2 Corinthians 8
1 Moreover, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia;
Basi sasa ndugu, nataka ninyi mjue kuhusu ile neema ambayo Mungu amewapa makanisa ya Makedonia.
2 how that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their liberality.
Pamoja na majaribu makali na taabu walizopata, furaha waliyokuwa nayo ilikuwa kubwa, ingawa walikuwa maskini kupindukia, kwa upande wao walifurika kwa wingi wa ukarimu.
3 For according to their power, I testify, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,
Kwa maana nashuhudia kwamba wao walitoa kwa kadiri wawezavyo, hata na zaidi ya uwezo wao, kwa hiari yao wenyewe,
4 begging us with much entreaty to receive this grace and the fellowship in the service to the saints.
wakitusihi kwa bidii wapewe fursa ya kushiriki katika huduma hii ya kuwasaidia watakatifu.
5 This was not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.
Wala hawakufanya tulivyotazamia, bali walijitoa wao wenyewe kwa Bwana kwanza na ndipo wakajitoa kwa ajili yetu, kufuatana na mapenzi ya Mungu.
6 So we urged Titus, that as he made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace.
Kwa hiyo tulimsihi Tito, kwa kuwa ndiye alianzisha jambo hili, akamilishe tendo hili la neema kwa upande wenu.
7 But as you abound in everything, in faith, utterance, knowledge, all earnestness, and in the love from us that is in you, see that you also abound in this grace.
Lakini kama vile mlivyo mbele sana katika yote: Katika imani, katika usemi, katika maarifa, katika uaminifu wote na katika upendo wenu kwetu sisi, vivyo hivyo tunataka pia mzidi katika neema hii ya kutoa.
8 I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love.
Siwaamrishi, lakini nataka kujaribu unyofu wa upendo wenu kwa kuulinganisha na bidii ya wengine.
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.
Kwa maana mnajua neema ya Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo, kwamba ingawa alikuwa tajiri, kwa ajili yenu alikubali kuwa maskini, ili kwa umaskini wake ninyi mpate kuwa matajiri.
10 I give a judgment in this: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to start a year ago, not only to do, but also to be willing.
Ushauri wangu kuhusu lile lililo bora kwenu juu ya jambo hili ni huu: Mwaka uliopita ninyi mlikuwa wa kwanza si tu kutoa lakini pia mlikuwa na shauku ya kufanya hivyo.
11 But now complete the doing also, that as there was the readiness to be willing, so there may be the completion also out of your ability.
Sasa ikamilisheni kazi hii kwa shauku kama mlivyoanza, jitoleeni kulingana na uwezo wenu.
12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you do not have.
Kwa kuwa kama nia ya kutoa ipo, kitolewacho kinakubalika kulingana na kile mtu alicho nacho, wala si kwa kile ambacho hana.
13 For this is not that others may be eased and you distressed,
Nia yetu si kwamba wengine wasaidike wakati ninyi mnateseka, bali pawe na uwiano.
14 but for equality. Your abundance at this present time supplies their lack, that their abundance also may become a supply for your lack; that there may be equality.
Kwa wakati huu, wingi wa vitu mlivyo navyo usaidie kutosheleza mahitaji yao, ili wakati wao watakapokuwa na wingi wa vitu, nao wapate kutosheleza mahitaji yenu.
15 As it is written, "He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack."
Ndipo patakuwa na usawa, kama ilivyoandikwa: “Aliyekusanya zaidi hakuwa na ziada, wala aliyekusanya kidogo hakupungukiwa.”
16 But thanks be to God, who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.
Ninamshukuru Mungu ambaye amemtia Tito moyo wa kuwajali ninyi kama mimi ninavyowajali.
17 For he indeed accepted our exhortation, but being himself very earnest, he went out to you of his own accord.
Si kwamba Tito amekubali tu ombi letu, bali anakuja kwenu akiwa na shauku kuliko wakati mwingine, tena kwa hiari yake mwenyewe.
18 We have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the Good News is known through all the churches.
Nasi tunamtuma pamoja naye ndugu ambaye anasifiwa na makanisa yote kwa huduma yake ya kuhubiri Injili.
19 Not only so, but who was also appointed by the churches to travel with us in this grace, which is served by us to the glory of the Lord himself, and to show our readiness.
Zaidi ya hayo, alichaguliwa na makanisa ili asafiri pamoja nasi tulipokuwa tunapeleka matoleo ya ukarimu, kwa ajili ya utukufu wa Bwana mwenyewe, na ili kuonyesha hisani yetu kuwasaidia.
20 We are avoiding this, that no one should blame us concerning this abundance which is administered by us.
Tunataka kuepuka lawama yoyote kuhusu jinsi tunavyosimamia matoleo haya ya ukarimu.
21 For we have regard for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of others.
Kwa kuwa tunakusudia kufanya kile kilicho haki si machoni mwa Bwana peke yake, bali pia machoni mwa watu wengine.
22 We have sent with them our brother, whom we have many times proved earnest in many things, but now much more earnest, by reason of the great confidence which he has in you.
Pamoja nao, tunamtuma ndugu yetu ambaye mara kwa mara ametuthibitishia kwa njia nyingi kwamba ana shauku, naam, zaidi sana sasa kwa sababu analo tumaini kuu kwenu.
23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for you. As for our brothers, they are apostles of the churches, the glory of Christ.
Kwa habari ya Tito, yeye ni mwenzangu na mtendakazi pamoja nami miongoni mwenu. Kwa habari za ndugu zetu, wao ni wawakilishi wa makanisa, na utukufu kwa Kristo.
24 Therefore show the proof of your love to them in front of the churches, and of our boasting about you.
Kwa hiyo waonyesheni wazi hawa ndugu uthibitisho wa upendo wenu na sababu inayotufanya tujivune kwa ajili yenu, mbele ya makanisa, ili yapate kuona.
