Romans 13
1 Let euery soule be subiect vnto the higher powers: for there is no power but of God: and the powers that be, are ordeined of God.
Kila mtu na atii mamlaka inayotawala, kwa maana hakuna mamlaka isiyotoka kwa Mungu, nazo mamlaka zilizopo zimewekwa na Mungu.
2 Whosoeuer therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist, shall receiue to themselues condemnation.
Kwa hiyo yeye anayeasi dhidi ya mamlaka inayotawala anaasi dhidi ya kile kilichowekwa na Mungu, nao wale wafanyao hivyo watajiletea hukumu juu yao wenyewe.
3 For Magistrates are not to be feared for good workes, but for euill. Wilt thou then bee without feare of the power? doe well: so shalt thou haue praise of the same.
Kwa kuwa watawala hawawatishi watu wale wanaotenda mema bali wale wanaotenda mabaya. Je, wataka usimwogope mwenye mamlaka? Basi tenda lile lililo jema naye atakusifu.
4 For he is ye minister of God for thy wealth, but if thou do euill, feare: for he beareth not the sworde for nought: for he is the minister of God to take vengeance on him that doeth euill.
Kwa maana mwenye mamlaka ni mtumishi wa Mungu kwa ajili ya mema. Lakini kama ukitenda mabaya, basi ogopa, kwa kuwa hauinui upanga bila sababu. Yeye ni mtumishi wa Mungu, mjumbe wa Mungu wa kutekeleza adhabu juu ya watenda mabaya.
5 Wherefore ye must bee subiect, not because of wrath only, but also for conscience sake.
Kwa hiyo ni lazima kutii wenye mamlaka, si kwa sababu ya kuogopa adhabu iwezayo kutolewa, bali pia kwa ajili ya dhamiri.
6 For, for this cause ye pay also tribute: for they are Gods ministers, applying themselues for the same thing.
Kwa sababu hii mnalipa kodi, kwa maana watawala ni watumishi wa Mungu, ambao hutumia muda wao wote kutawala.
7 Giue to all men therefore their duetie: tribute, to whome yee owe tribute: custome, to whom custome: feare, to whome feare: honour, to whom ye owe honour.
Mlipeni kila mtu kile mnachodaiwa. Kama mnadaiwa kodi lipeni kodi, kama ni ushuru, lipeni ushuru, astahiliye hofu, mhofu, astahiliye heshima, mheshimu.
8 Owe nothing to any man, but to loue one another: for he that loueth another, hath fulfilled the Lawe.
Msidaiwe kitu na mtu yeyote, isipokuwa kupendana, kwa maana yeye ampendaye mwenzake, ameitimiza sheria.
9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adulterie, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steale, Thou shalt not beare false witnes, Thou shalt not couet: and if there be any other commandement, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, euen in this, Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe.
Kwa kuwa amri hizi zisemazo, “Usizini,” “Usiue,” “Usiibe,” “Usitamani,” na amri nyingine zote, zinajumlishwa katika amri hii moja: “Mpende jirani yako kama nafsi yako.”
10 Loue doeth not euill to his neighbour: therefore is loue the fulfilling of the Lawe.
Upendo haumfanyii jirani jambo baya. Kwa hiyo upendo ndio utimilifu wa sheria.
11 And that, considering the season, that it is now time that we should arise from sleepe: for now is our saluation neerer, then when we beleeued it.
Nanyi fanyeni hivi, mkiutambua wakati tulio nao. Saa ya kuamka kutoka usingizini imewadia, kwa maana sasa wokovu wetu umekaribia zaidi kuliko hapo kwanza tulipoamini.
12 The night is past, and the day is at hande, let vs therefore cast away the workes of darkenesse, and let vs put on the armour of light,
Usiku umeendelea sana, mapambazuko yamekaribia. Kwa hiyo tuyaweke kando matendo ya giza na tuvae silaha za nuru.
13 So that wee walke honestly, as in the day: not in gluttonie, and drunkennesse, neither in chambering and wantonnes, nor in strife and enuying.
Basi na tuenende kwa adabu kama inavyopasa wakati wa mchana, si kwa kufanya karamu za ulafi na ulevi, si kwa ufisadi na uasherati, si kwa ugomvi na wivu.
14 But put yee on the Lord JESUS CHRIST, and take no thought for the flesh, to fulfill the lustes of it.
Bali jivikeni Bwana Yesu Kristo, wala msifikiri jinsi mtakavyotimiza tamaa za miili yenu yenye asili ya dhambi.
