Romans 4
1 What advantage then shall we say that Abraham our father had as to the flesh?
Tuseme nini basi, kuhusu Abrahamu baba yetu kwa jinsi ya mwili: yeye alipataje kujua jambo hili?
2 For if Abraham was accepted as righteous through works, he hath ground of boasting. But he hath no ground of boasting before God.
Kwa maana ikiwa Abrahamu alihesabiwa haki kwa matendo, basi, anacho kitu cha kujivunia, lakini si mbele za Mungu.
3 For what saith the scripture? “Abraham had faith in God, and it was accounted unto him as righteousness.”
Kwa maana Maandiko yasemaje? “Abrahamu alimwamini Mungu na ikahesabiwa kwake kuwa haki.”
4 Now to him that performeth works, the reward is not accounted a matter of grace, but of debt;
Basi mtu afanyapo kazi, mshahara wake hauhesabiwi kwake kuwa ni zawadi, bali ni haki yake anayostahili.
5 but to him who without performing works hath faith in him who accepteth as righteous one that hath been ungodly, his faith is accounted as righteousness;
Lakini kwa mtu ambaye hafanyi kazi na anamtumaini Mungu, yeye ambaye huwahesabia waovu haki, imani yake inahesabiwa kuwa haki.
6 as David also speaketh of the blessedness of the man whom God accepteth as righteous without works:
Daudi pia alisema vivyo hivyo aliponena juu ya baraka za mtu ambaye Mungu humhesabia haki pasipo matendo:
7 “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
“Wamebarikiwa wale ambao wamesamehewa makosa yao, ambao dhambi zao zimefunikwa.
8 Blessed is the man whom the Lord shall not charge with sin.”
Heri mtu yule Bwana hamhesabii dhambi zake.”
9 Doth this blessedness belong to the circumcised alone, or to the uncircumcised also? For we are saying that Abraham's faith was accounted as righteousness.
Je, huku kubarikiwa ni kwa wale waliotahiriwa peke yao, au pia na kwa wale wasiotahiriwa? Tunasema, “Imani ya Abrahamu ilihesabiwa kwake kuwa haki.”
10 How then was it so accounted? After his circumcision, or while he was uncircumcised? Not after he was circumcised, but while he was uncircumcised.
Je, ni lini basi ilipohesabiwa kwake kuwa haki? Je, ilikuwa kabla au baada ya kutahiriwa kwake? Haikuwa baada, ila kabla hajatahiriwa.
11 And he received the outward sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was uncircumcised; that he might be the father of all the uncircumcised who have faith, so that righteousness might be put to their account also;
Alipewa ishara ya tohara kuwa muhuri wa haki aliyokuwa nayo kwa imani hata alipokuwa bado hajatahiriwa. Kusudi lilikuwa kumfanya baba wa wote wale waaminio pasipo kutahiriwa na ambao wamehesabiwa haki.
12 and that he might be the father of the circumcised, who are not circumcised merely, but who tread in the steps of that faith which our father Abraham had while yet uncircumcised.
Vivyo hivyo awe baba wa wale waliotahiriwa ambao si kwamba wametahiriwa tu, bali pia wanafuata mfano wa imani ambayo Baba yetu Abrahamu alikuwa nayo kabla ya kutahiriwa.
13 For not through the Law was the promise made to Abraham or his offspring that he should be the heir of the world, but through the righteousness of faith.
Kwa maana ile ahadi kwamba angeurithi ulimwengu haikuja kwa Abrahamu au kwa wazao wake kwa njia ya sheria bali kwa njia ya haki ipatikanayo kwa imani.
14 For if they that are of the Law are heirs, then faith becometh a vain thing, and the promise is made of no effect.
Kwa maana ikiwa wale waishio kwa sheria ndio warithi, imani haina thamani na ahadi haifai kitu,
15 For the Law is the cause of wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression.
kwa sababu sheria huleta ghadhabu. Mahali ambapo hakuna sheria hakuna makosa.
16 Therefore the inheritance was made to depend on faith, that it might be a matter of grace; that the promise might be sure to all the offspring, not to that only which is under the Law, but to that also which hath the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all
Kwa hiyo, ahadi huja kwa njia ya imani, ili iwe ni kwa neema, na itolewe kwa wazao wa Abrahamu, si kwa wale walio wa sheria peke yao, bali pia kwa wale walio wa imani ya Abrahamu. Yeye ndiye baba yetu sisi sote.
17 (as it is written, “I have made thee a father of many nations”) in the sight of that God whom he believed, who giveth life to the dead, and calleth the things that are not, as though they were.
Kama ilivyoandikwa: “Nimekufanya wewe kuwa baba wa mataifa mengi.” Yeye ni baba yetu mbele za Mungu, ambaye yeye alimwamini, yule Mungu anaye fufua waliokufa, na kuvitaja vile vitu ambavyo haviko kana kwamba vimekwisha kuwako.
18 For he had confident hope in that which was past hope, that he should become a father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, “Thus shall thy offspring be;”
Akitarajia yasiyoweza kutarajiwa, Abrahamu akaamini, akawa baba wa mataifa mengi, kama alivyoahidiwa kwamba, “Uzao wako utakuwa mwingi mno.”
19 and not being weak in faith, he regarded not his own body which had become dead, he being about a hundred years old, nor the deadness of Sarah's womb;
Abrahamu hakuwa dhaifu katika imani hata alipofikiri juu ya mwili wake, ambao ulikuwa kama uliokufa, kwani umri wake ulikuwa unakaribia miaka mia moja, au alipofikiri juu ya ufu wa tumbo la Sara.
20 nor did he waver in respect to the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
Lakini Abrahamu hakusitasita kwa kutokuamini ahadi ya Mungu, bali alitiwa nguvu katika imani yake na kumpa Mungu utukufu,
21 being fully convinced, that what he hath promised, he is able also to perform.
akiwa na hakika kabisa kwamba Mungu alikuwa na uwezo wa kutimiza lile aliloahidi.
22 And therefore it was accounted to him for righteousness.
Hii ndio sababu, “ilihesabiwa kwake kuwa haki.”
23 And that it was so accounted was not written for his sake alone,
Maneno haya “ilihesabiwa kwake kuwa haki,” hayakuandikwa kwa ajili yake peke yake,
24 but for our sakes also, to whom it will be so accounted through our faith in him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead,
bali kwa ajili yetu sisi pia ambao Mungu atatupa haki, sisi tunaomwamini yeye aliyemfufua Yesu Bwana wetu kutoka kwa wafu.
25 who was delivered up on account of our trespasses, and raised from the dead that we might be accepted as righteous.
Alitolewa afe kwa ajili ya dhambi zetu, naye alifufuliwa kutoka mauti ili tuhesabiwe haki.
