni mji ulio huru, nao ni mama yetu.
27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break out and cry, thou that travailest not; because the children of the desolate are more numerous than [those] of her that has a husband.
Maana imeandikwa: “Furahi, ewe uliye tasa usiyezaa; paaza sauti wewe usiyepata kujifungua mtoto; maana watoto wa yule aliyeachwa ni wengi zaidi kuliko wa yule aliye na mume.”
28 But ye, brethren, after the pattern of Isaac, are children of promise.
Sasa, basi, ndugu zangu, ninyi ni watoto wa Mungu kutokana na ahadi yake kama alivyokuwa Isaka.
29 But as then he that was born according to flesh persecuted him [that was born] according to Spirit, so also [it is] now.
Lakini kama vile siku zile yule mtoto aliyezaliwa kwa njia ya kawaida alimdhulumu yule aliyezaliwa kwa uwezo wa Roho wa Mungu, vivyo hivyo na siku hizi.
30 But what says the scripture? Cast out the maid servant and her son; for the son of the maid servant shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.
Lakini Maandiko Matakatifu yasemaje? Yasema: “Mfukuze mama mtumwa pamoja na mwanawe; maana mtoto wa mtumwa hatarithi pamoja na mtoto wa mama huru.”
31 So then, brethren, we are not maid servant's children, but [children] of the free woman.
Kwa hiyo, basi, ndugu, sisi si watoto wa mtumwa bali wa mama huru.