Ephesians 4
1 I THEREFORE, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
Basi, mimi niliye mfungwa kwa kuwa namtumikia Bwana, nawasihi muishi maisha yanayostahili wito mlioitiwa.
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Muwe daima wanyenyekevu, wapole na wenye saburi; vumilianeni ninyi kwa ninyi kwa mapendo.
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Fanyeni bidii ya kuhifadhi umoja uletwao na Roho kwa kuzingatia amani iliyo kati yenu.
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
Kuna mwili mmoja na Roho mmoja, kama vile tumaini mliloitiwa na Mungu ni moja.
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Kuna Bwana mmoja, imani moja na ubatizo mmoja;
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
kuna Mungu mmoja na Baba wa wote, ambaye yuko juu ya wote, afanya kazi katika yote na yuko katika yote.
7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Kila mmoja wetu amepewa neema kadiri ya kipimo alichojaliwa na Kristo.
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Kama yasemavyo Maandiko: “Alipopaa mbinguni juu kabisa, alichukua mateka; aliwapa watu zawadi.”
9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Basi, inaposemwa: “alipaa juu,” ina maana gani? Maana yake ni kwamba, kwanza alishuka mpaka chini kabisa duniani.
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
Basi, huyo aliyeshuka hapa duniani, ndiye aliyepaa juu ya mbingu zote apate kuujaza ulimwengu.
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Ndiye aliyewapa watu zawadi: wengine aliwajalia wawe mitume, wengine manabii, wengine wawe waeneza Habari Njema, wengine wachungaji na walimu.
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Alifanya hivyo apate kuwatayarisha watu wote wa Mungu kwa ajili ya kazi ya huduma ya Kikristo ili kuujenga mwili wa Kristo,
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
na hivyo sote tuufikie umoja wa imani na kumjua Mwana wa Mungu; tuwe watu waliokomaa na kuufikia utimilifu wake Kristo mwenyewe.
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Basi, hatutakuwa tena kama watoto, tukitupwa na kupeperushwa huko na huko kwa kila upepo wa mafundisho wanayozua watu wadanganyifu, ili wawapotoshe wengine kwa hila.
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Ila, sisi tukisema ukweli kwa moyo wa mapendo tutakua zidi katika kila jambo kulingana na Kristo ambaye ndiye kichwa;
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
chini ya uongozi wake, viungo vyote vya mwili hushikamana pamoja, na mwili wote hutegemezwa kwa msaada wa viungo vyake. Basi, kila kiungo kikitekeleza kazi yake ipasavyo, mwili wote hukua na kujijenga katika upendo.
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
Basi, kwa jina la Bwana, nawaonyeni: msiishi tena kama watu wasiomjua Mungu, ambao fikira zao zimekuwa upuuzi mtupu,
18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
na akili zao zimo gizani. Wako mbali na uzima wa Mungu, kwa sababu ya upumbavu ulio ndani yao na ukaidi wao.
19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
Wamepotoka na hawana aibu, wamejitosa katika ufisadi; hufanya kwa pupa kila aina ya mambo ya aibu.
20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
Lakini ninyi hamkujifunza hivyo juu ya Kristo.
21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
Ni dhahiri kwamba mlisikia barabara habari zake, na mkiwa wafuasi wake mkafundishwa ukweli ulivyo katika Yesu.
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Basi, acheni mwenendo wenu wa awali, yaani ule utu wenu wa kale uliokuwa unaangamizwa kwa tamaa zake danganyifu.
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Jirekebisheni upya rohoni na katika fikira zenu.
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Vaeni hali mpya ya utu ambayo imeumbwa kwa mfano wa Mungu na ambayo hujionyesha katika maisha ya kweli ya uadilifu na utakatifu.
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
Kwa hiyo, acheni uongo. Kila mmoja anapaswa kumwambia mwenzake ukweli, maana kila mmoja wetu ni kiungo cha mwili wa Kristo.
26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
Kama mkikasirika, msikubali hasira yenu iwafanye mtende dhambi, na wala msikae na hasira kutwa nzima.
27 Neither give place to the devil.
Msimpe Ibilisi nafasi.
28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
Aliyekuwa akiiba, asiibe tena, bali na aanze kufanya kazi njema kwa mikono yake, apate kuwa na kitu cha kumsaidia mtu aliye maskini.
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Maneno mabaya hata yasisikike kamwe miongoni mwenu; kila mara maneno yenu yawe ya kufaa na ambayo hujenga na kuwasaidia wengine, ili yawaneemeshe wasikilizaji wenu.
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Msimhuzunishe Roho Mtakatifu wa Mungu maana Roho huyo ni alama ya Mungu kwenu kwamba ninyi ni watu wake, na thibitisho kwamba siku itakuja ambapo Mungu atawakomboeni.
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Basi, achaneni na uhasama, chuki, hasira, kelele, matusi! Achaneni na kila uovu!
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Muwe na moyo mwema na wenye kuhurumiana; kila mmoja na amsamehe mwenzake kama naye Mungu alivyowasamehe ninyi kwa njia ya Kristo.
