Colossians 3
1 You now are alive [spiritually], and [it is as though you were given new life] {[God caused you to become alive]} when he caused Christ to become alive again. So be constantly wanting what is associated with heaven [MTY], where Christ is. There God has given him supreme authority and the highest honor.
Basi, ikiwa mmefufuka pamoja na Kristo, panieni mambo ya juu, kule Kristo aliko, ameketi upande wa kulia wa Mungu.
2 Be constantly wanting the blessings that God has prepared for you in heaven [MTY]. Do not be constantly wanting [to do the evil deeds that people on] earth do [MTY],
Muwe na hamu ya mambo ya huko juu, na siyo mambo ya hapa duniani.
3 because you have [ceased to behave as you formerly did. You are like people who have] died. You now live [spiritually] together with Christ in [the presence of] God; and [people] cannot see that [you have a new life].
Maana ninyi mmekufa na uzima wenu umefichwa pamoja na Kristo katika Mungu.
4 When Christ, who causes you to live [spiritually], is publicly revealed, then God will also reveal you publicly together with Christ, [and you together with Christ will be] glorious.
Uzima wenu halisi ni Kristo, na wakati atakapotokea ndipo nanyi pia mtakapotokea pamoja naye katika utukufu.
5 [Get rid of your evil practices/deeds] [MET, MTY] [as though they were enemies whom] you were killing (OR, [Stop doing evil things] [MET, MTY], just as dead people do not do what is evil). Specifically, do not practice sexual immorality. Do not commit unnatural sexual acts. Do not desire to act like that, and do not desire [to do anything that is] evil. Do not desire to have more things than you need, because, if you do that, you are (worshipping material things instead of worshipping God/making material things to become your god).
Basi, komesheni kabisa kila kitu kilicho ndani yenu ambacho chahusika na mambo ya kidunia: uasherati, uchafu, shauku, tamaa mbaya na uchu (ambao ni sawa na kuabudu sanamu).
6 [Do not behave like that] since God will punish [MTY] those who disobey him, because of their sins.
Kwa sababu ya mambo hayo hasira ya Mungu huwajia wote wanaomwasi.
7 You also formerly did those things when you were disobeying God.
Wakati mmoja ninyi pia mliishi kufuatana na mambo hayo, mlipotawaliwa nayo.
8 Now, however, as for you, do not do any of these evil deeds: Do not get angry in any way [DOU]. Do not act maliciously. Do not (slander/talk evil about) people. Do not talk abusively to people.
Lakini sasa mnapaswa kuachana na mambo haya yote: hasira, tamaa, uovu; kufuru au maneno yasiyofaa yasitoke kamwe vinywani mwenu.
9 Do not lie to one another. Do not do those things, because you have (disposed of/stopped obeying) your former evil nature and stopped doing what you did when you had that former [evil] nature,
Msiambiane uongo, kwani ninyi mmekwisha vua ule utu wa kale pamoja na matendo yake yote,
10 and because you have received a new nature. God is causing your new nature to become more and more like his own nature. He created your new nature in order that [you might get to] know [God] truly.
mkavaa utu mpya. Huu unaendelea kurekebishwa na Mungu, Muumba wake, kadiri ya mfano wake, ili mpate kumjua Mungu kwa ukamilifu.
11 As a result of that, it is not [important whether anyone is a] non-Jew or a Jew, or [whether anyone is] circumcised or not, or [whether anyone is] a foreigner, or even uncivilized, or [whether anyone is] a slave or not a slave. But [what is important is] Christ, who is supremely important in every way.
Katika hali hii, hakuna tena tofauti kati ya Mgiriki na Myahudi, aliyetahiriwa na asiyetahiriwa, msomi na asiye msomi, mtumwa na mtu aliye huru. Kristo ni kila kitu, na yumo katika yote.
