< 1 Corinthians 9 >
1 I am certainly free [to do all the things that God allows me to do.] [RHQ] I am an apostle. [RHQ] [You] certainly [know that] I have seen Jesus our Lord. [RHQ] It is a result of my work that you [have believed in] the Lord [Jesus]. [RHQ]
Githĩ niĩ ndirĩ na wĩyathi? Githĩ niĩ ndirĩ mũtũmwo? Githĩ niĩ ndionire Jesũ Mwathani witũ? Anga inyuĩ mũtirĩ maciaro ma wĩra wakwa thĩinĩ wa Mwathani?
2 And even though other people may think that I am not an apostle, you certainly should know that I am an apostle. [Remember that] your having become Christians [MET] [as a result of my telling you about] the Lord (confirms/shows that it is true) that I am an apostle.
O na angĩkorwo andũ arĩa angĩ mationaga ta ndĩ mũtũmwo-rĩ, ti-itherũ niĩ harĩ inyuĩ ndĩ mũtũmwo! Nĩgũkorwo nĩ inyuĩ kĩmenyithia kĩa ũtũmwo wakwa thĩinĩ wa Mwathani.
3 In order to defend myself, this [is what I say] to those who criticize me [by claiming that I do not act like an apostle].
Gwĩtetera gwakwa harĩ arĩa manjiirithagia nĩ gũkũ:
4 As for Barnabas and me, we certainly have the right [as apostles] to receive [from you and other congregations] food and drink [for our work]. [RHQ]
Githĩ ithuĩ tũtirĩ na kĩhooto gĩa kũrĩa na kũnyua?
5 [We have the] same right [that] the other apostles and the Lord Jesus’ [younger] brothers and [especially] Peter have. They all take along a wife who is a believer [when they travel various places in order to tell people about Christ. And they have a right that the people whom they work among will support their wives, too]. So Barnabas and I certainly have those same rights. [RHQ]
Githĩ ithuĩ tũtirĩ na kĩhooto kĩa mũndũ gũtwarana rũgendo-inĩ na mũtumia wake mwĩtĩkia, o ta ũrĩa atũmwo arĩa angĩ, na ariũ a nyina na Mwathani, o na Kefa mekaga?
6 It would be ridiculous to think that Barnabas and I are the only apostles who must work to earn money to pay our expenses [while we are doing God’s work! [RHQ]]
Kana no niĩ tũrĩ na Baranaba arĩ o nginya tũrutage wĩra nĩguo tuone ũteithio witũ?
7 Soldiers certainly do not pay their own wages. [RHQ] Those who plant a vineyard would certainly eat some of the grapes [when they become ripe]. [RHQ] Those who care for sheep would certainly drink the milk from those sheep. [RHQ] [Similarly, those who tell others about Christ certainly have a right to receive] ([financial help/food]) [from the people to whom they preach].
Nũũ ũtungataga ta mũthigari na akeerĩha na indo ciake we mwene? Nĩ mũndũ ũrĩkũ ũhaandaga mũgũnda wa mĩthabibũ na ndarĩe thabibũ cia mũgũnda ũcio? Ningĩ-rĩ, nĩ kũrĩ mũndũ ũrĩithagia rũũru na ndanyue iria rĩa rũũru rũu?
8 I am saying that, not only because people think that it is right. [RHQ] [No], I am [RHQ] saying it because it is what [God said] in the laws [that he gave to Moses].
Ndĩraaria ũhoro ũyũ ndĩ na meciiria ma ũ-mũndũ tu? Githĩ Watho o naguo nduugĩte o ũguo?
9 Moses wrote in one of those laws, “While an ox is threshing [grain], you must not tie its mouth shut [so that it cannot eat the grain].” (God was not only concerned about oxen [when he gave that law]./Was God [only] concerned about oxen [when he gave that law]?) [RHQ]
Nĩgũkorwo nĩ kwandĩkĩtwo watho-inĩ wa Musa atĩrĩ, “Ndũkanohe ndegwa kanua hĩndĩ ĩrĩa ĩkũranga ngano ĩkĩmĩhũũra.” Ngai akiuga ũguo-rĩ, nĩ ndegwa aracaaĩra?
10 [No], he was [RHQ] concerned about us, also! Yes, [God caused Moses to] write those words [because he is concerned] about us! Those who plow the ground confidently expect [to eat some of] the crop [that grows]. Those who thresh grain confidently expect [to eat some of the grain that they thresh. Similarly, we who proclaim the message about Christ have the right to confidently expect to receive financial help for our work].
Ti-itherũ oigaga ũguo nĩ ũndũ witũ, githĩ tiguo? Ĩĩ-ni, ũndũ ũyũ waandĩkirũo nĩ ũndũ witũ, tondũ rĩrĩa mũrĩmi ekũrĩma, nake mũhũũri ngano amĩhũũrage-rĩ, nĩ kwagĩrĩire mekage ũguo marĩ na kĩĩrĩgĩrĩro atĩ nĩmakagayana magetha.
