2 Corinthians 12
1 It is necessary to boast, though it is not profitable. But I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
Ni lazima nijivune, lakini hakuna kinachoongezwa na hilo. Bali nitaendelea kwenye maono na mafunuo kutoka kwa Bwana.
2 I know a man in Messiah, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I do not know, or whether out of the body, I do not know; God knows), such a one was caught up into the third heaven.
Namjua mtu mmoja katika Kristo ambaye miaka kumi na minne iliyopita ambaye—ikiwa katika mwili, au nje ya mwili, mimi sijui, Mungu anajua—alinyakuliwa juu katika mbingu ya tatu.
3 I know such a man (whether in the body, or apart from the body, I do not know; God knows),
Na ninajua kwamba mtu huyu—ikiwa katika mwili, au nje ya mwili, mimi sijui, Mungu anajua—
4 how he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a human to utter.
alichukuliwa juu hadi paradiso na kusikia mambo matakatifu sana kwa mtu yeyote kuyasema.
5 On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.
Kwa niaba ya mtu kama huyo nitajivuna. lakini kwa niaba yangu mwenyewe sitajivuna. Isipokuwa kuhusu udhaifu wangu.
6 For if I would desire to boast, I will not be foolish; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, so that no one may think more of me than that which he sees in me, or hears from me.
Kama nikitaka kujivuna, nisingekuwa mpumbavu, kwa kuwa ningekuwa ninazungumza ukweli. Lakini nitaacha kujivuna, ili kwamba asiwepo yeyote atakayenifikiria zaidi ya hayo kuliko kinachoonekana ndani yangu au kusikika kutoka kwangu.
7 And because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, therefore, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to pound away at me, to keep me from exalting myself.
Sitajivuna pia kwa sababu ya hayo mafunuo ya aina ya ajabu. Kwa hiyo, hivyo sitajawa na kiburi, mwiba uliwekwa ndani ya mwili wangu, mjumbe wa shetani kunishambulia mimi, ili nisigeuke kuwa mwenye majivuno.
8 Concerning this thing, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
Mara tatu nilimsihi Bwana kuhusu hili, ili yeye kuundoa kutoka kwangu.
9 He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Messiah may rest on me.
Naye akaniambia, “Neema yangu inatosha kwa ajili yako, kwa kuwa nguvu hufanywa kamili katika udhaifu. Hivyo, ningetamani zaidi kujivuna zaidi kuhusu udhaifu wangu, ili kwamba uwezo wa Kristo uweze kukaa juu yangu.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Messiah's sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.
Kwa hiyo ninatosheka kwa ajili ya Kristo, katika udhaifu, katika matukano, katika shida, katika mateso, katika hali ya masikitiko. Kwa kuwa wakati nikiwa dhaifu, kisha nina nguvu.
11 I have become foolish. You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for in nothing was I inferior to the very best emissaries, though I am nothing.
Mimi nimekuwa mpumbavu! ninyi mlinilazimisha kwa hili, kwa kuwa ningekuwa nimesifiwa na ninyi. Kwa kuwa sikuwa duni kabisa kwa hao waitwao mitume—bora, hata kama mimi si kitu.
12 Truly the signs of an emissary were worked among you in all patience, in signs and wonders and mighty works.
Ishara za kweli za mtume zilifanyika katikati yenu kwa uvumilivu, ishara na maajabu na matendo makuu.
13 For what is there in which you were made inferior to the rest of the congregations, unless it is that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong.
Kwa namna gani mlikuwa wa muhimu wa chini kuliko makanisa yaliyobaki, isipokuwa kwamba sikuwa mzigo kwenu? Mnisamehe kwa kosa hili!
14 Look, for the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I seek not what is yours, but you. For the children ought not to save up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
Tazama! mimi niko tayari kuja kwenu kwa mara ya tatu. Sitakuwa mzigo kwenu, kwa kuwa sitaki kitu kilicho chenu. Nawataka ninyi. Kwa kuwa watoto hawapaswi kuweka akiba kwa ajili ya wazazi. Badala yake, wazazi wanapaswa kuweka akiba kwa ajili ya watoto.
15 I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less?
Nitafurahi zaidi kutumia na kutumiwa kwa ajili ya nafsi zenu. Kama ninawapenda zaidi, natakiwa kupendwa kidogo?
16 But be it so, I did not myself burden you. But, being crafty, I caught you with deception.
Lakini kama ilivyo, sikuwalemea mzigo ninyi. Lakini kwa kuwa mimi ni mwerevu sana, mimi ni yule aliyewashika ninyi kwa nimekuwa ambaye aliyewapata kwa udanganyifu.
17 Did I take advantage of you by anyone of them whom I have sent to you?
Je, nilichukua kwa kujifanyia faida kwa yeyote niliyemtuma kwenu?
18 I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Did not we walk in the same spirit? Did not we walk in the same steps?
Nilimsihi Tito kuja kwenu, na nilituma ndugu mwingine pamoja naye. Je, Tito aliwafanyia faida ninyi? Je, hatukutembea katika njia ile ile? Je, hatukutembea katika nyayo zile zile?
19 Have you been thinking all this time that we have been defending ourselves before you? In the sight of God we speak in Messiah; and all things, beloved, are for your edifying.
Mnadhani kwa muda huu wote tumekuwa tukijitetea sisi wenyewe kwenu? Mbele za Mungu, na katika Kristo, tumekuwa tukisema kila kitu kwa ajili ya kuwaimarisha ninyi.
20 For I am afraid that by any means, when I come, I might find you not the way I want to, and that I might be found by you as you do not desire; that by any means there would be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, whisperings, proud thoughts, riots;
Kwa kuwa nina hofu kwamba nitakapokuja naweza nisiwapate ninyi kama ninavyotamani. Nina hofu kwamba mnaweza msinipate mimi kama mnavyotamani. Nahofia kwamba kunaweza kuwa na majadiliano, wivu, milipuko ya hasira, tamaa ya ubinafsi, umbeya, kiburi, na ugomvi.
21 that again when I come my God would humble me before you, and I would mourn for many of those who have sinned before now, and not repented of the uncleanness and sexual immorality and lustfulness which they committed.
Nina hofu kwamba nitakaporudi tena, Mungu wangu anaweza kuninyenyekeza mbele yenu. Nina hofu kwamba ninaweza kuhuzunishwa na wengi ambao wamefanya dhambi kabla ya sasa, na ambao hawakutubu uchafu, na uasherati na mambo ya tamaa wanayoyatenda.
