2 Corinthians 10
1 But I Paul exhort you through the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who before your face am indeed humble among you, but being absent am bold towards you:
Mimi Paulo mwenyewe ambaye naonekana kuwa mpole nikiwa pamoja nanyi, lakini mkali wakati nikiwa mbali nanyi, nawasihini kwa huruma na wema wake Kristo.
2 but I pray, that being present I may not be bold with the confidence with which I consider myself bold towards certain ones who regard us as walking about according to the flesh.
Nawaombeni msinisababishe kuwa mkali wakati nitakapokuja, maana nina hakika naweza kuwa mkali kwa wote wale wanaotudhania kwamba tunaishi kidunia.
3 For walking in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh;
Kweli tunaishi duniani, lakini hatupigani vita kidunia.
4 for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty to God unto the pulling down of strongholds;
Maana, silaha tunazotumia katika vita vyetu si silaha za kidunia, ila ni nguvu za Mungu zenye kuharibu ngome zote. Tunaharibu hoja zote za uongo,
5 casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
na kubomoa kila kizuizi cha majivuno kilichowekwa kuipinga elimu ya Mungu; tunaziteka fikira zote na kuzifanya zimtii Kristo.
6 and being ready to avenge every disobedience, when your obedience may be complete.
Mkisha kuwa wakamilifu katika kutii, sisi tuko tayari kuadhibu kila namna ya kutotii.
7 Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If any has trusted to himself that he belongs to Christ, let him again consider this in reference to himself, that as he belongs to Christ, so do we also.
Ninyi hutazama mambo kwa nje tu. Je, yupo mtu yeyote anayedhani kwamba yeye ni wa Kristo? Sawa! Basi, afikirie vilevile kwamba sisi pia ni wa Kristo kama yeye alivyo wa Kristo.
8 For if I shall in any thing the more abundantly boast concerning our power which the Lord gave us for your edification, and not for your destruction, I will not be ashamed:
Hata kama nimezidi katika kujivuna kwangu juu ya ule uwezo aliotupa—uwezo wa kuwajenga na sio wa kubomoa—hata hivyo sijutii hata kidogo.
9 in order that I may not seem as it were to terrify you by my letters.
Sipendi mfikiri kwamba nataka kuwatisha ninyi kwa barua zangu.
10 Because they say, His letters are indeed weighty and powerful; but the presence of his body is weak, and his speech contemptible.
Mtu anaweza kusema: “Barua za Paulo ni kali na zenye maneno mazito, lakini yeye mwenyewe anapokuwa pamoja nasi ni mtu dhaifu, na hata anapoongea maneno yake ni kama si kitu.”
11 Let such a one consider this, that, such as we are in word by our letters while absent, such we really are in work being present.
Mtu asemaye hivyo heri akumbuke kwamba hakuna tofauti ya yale tunayoandika katika barua wakati tuko mbali, na yale tutakayofanya wakati tutakapokuwa nanyi.
12 For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with certain ones of those who recommend themselves: but they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves to themselves, are not wise.
Kwa vyovyote hatungethubutu kujiweka au kujilinganisha na wale watu wanaojisifia wenyewe. Watu wenye kujifanya wao kuwa kipimo cha kujipimia, na watu wanaojilinganisha wenyewe kwa wenyewe, ni wapumbavu.
13 But we will not boast in things without measure, but according to the measure of the rule which measure God has measured to us, to reach even unto you.
Lakini sisi hatutajivuna kupita kiasi; kujivuna huko kutabaki katika kile kipimo cha kazi aliyotukabidhi Mungu, kazi ambayo tunaifanya pia kwenu.
14 For not as not reaching unto you do we stretch ourselves, for we have advanced in the gospel of Christ even unto you:
Na kwa vile ninyi mu katika mipaka hiyo, hatukuipita tulipokuja kwenu, tukiwaleteeni Habari Njema juu ya Kristo.
15 and not boasting in things without measure, in the labors of others, but having hope of your faith increasing among you, to be magnified according to our rule exceedingly,
Basi, hatujivunii kazi waliyofanya wengine zaidi ya kipimo tulichopewa; ila tunatumaini kwamba imani yenu itazidi miongoni mwenu kufuatana na kipimo alichotuwekea Mungu.
16 to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, not to glory according to the rule of others in things made ready.
Hapo tutaweza kuihubiri Habari Njema katika nchi nyingine, mbali nanyi; na haitakuwa shauri la kujivunia kazi waliyofanya watu wengine mahali pengine.
17 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord;
Lakini kama yasemavyo Maandiko: “Mwenye kuona fahari na aone fahari juu ya alichofanya Bwana.”
18 for he that commends himself is not approved, but whom the Lord commends.
Anayekubaliwa si yule anayejisifu mwenyewe, bali yule anayesifiwa na Bwana.