11 And because we have proclaimed God’s message to you, we certainly have the right to receive from you the things that we need for our bodies [MET]! [MET, RHQ]
Tũngĩkorwo ithuĩ nĩtũhaandĩte mbeũ ya kĩĩroho thĩinĩ wanyu-rĩ, kaĩ akĩrĩ ũndũ mũnene ithuĩ tũngĩgetha indo cia gũtũũria mwĩrĩ kuuma kũrĩ inyuĩ?
12 Since other people [who preached to you] had that right, certainly Barnabas and I have the same right. [RHQ] However, neither of us insisted [that you give us the things that] we have a right [to receive from you]. Instead, we were willing to endure anything in order that we not hinder [anyone from believing] the message about Christ.
Angĩkorwo andũ angĩ marĩ na kĩhooto gĩa gũteithio nĩ inyuĩ-rĩ, ithuĩ githĩ tũtikĩagĩrĩirwo nĩgũteithio makĩria? No ithuĩ tũtiahũthĩrire kĩhooto kĩu. Handũ ha ũguo-rĩ, nĩ gũkirĩrĩria tũkiragĩrĩria ũndũ o wothe nĩguo tũtikae kũhĩngĩca Ũhoro-ũrĩa-Mwega wa Kristũ.
13 You should keep in mind that [the priests and servants] in the Temple eat [some of the food that people bring to] the Temple. [RHQ] Specifically, the priests who work at the altar eat some of [the food that the people bring to sacrifice on] the altar.
Kaĩ inyuĩ mũtooĩ atĩ andũ arĩa marutaga wĩra thĩinĩ wa hekarũ marutaga irio ciao kuuma kũu hekarũ, nao arĩa matungataga kĩgongona-inĩ magayanaga kĩrĩa kĩrutĩtwo kĩgongona-inĩ?
14 So the Lord has commanded that those who proclaim the good message [about him] should receive from [those who hear that] message what they need to live on.
O ta ũguo-rĩ, Mwathani nĩathanĩte atĩ arĩa mahunjagia Ũhoro-ũrĩa-Mwega nĩmagĩrĩirwo kuonaga gĩa kũmatũũria kuuma kũrĩ Ũhoro-ũrĩa-Mwega.
15 However, I have not requested that you [give me] those things that I have a right [to receive from you]. Furthermore, I am writing this to you, not in order to request you to begin [giving me financial help now]. I would rather die than to [receive help from you]. I do not want anyone to prevent me from boasting [about my proclaiming God’s message to you without receiving financial help from you].
No niĩ ndirĩ ndaahũthĩra kĩhooto o na kĩmwe gĩa cio. Ningĩ ndiraandĩka ũhoro ũyũ ndĩ na kĩĩrĩgĩrĩro atĩ nĩmũkũnjĩka maũndũ ta macio. Nĩ kaba ngue gũkĩra mũndũ o naũ agirie ndĩĩrahĩre ũndũ ũcio.
16 When I proclaim the message about Christ, I cannot boast [about doing it], because [Christ] has commanded me [to do it]. I would be very miserable (OR, [I am afraid that] God would punish me) if I did not proclaim that message.
No rĩrĩ, ndingĩhota kwĩraha rĩrĩa ngũhunjia Ũhoro-ũrĩa-Mwega, nĩgũkorwo nĩhatagĩrĩrio mũno ndĩũhunjie. Na niĩ ingĩaga kũhunjia Ũhoro-ũrĩa-Mwega kaĩ ndagĩa na haaro-ĩ!
17 If I had decided by myself to proclaim it, [God] would reward me. But I did not decide by myself to do that. I am simply doing the work that [God] entrusted to me.
Ingĩhunjia nĩ ũndũ wa kwĩyendera-rĩ, ndaheo mũcaara; no angĩkorwo ti na ũndũ wa kwĩyendera-rĩ, niĩ no kũhingia ndĩrahingia ũndũ ũrĩa ndĩhokeirwo.
18 So perhaps you wonder what my reward is. [RHQ] [I will tell you]. When I proclaim the good message [about Christ], I do not ask people for financial help. It [makes me very happy not to ask for help, and being happy is the] reward I get. I do not want to use the rights that I have [when I proclaim] the gospel.
Hakĩrĩ ũguo-rĩ, mũcaara wakwa ũkĩrĩ kĩ? Nĩ atĩrĩ: Atĩ harĩ ũhoro wa kũhunjia Ũhoro-ũrĩa-Mwega-rĩ, hunjagie tũhũ itekũrĩhwo, na nĩ ũndũ ũcio njage gwĩtagia kĩhooto gĩakwa rĩrĩa ngũhunjia Ũhoro-ũrĩa-Mwega.
19 I am not obligated to do what anyone else thinks that I should do. Nevertheless, when I have been with any group of people, I have made myself [do what they believed that I should do, just like a slave does what his master wants him to do]. I have done that in order that I might convince more people [to trust in Christ].
