2 Corinthians 12
1 To be boasting, is needful, —it is not, indeed, profitable, yet will I 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 Christ, who, fourteen years ago, whether in the body, I know not, or out of the body, I know not, God, knoweth, such a one as this, caught away, as far as 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 And I know such a man as this, whether in the body or apart from the body, [I know not], —God, knoweth,
Na ninajua kwamba mtu huyu—ikiwa katika mwili, au nje ya mwili, mimi sijui, Mungu anajua—
4 How that he was caught away into paradise, and heard unspeakable things, which it is not allowable for a man to utter:
alichukuliwa juu hadi paradiso na kusikia mambo matakatifu sana kwa mtu yeyote kuyasema.
5 On behalf of such a one as this, will I boast, but, on behalf of myself, will I not boast, save in my weaknesses; —
Kwa niaba ya mtu kama huyo nitajivuna. lakini kwa niaba yangu mwenyewe sitajivuna. Isipokuwa kuhusu udhaifu wangu.
6 Although in fact, if I should wish to boast, I shall not be foolish, for, the truth, would I speak; but I forbear, lest anyone, unto me, should reckon above what he beholdeth me [to be], or heareth from me, —even by the exceeding greatness of the revelations.
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 Wherefore, lest I should be unduly lifted up, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, that he might buffet me, —lest I should be unduly lifted up.
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 In this behalf, thrice, besought I, the Lord, that it might depart from me;
Mara tatu nilimsihi Bwana kuhusu hili, ili yeye kuundoa kutoka kwangu.
9 And at once he said unto me—Sufficient for thee, is my favour, for, my power, in weakness, is made complete. Most gladly, therefore, will I rather boast in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may spread a tent over 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 Wherefore, I take pleasure in weaknesses, in insults, in necessities, in persecutions, and straits, in behalf of Christ; for, as soon as I am weak, then, am powerful.
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, —ye, compelled me: —I, in fact, ought, by you, to have been commended; for, not a whit, have I come behind the exceeding overmuch apostles, —even if 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 The signs, indeed, of an apostle, were wrought out among you, in all endurance, —[both] 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 wherein ye were made inferior to the rest of the assemblies, —save that, I myself, would not allow myself to be a burden unto 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 Lo! this third time, I am holding myself, in readiness, to come unto you, and I will not allow myself to be a burden; for I seek not yours, but you; —for, the children, ought not to lay 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 And, I, most gladly, will spend, and be fully spent, for your souls: —If I, exceedingly, love you, am I, the less, loved?
Nitafurahi zaidi kutumia na kutumiwa kwa ajili ya nafsi zenu. Kama ninawapenda zaidi, natakiwa kupendwa kidogo?
16 But let it be!—I, myself, did not burden you, —Notwithstanding, being crafty, with guile, I caught you?
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 Was there, anyone of those whom I have sent unto you, through whom I have overreached you?
Je, nilichukua kwa kujifanyia faida kwa yeyote niliyemtuma kwenu?
18 I exhorted Titus, and sent with him the brother, —Did, Titus, overreach you? Was it not, in the same spirit, we walked? Was it not, 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 All this time, think ye, that, unto you, we are making a defence? Before God in Christ, we speak; —but all these things, beloved, for your upbuilding.
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 fear—lest, by any means, when I come, not such as I wish, should I find you, and, I, should be found by you, such as ye do not wish; —lest, by any means, [I should find] strife, jealousy, outbursts of wrath, factions, railings, whisperings, puffed up pretensions, confusions; —
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 Lest, when I again come, my God should humble me in regard to you, —and I should grieve over many who had before sinned, and not repented of the impurity, and fornication, and wantonness which they had 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.