12 Because God has chosen you to be his people; and because he loves you, be compassionate to one another. Be kind to one another. Be humble. Be meek (OR, be considerate toward one another), be patient with one another,
Ninyi ni watu wake Mungu; yeye aliwapenda na kuwateua. Kwa hiyo basi, vaeni moyo wa huruma, wema, unyenyekevu, upole na uvumilivu.
13 and tolerate one another’s flaws. Forgive one another, if one of you has a grudge/complaint against another. Just like the Lord [Jesus freely/willingly] forgave you, you too [must freely/willingly forgive one another].
Vumilianeni na kusameheana iwapo mmoja wenu analo jambo lolote dhidi ya mwenzake. Mnapaswa kusameheana kama Bwana alivyowasamehe ninyi.
14 And what is more important than all of these is that you love one another, because by doing that you will be perfectly united together.
Zaidi ya hayo yote, zingatieni upendo kwani upendo huunganisha kila kitu katika umoja ulio kamili.
15 Because God chose you to live peacefully [with one another] in your local congregations, let that peace which Christ gives control your (inner beings/hearts), and be constantly thanking God.
Nayo amani ya Kristo itawale mioyoni mwenu; maana kwa ajili hiyo ninyi mmeitwa katika mwili huo mmoja. Tena muwe na shukrani!
16 And continue to let the message about Christ govern/direct all you think and do, as you very wisely teach and warn one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs (OR, songs that God’s Spirit [gives you]), while you sincerely and thankfully sing to God.
Ujumbe wa Kristo ukae ndani yenu pamoja na utajiri wake wote. Fundishaneni na kushauriana kwa hekima yote. Imbeni zaburi, nyimbo na tenzi za kiroho; mwimbieni Mungu mioyoni mwenu kwa shukrani.
17 Whatever you say, and whatever you do, do all of this in the manner that those who are representatives [MTY] of the Lord Jesus [should do], while you constantly thank God, our Father, as you ask the Lord Jesus to take your prayers to God.
Na, kila mfanyacho kwa neno au tendo, fanyeni vyote kwa jina la Bwana Yesu na kumshukuru Mungu Baba kwa njia yake.
18 You women, be subject to your husbands, since that is what you should do because you have a close relationship with the Lord [Jesus].
Enyi akina mama, watiini waume zenu, kwani ndivyo apendavyo Bwana.
19 You men, love your wives; and, do not be harsh with them.
Nanyi waume, wapendeni wake zenu, na msiwe wakali kwao.
20 You children, obey your parents in every circumstance, because the Lord [God] is pleased when you do that.
Enyi watoto, watiini wazazi wenu daima maana hiyo humpendeza Bwana.
21 You parents (OR, you fathers), do not correct your children more than you need to, in order that they do not become discouraged.
Nanyi wazazi, msiwachukize watoto wenu, la sivyo watakata tamaa.
22 You slaves, obey your earthly masters in every circumstance. Do not obey your masters only when they are watching [MTY] you, like those who [merely] want to impress their masters favorably. Instead, obey your masters sincerely. Do this because you reverence the Lord [Jesus] (OR, [God]).
Enyi watumwa, watiini wakuu wenu wa kidunia katika mambo yote, na si tu wakati wanapowatazama kwa kuwa mnataka kujipendekeza kwao; ila fanyeni hivyo kwa moyo wote, kwa sababu ya kumcha Bwana.
23 Whatever [work] you do, work wholeheartedly. Work wholeheartedly, like those who are working for the Lord [Jesus]. Do not work like those who are working [merely] for [their] masters,
Kila mfanyalo, fanyeni kwa moyo wote, kwa sababu ya Bwana na si kwa ajili ya mtu.
24 because you know that it is the Lord who will [properly/justly] repay you. That is, you will receive what God has promised. [Remember that] it is Christ who is the real master whom you are serving.
Kumbukeni kwamba atawapeni tuzo lile alilowawekea watu wake. Mtumikieni Kristo Bwana!
25 But [God] will judge everyone impartially. He will punish you according to what you have done that is wrong.
Atendaye mabaya atalipwa kufuatana na ubaya wake; Mungu hana ubaguzi.