O na gũtuĩka ndĩ muohore na ndirĩ ngombo ya mũndũ-rĩ, niĩ ndĩĩtuaga ngombo ya o mũndũ wothe, nĩguo nguucĩrĩrie andũ aingĩ o ta ũrĩa kwahoteka.
20 Specifically, when I was with fellow Jews, I did the things that Jews [think that people should do]. I did that in order that I might convince some of them [to trust in Christ]. Although I am now not obligated to obey the Jewish laws and rituals, when I was with those who believe that they are obligated to obey those laws, I did the things that they [think that people should do]. I did that in order to convince some of them [to trust in Christ].
Kũrĩ Ayahudi ndaatuĩkire ta Mũyahudi nĩguo nguucagĩrĩrie Ayahudi. Na kũrĩ arĩa marĩ rungu rwa watho-rĩ, ndaatuĩkire ta mũndũ ũrĩ rungu rwa watho, o na gũtuĩka niĩ mwene ndirĩ rungu rwa watho, nĩguo nguucagĩrĩrie arĩa marĩ rungu rwa watho.
21 When I was with (non-Jews/those who do not know those laws), I did the things that non-Jews [think that people should do], in order that I might convince some of them [to trust in Christ]. I do not mean that I disobey God’s laws. No, I obey the things that Christ commanded us to do.
Kũrĩ arĩa matarĩ watho-inĩ-rĩ, ndaatuĩkire ta mũndũ ũtarĩ watho-inĩ ũcio, o na gũtuĩka ndirĩ muohore kuuma kũrĩ watho wa Ngai, no ndĩ watho-inĩ wa Kristũ, nĩguo nguucagĩrĩrie arĩa matarĩ watho-inĩ ũcio.
22 When I was with those who doubt [whether God will permit them to do certain things that others] ([disapprove of/think it is not right to do]), I [avoided doing those things], in order that I might convince some of them [to trust in Christ]. In summary, I have done all the things [that the people I have been with think that others should do], in order that by every possible means I might convince some of them [to trust in Christ].
Kũrĩ arĩa matarĩ hinya-rĩ, ndaatuĩkire ta itarĩ hinya nĩguo nguucagĩrĩrie arĩa matarĩ hinya. Nduĩkĩte maũndũ mothe kũrĩ andũ othe nĩgeetha kũngĩhoteka na njĩra ciothe ngerie kũhonokia amwe ao.
23 I do all these things in order that [more people will believe] the message about Christ, and in order that I, along with other believers, may receive the good things [that God promises to give us].
Njĩkaga maũndũ maya mothe nĩ ũndũ wa Ũhoro-ũrĩa-Mwega, nĩgeetha ngaagaĩrwo irathimo ciaguo.
24 When people run in a race, they all run, but only one of them wins the race and as a result gets a prize. You certainly know that [RHQ]. So, [just like] runners [exert themselves fully to win a race] [MET], [you should exert yourselves fully to do the things that God wants you to do], in order that you may receive the reward [that God wants to give you].
Kaĩ inyuĩ mũtooĩ atĩ andũ arĩa mahĩtahĩtanaga ihenya-inĩ mahanyũkaga othe, no rĩrĩ, no ũmwe wao ũheagwo kĩheo? Kĩhanyũkei na njĩra ĩrĩa ĩngĩtũma mũkaaheo kĩheo.
25 All athletes exercise their bodies strenuously in many ways. They do that in order to receive a wreath [as a reward to wear on their heads]. Those wreaths fade, but we will receive a reward that will last forever [LIT].
Mũndũ o wothe ũrĩa ũhĩtahĩtanaga thĩinĩ wa mathako-rĩ, ehataga na akemenyeria maũndũ-inĩ mothe hatarĩ itherũ. Mekaga ũguo nĩguo maheo thũmbĩ ĩtarĩ ya gũtũũra; no ithuĩ twĩkaga ũguo nĩguo tũkaaheo thũmbĩ ya gũtũũra nginya tene.
26 For that reason, I [try hard to please God] [MET], [like a] runner who runs toward the goal [LIT]. I [try hard to accomplish what God wants me to accomplish, like] a boxer tries hard to hit his opponent, not to miss hitting him.
Nĩ ũndũ ũcio-rĩ, niĩ ndihanyũkaga ta mũndũ ũtooĩ gĩtũmi gĩa kũhanyũka; na ndirũaga ta mũndũ ũgũikia ngundi ciake o ũguo tũhũ.
27 I beat my body [to make it do what I want it to do] [MET], [as] slaves [obey their masters], in order that, after I have proclaimed [God’s message] to others, he will not [say that I do] not deserve to receive a reward.
Aca, nĩ mwĩrĩ wakwa hũũraga ngaũtua ngombo yakwa, nĩgeetha ndaarĩkia kũhunjĩria andũ arĩa angĩ-rĩ, niĩ mwene ndikanatuĩke wa kũregwo nyimwo kĩheo.