< Galatians 4 >
1 But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, though he is lord of all;
Basi, nasema hivi: mrithi, akiwa bado mtoto, hawi tofauti na mtumwa ingawaje mali yote ni yake.
2 but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed 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 elemental principles of the world.
Hali kadhalika na sisi tulipokuwa bado watoto, tulikuwa watumwa wa pepo watawala wa ulimwengu.
4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law,
Lakini wakati ule maalumu ulipotimia, Mungu alimtuma Mwanawe aliyezaliwa na mwanamke, akaishi chini ya Sheria
5 that he might redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive the adoption as sons.
apate kuwakomboa wale waliokuwa chini ya Sheria ili sisi tufanywe wana wa Mungu.
6 And because you are sons, God 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 you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God.
Basi, wewe si mtumwa tena, bali mwana. Na ikiwa ni mwana, basi, wewe utapokea yote Mungu aliyowawekea watoto wake.
8 However at that time, not knowing God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.
Zamani hamkumjua Mungu na hivyo mkatumikia miungu isiyo miungu kweli.
9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, why do you turn back again to the weak and miserable elemental principles, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?
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 You observe days, months, seasons, and years.
Bado mnaadhimisha siku, miezi na miaka!
11 I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you.
Nahofu kwamba labda kazi niliyoifanya kwa ajili yenu imepotea bure!
12 I beg you, brothers, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong,
Ndugu, nawasihi muwe kama mimi, kwa vile hata mimi nimekuwa kama ninyi. Hamkunitendea ubaya wowote.
13 but you know that in physical weakness I preached the Good News to you the first time;
Mnajua kwamba ugonjwa wangu ndio ulionipatia fursa ya kuwahubirieni Habari Njema kwa mara ya kwanza.
14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not despise nor reject; but you received me as an angel of God, even 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 Where was the blessing you enjoyed? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and 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 then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
Je, sasa nimekuwa adui yenu kwa sababu ya kuwaambieni ukweli?
17 They zealously seek you, but for no good purpose; they desire to alienate you, that you may be zealous for them.
Hao watu wengine wanawahangaikia ninyi, lakini nia zao si njema. Wanataka kuwatenganisha nami ili ninyi muwahangaikie wao.
18 But it is always good to be zealous in a good cause, 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 am again in travail until Christ is 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 but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
Laiti ningekuwa pamoja nanyi sasa, maana ningalipata msimamo ufaao juu yenu! Nina wasiwasi sana nanyi!
21 Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, do you 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 by the slave woman, and one by the free woman.
Imeandikwa katika Maandiko Matakatifu kwamba Abrahamu alikuwa na watoto wawili: mmoja kwa mwanamke mtumwa, na wa pili kwa mwanamke huru.
23 However, the son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise.
Yule wa mwanamke mtumwa alizaliwa kama kawaida, lakini yule wa mwanamke huru alizaliwa kutokana na ahadi ya Mungu.
24 These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to slavery, 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 this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and represents Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in slavery 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 that is above is free, and she is our mother.
Lakini Yerusalemu ya juu mbinguni ni mji ulio huru, nao ni mama yetu.
27 For it is written, "Rejoice, you barren who do not bear. Break forth and shout, you that do not travail. For more are the children of the desolate than of her who 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 Now you, brothers, as Isaac was, 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 who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the 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 However what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman will 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, brothers, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the free woman.
Kwa hiyo, basi, ndugu, sisi si watoto wa mtumwa bali wa mama huru.