2 Corinthians 8
1 But we desire to let you know, brethren, of the grace of God which has been bestowed on the Churches of Macedonia;
Basi sasa ndugu, nataka ninyi mjue kuhusu ile neema ambayo Mungu amewapa makanisa ya Makedonia.
2 how, while passing through great trouble, their boundless joy even amid their deep poverty has overflowed to increase their generous liberality.
Pamoja na majaribu makali na taabu walizopata, furaha waliyokuwa nayo ilikuwa kubwa, ingawa walikuwa maskini kupindukia, kwa upande wao walifurika kwa wingi wa ukarimu.
3 For I can testify that to the utmost of their power, and even beyond their power, they have of their own free will given help.
Kwa maana nashuhudia kwamba wao walitoa kwa kadiri wawezavyo, hata na zaidi ya uwezo wao, kwa hiari yao wenyewe,
4 With earnest entreaty they begged from us the favour of being allowed to share in the service now being rendered to God's people.
wakitusihi kwa bidii wapewe fursa ya kushiriki katika huduma hii ya kuwasaidia watakatifu.
5 They not only did this, as we had expected, but first of all in obedience to God's will they gave their own selves to the Lord and to us.
Wala hawakufanya tulivyotazamia, bali walijitoa wao wenyewe kwa Bwana kwanza na ndipo wakajitoa kwa ajili yetu, kufuatana na mapenzi ya Mungu.
6 This led us to urge Titus that, as he had previously been the one who commenced the work, so he should now go and complete among you this act of beneficence also.
Kwa hiyo tulimsihi Tito, kwa kuwa ndiye alianzisha jambo hili, akamilishe tendo hili la neema kwa upande wenu.
7 Yes, just as you are already very rich in faith, readiness of speech, knowledge, unwearied zeal, and in the love that is in you, implanted by us, see to it that this grace of liberal giving also flourishes in you.
Lakini kama vile mlivyo mbele sana katika yote: Katika imani, katika usemi, katika maarifa, katika uaminifu wote na katika upendo wenu kwetu sisi, vivyo hivyo tunataka pia mzidi katika neema hii ya kutoa.
8 I am not saying this by way of command, but to test by the standard of other men's earnestness the genuineness of your love also.
Siwaamrishi, lakini nataka kujaribu unyofu wa upendo wenu kwa kuulinganisha na bidii ya wengine.
9 For you know the condescending goodness of our Lord Jesus Christ--how for your sakes He became poor, though He was rich, in order that you through His poverty might grow rich.
Kwa maana mnajua neema ya Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo, kwamba ingawa alikuwa tajiri, kwa ajili yenu alikubali kuwa maskini, ili kwa umaskini wake ninyi mpate kuwa matajiri.
10 But in this matter I give you an opinion; for my doing this helps forward your own intentions, seeing that not only have you begun operations, but a year ago you already had the desire to do so.
Ushauri wangu kuhusu lile lililo bora kwenu juu ya jambo hili ni huu: Mwaka uliopita ninyi mlikuwa wa kwanza si tu kutoa lakini pia mlikuwa na shauku ya kufanya hivyo.
11 And now complete the doing also, in order that, just as there was then the eagerness in desiring, there may now be the accomplishment in proportion to your means.
Sasa ikamilisheni kazi hii kwa shauku kama mlivyoanza, jitoleeni kulingana na uwezo wenu.
12 For, assuming the earnest willingness, the gift is acceptable according to whatever a man has, and not according to what he has not.
Kwa kuwa kama nia ya kutoa ipo, kitolewacho kinakubalika kulingana na kile mtu alicho nacho, wala si kwa kile ambacho hana.
13 I do not urge you to give in order that others may have relief while you are unduly pressed,
Nia yetu si kwamba wengine wasaidike wakati ninyi mnateseka, bali pawe na uwiano.
14 but that, by equalization of burdens, your superfluity having in the present emergency supplied their deficiency, their superfluity may in turn be a supply for your deficiency later on, so that there may be equalization of burdens.
Kwa wakati huu, wingi wa vitu mlivyo navyo usaidie kutosheleza mahitaji yao, ili wakati wao watakapokuwa na wingi wa vitu, nao wapate kutosheleza mahitaji yenu.
15 Even as it is written, "He who gathered much had not too much, and he who gathered little had not too little."
Ndipo patakuwa na usawa, kama ilivyoandikwa: “Aliyekusanya zaidi hakuwa na ziada, wala aliyekusanya kidogo hakupungukiwa.”
16 But thanks be to God that He inspires the heart of Titus with the same deep interest in you;
Ninamshukuru Mungu ambaye amemtia Tito moyo wa kuwajali ninyi kama mimi ninavyowajali.
17 for Titus welcomed our request, and, being thoroughly in earnest, comes to you of his own free will.
Si kwamba Tito amekubali tu ombi letu, bali anakuja kwenu akiwa na shauku kuliko wakati mwingine, tena kwa hiari yake mwenyewe.
18 And we send with him the brother whose praises for his earnestness in proclaiming the Good News are heard throughout all the Churches.
Nasi tunamtuma pamoja naye ndugu ambaye anasifiwa na makanisa yote kwa huduma yake ya kuhubiri Injili.
19 And more than that, he is the one who was chosen by the vote of the Churches to travel with us, sharing our commission in the administration of this generous gift to promote the Lord's glory and gratify our own strong desire.
Zaidi ya hayo, alichaguliwa na makanisa ili asafiri pamoja nasi tulipokuwa tunapeleka matoleo ya ukarimu, kwa ajili ya utukufu wa Bwana mwenyewe, na ili kuonyesha hisani yetu kuwasaidia.
20 For against one thing we are on our guard--I mean against blame being thrown upon us in respect to these large and liberal contributions which are under our charge.
Tunataka kuepuka lawama yoyote kuhusu jinsi tunavyosimamia matoleo haya ya ukarimu.
21 For we seek not only God's approval of our integrity, but man's also.
Kwa kuwa tunakusudia kufanya kile kilicho haki si machoni mwa Bwana peke yake, bali pia machoni mwa watu wengine.
22 And we send with them our brother, of whose zeal we have had frequent proof in many matters, and who is now more zealous than ever through the strong confidence which he has in you.
Pamoja nao, tunamtuma ndugu yetu ambaye mara kwa mara ametuthibitishia kwa njia nyingi kwamba ana shauku, naam, zaidi sana sasa kwa sababu analo tumaini kuu kwenu.
23 As for Titus, remember that he is a partner with me, and is my comrade in my labours for you. And as for our brethren, remember that they are delegates from the Churches, and are men in whom Christ is glorified.
Kwa habari ya Tito, yeye ni mwenzangu na mtendakazi pamoja nami miongoni mwenu. Kwa habari za ndugu zetu, wao ni wawakilishi wa makanisa, na utukufu kwa Kristo.
24 Exhibit therefore to the Churches a proof of your love, and a justification of our boasting to these brethren about you.
Kwa hiyo waonyesheni wazi hawa ndugu uthibitisho wa upendo wenu na sababu inayotufanya tujivune kwa ajili yenu, mbele ya makanisa, ili yapate kuona.
