Ephesians 4
1 Therefore I, who am in prison because [I serve] the Lord [Jesus], urge you, whom God has chosen [to be his people, to do these things]: Conduct your lives as [God’s people] should.
Kwa hiyo, kama mfungwa kwa ajili ya Bwana, nawasihi mtembee sawasawa na wito ambao Mungu aliwaita.
2 Always be humble, and do not demand your own rights. Be patient [with each other], and, because you love each other, endure each other’s ([irritating] behavior/behavior that you do not like).
Muishi kwa unyenyekevu mkuu na upole na uvumilivu. Mkichukuliana katika upendo.
3 [God’s] Spirit has caused you to be united [with one another], so do all that you can to remain united [with one another] by acting peacefully [toward each other].
Fanyeni bidii kuutunza umoja wa Roho katika kifungo cha amani.
4 [All we believers form just one group] [MET], and we have only one [Holy] Spirit. Similarly, you were chosen {[God] chose you} in order that you all might confidently keep expecting one [set of good] things [from God].
Kuna mwili mmoja na Roho moja, kama ambavyo pia mlikuwa mmeitwa katika uhakika wa taraja moja la wito wenu.
5 There is only one Lord, [Jesus Christ]. We all believe the same [teaching about him. It was to show that we belong to him] alone that [we had someone] baptize us.
Na kuna Bwana mmoja, imani moja, ubatizo mmoja,
6 There is one God, who is the [spiritual] Father of all [us believers]. He [rules] over all his people; he enables all his people [to do powerful things] (OR, he sustains all his people); and his [Spirit lives] in all his people.
na Mungu mmoja na Baba wa wote. Yeye yuko juu ya yote, na katika yote na ndani ya yote.
7 Christ has generously given to each one of us spiritual gifts, just like he decided to give them.
Kwa kila mmoja wetu amepewa kipawa kulingana na kipimo cha kipawa cha Kristo.
8 [When Christ gave] gifts to his people, [it was similar to what the Psalmist said about God receiving tribute money] from those whom he had conquered, When he ascended to heaven, he gave as gifts to people the things [that he had taken] from the people whom he captured:
Ni kama maandiko yasemavyo: “Alipopaa juu sana, aliongoza mateka katika utumwa. Akatoa vipawa kwa watu.”
9 The words ‘he ascended’ certainly imply/indicate [RHQ] that Christ had also previously descended to the earth.
Ni nini maana ya, “Alipaa,” isipokuwa kwamba alishuka pia pande za chini za dunia?
10 Christ, who descended [to earth], is also the one who ascended to the most exalted position in heaven, in order that he might show his power [MTY] throughout the universe.
Yeye ambaye alishuka ni mtu yuleyule ambae pia alipaa mbali juu ya mbingu zote. Alifanya hivi ili uwepo wake uwe katika vitu vyote.
11 He appointed some people to be apostles. He appointed some people to be (prophets/ones who reveal messages that come directly from God). He appointed some people to be (evangelists/ones whose work is to tell others the message about Christ). He appointed some people to lead and teach [the congregations].
Kristo alitoa vipawa kama hivi: mitume, manabii, wainjilisti, wachungaji, na waalimu.
12 [He appointed all of these] in order that they would prepare God’s people to do [God’s] work, so that all the people who belong to Christ [MET] might become [spiritually] mature.
Alifanya hivi kuwawezesha waumini kwa ajili ya kazi ya huduma, kwa ajili ya kuujenga mwili wa Kristo.
13 He wants all of us [believers] to be united [because] we all believe in the Son of God (OR, the man who was also God) and [because] we all know [him]. He wants us to become spiritually mature; that is, he wants us to be (perfect/all that God wants us to be), [just like] Christ was ([perfect/all that God wanted him to be]).
Anafanya hivi hadi sisi sote tufikie umoja wa imani na maarifa ya mwana wa Mungu. Anafanya hivi hadi tuweze kukomaa kama wale waliofikia kimo kamili cha Kristo.
14 Then we will no longer be [spiritually immature], like [MET] little children [are immature]. We will no longer be constantly [changing what we believe, like] [MET] waves of the sea are [constantly changing as the wind blows and] tosses them back and forth. We will not allow people who teach [what is false] and who scheme to deceive/influence us.
Hii ni ili kwamba tusiwe tena kama watoto, tusirushwerushwe huku na huko. Ili kwamba tusichukuliwe na kila aina ya upepo wa fundisho, kwa hila za watu katika ujanja wa udanganyifu uliopotoka.
15 Instead, by loving [others] as we behave as [God’s] truth requires (OR, speak in a loving manner what is true), we will become more and more like Christ in every way. He is the one [who controls/guides all his people] [MET], [just like a person’s] head [controls/guides his] body.
Badala yake, tutaongea ukweli katika upendo na kukua zaidi katika njia zote ndani yake ambaye ndiye kichwa, Kristo.
16 He [enables all those who belong to him to mature spiritually. A person’s body grows stronger, as] each part of the body is joined to the others by the ligaments and as each part (functions properly/works as it should). Similarly, believers will become mature [spiritually] by loving each other and by each of them doing the work [that God wants them to do] [MET].
