2 Peter 3
1 This, now, beloved, a second letter to you I write, in both which I stir up your pure mind in reminding [you],
Wapenzi, huu ndio waraka wangu wa pili ninaowaandikia. Katika nyaraka hizi mbili ninajaribu kuziamsha nia zenu safi kwa mawazo makamilifu.
2 to be mindful of the sayings said before by the holy prophets, and of the command of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour,
Nataka ninyi mkumbuke maneno yaliyosemwa zamani na manabii watakatifu na ile amri ya Bwana na Mwokozi mliyopewa kupitia kwa mitume wenu.
3 this first knowing, that there shall come in the latter end of the days scoffers, according to their own desires going on,
Kwanza kabisa, ni lazima mfahamu ya kwamba siku za mwisho watakuja watu wenye dhihaka, wakidhihaki na kuzifuata tamaa zao mbaya.
4 and saying, 'Where is the promise of his presence? for since the fathers did fall asleep, all things so remain from the beginning of the creation;'
Watasema, “Iko wapi ile ahadi ya kuja kwake? Tangu baba zetu walipofariki, kila kitu kinaendelea kama kilivyokuwa tangu mwanzo wa kuumbwa.”
5 for this is unobserved by them willingly, that the heavens were of old, and the earth out of water and through water standing together by the word of God,
Lakini wao kwa makusudi hupuuza ukweli huu, ya kwamba kwa neno la Mungu mbingu zilikuwepo tangu zamani, nayo dunia ilifanyizwa kutoka ndani ya maji na kwa maji.
6 through which the then world, by water having been deluged, was destroyed;
Ulimwengu wa wakati ule uligharikishwa kwa hayo maji na kuangamizwa.
7 and the present heavens and the earth, by the same word are treasured, for fire being kept to a day of judgment and destruction of the impious men.
Lakini kwa neno lilo hilo, mbingu za sasa na dunia zimewekwa akiba kwa ajili ya moto, zikihifadhiwa hadi siku ile ya hukumu na ya kuangamizwa kwa watu wasiomcha Mungu.
8 And this one thing let not be unobserved by you, beloved, that one day with the Lord [is] as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day;
Lakini wapenzi, msisahau neno hili: kwamba kwa Bwana, siku moja ni kama miaka elfu, na miaka elfu ni kama siku moja.
9 the Lord is not slow in regard to the promise, as certain count slowness, but is long-suffering to us, not counselling any to be lost but all to pass on to reformation,
Bwana hakawii kuitimiza ahadi yake, kama watu wengine wanavyokudhani kukawia. Badala yake, yeye anawavumilia ninyi, maana hataki mtu yeyote aangamie, bali kila mtu afikilie toba.
10 and it will come — the day of the Lord — as a thief in the night, in which the heavens with a rushing noise will pass away, and the elements with burning heat be dissolved, and earth and the works in it shall be burnt up.
Lakini siku ya Bwana itakuja kama mwizi. Ndipo mbingu zitatoweka kwa kishindo kikuu; navyo vitu vya asili vitateketezwa kwa moto, nayo dunia na kila kitu kilichomo ndani yake kitaunguzwa.
11 All these, then, being dissolved, what kind of persons doth it behove you to be in holy behaviours and pious acts?
Kwa kuwa vitu vyote vitaharibiwa namna hii, je, ninyi imewapasa kuwa watu wa namna gani? Inawapasa kuishi maisha matakatifu na ya kumcha Mungu,
12 waiting for and hasting to the presence of the day of God, by which the heavens, being on fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements with burning heat shall melt;
mkingojea na kuhimiza kuja kwa hiyo siku ya Mungu. Siku hiyo italeta mbingu kuchomwa moto na kutoweka, na vitu vya asili vitayeyuka kwa moto.
13 and for new heavens and a new earth according to His promise we do wait, in which righteousness doth dwell;
Lakini kufuatana na ahadi yake, sisi tunatazamia mbingu mpya na dunia mpya, ambayo haki hukaa ndani yake.
14 wherefore, beloved, these things waiting for, be diligent, spotless and unblameable, by Him to be found in peace,
Kwa sababu hii, wapenzi, kwa kuwa mnatazamia mambo haya, fanyeni bidii ili awakute katika amani, bila mawaa wala dosari.
15 and the long-suffering of our Lord count ye salvation, according as also our beloved brother Paul — according to the wisdom given to him — did write to you,
Hesabuni uvumilivu wa Bwana kuwa ni wokovu, kama vile ndugu yetu mpenzi Paulo alivyowaandikia kwa hekima ile aliyopewa na Mungu.
16 as also in all the epistles, speaking in them concerning these things, among which things are certain hard to be understood, which the untaught and unstable do wrest, as also the other Writings, unto their own destruction.
Huandika vivyo hivyo katika nyaraka zake zote, akizungumzia ndani yake mambo haya. Katika nyaraka zake kuna mambo mengine ambayo ni vigumu kuyaelewa, ambayo watu wajinga na wasio thabiti huyapotosha kwa maangamizi yao wenyewe, kama wapotoshavyo pia Maandiko mengine.
17 Ye, then, beloved, knowing before, take heed, lest, together with the error of the impious being led away, ye may fall from your own stedfastness,
Basi, ninyi wapenzi, kwa kuwa mmekwisha kujua mambo haya, jilindeni msije mkachukuliwa na kosa la watu hao waasi na kuanguka kutoka kwenye uthabiti wenu.
The Great Flood