Kristo ameunganisha, kwa pamoja, mwili wote wa waumini. Umeungamanishwa pamoja na kila kiungo ili kwamba mwili wote ukue na kujijenga wenyewe katika upendo.
17 The Lord [Jesus] has authorized me to strongly tell you that you must no longer conduct your lives like unbelievers do. The futile/worthless way in which they think [MET] [controls how they conduct their lives].
Kwa hiyo, nasema hili, na nawasihi katika Bwana: Msitembee tena kama watu wa mataifa wanavyotembea katika ubatili wa akili zao.
18 They are unable to think clearly [MET] [about what is right and what is wrong]. Because they have decided that they do not want to know about God and because they stubbornly [IDM] refuse to [listen to his message], they do not have the [eternal] life that God [gives us].
Wametiwa giza katika mawazo yao. Wamefukuzwa kutoka katika uzima wa Mungu kwa ujinga ulio ndani yao kwa sababu ya ugumu wa mioyo yao.
19 The result is that because they have ceased (to care/to be concerned) [about what is right and what is wrong], they have (deliberately committed themselves to doing/wholeheartedly decided to do) the shameful things that their bodies want, and they commit all kinds of immoral acts, and continually are eager to do more of those things.
Hawajisikii aibu. Wamejikabidhi wenyewe kwa ufisadi katika matendo machafu, katika kila aina ya uchoyo.
20 But when you learned [about] Christ, you did not learn [to behave] like that.
Lakini, hivi sivyo mlivyojifunza kuhusu Kristo.
21 I am sure that you heard the message about [Christ], and because you are people who have a close relationship with him, you were taught {[others] taught you} the true [way to live] that Jesus [showed us].
Nadhani kwamba mmesikia kuhusu yeye. Nadhani kwamba mmekuwa mkifundishwa katika yeye, kama tu ukweli ulivyo ndani ya Yesu.
22 [You were taught] {[They taught you]} that you must put aside [MET] your evil nature; [that is, that you must not behave like you formerly did]. Your evil desires deceived you, making you want to do evil things and causing you to think that [doing that was good for you]; and your thinking like that was destroying you [spiritually].
Lazima mvue mambo yote yanayoendana na mwenendo wenu wa zamani, utu wa zamani. Ni utu wa zamani unaooza kwa sababu ya tamaa za udanganyifu.
23 Others taught you that instead, you must let [God’s Spirit] change the way you think,
Vueni utu wenu wa zamani ili kwamba mfanywe upya katika roho ya akili zenu.
24 and that you must start being [MET] the new persons that God made you to become. That is, your [behavior] must be righteous and truly/genuinely devout.
Fanyeni hivi ili muweze kuvaa utu mpya, unaoendana na Mungu. Umeumbwa katika haki na utakatifu wa kweli.
25 Therefore, quit lying to one another. Instead, because we all belong to just one group [of believers], speak truthfully to each other.
Kwa hiyo, weka mbali udanganyifu. “Ongeeni ukweli, kila mmoja na jirani yake,” kwa sababu tu washirika kwa kila mmoja kwa mwenzake.
26 If you get angry, do not sin [as a result of] getting angry. Before the end of the day [MTY], stop being angry;
Mwe na hasira, lakini msitende dhambi.” Jua lisizame mkiwa katika hasira zenu.
27 [by doing that], you will not allow the devil to make you do evil.
Msimpe Ibilisi nafasi.
28 Those who have been stealing must not steal any longer. Instead, they should work hard to earn (their living/what they need) ([by] their own efforts/[by] what they do themselves) [MTY], in order that they may have [something] to give to those who are needy.
Yeyote aibaye lazima asiibe tena. Badala yake ni lazima afanye kazi. Afanye kazi yenye manufaa kwa mikono yake, ili kwamba aweze kumhudumia mtu aliye na hitaji.
29 Do not use [MTY] foul language. Instead, say only things that are useful for helping people when they need help, things that will help [spiritually] the people that you talk to.
Kauli mbaya isitoke kinywani mwenu. Badala yake, maneno lazima yatoke katika vinywa vyenu yafaayo kwa mahitaji, kuwapa faida wale wanaosikiliza.
30 [God has given you his] Spirit (to confirm/to assure you) that some day [God will claim all] you people [whom Christ has] redeemed [MET], [just like people confirm that something belongs to them by] putting their seal on it. So do not cause God’s Holy Spirit to be sad ([by the way you talk/by the things that you say]).
Na msimhuzunishe Roho Mtakatifu wa Mungu. Ni kwa Yeye kwamba mmewekewa muhuri kwa ajili ya siku ya ukombozi.
31 Do not be resentful at all towards others. Do not become angry in any way. Never shout abusively at others. Never (slander/say bad things about) others. Never act maliciously/be mean in any way.
Lazima muweke mbali uchungu wote, ghadhabu, hasira, ugomvi, na matusi, pamoja na kila aina ya uovu. Iweni wema ninyi kwa ninyi.
32 Be kind to one another. Act mercifully toward each other. Forgive each other, just like God forgave you because of [what] Christ [has done].
Mwe na huruma. Msameheane ninyi kwa ninyi, kama vile Mungu katika Kristo alivyowasamehe ninyi.
