1 Vakolinto 10
1 Valongo vangu, nigana mmanyai kuvya vagogo vitu vavili mulugendu kuni vilongoswa na lihundi, na voha vakupwiki bwina munyanja yidung'u.
My fellow believers, I want to remind you about our(exc) [Jewish] ancestors. They were all under the cloud [by which God miraculously led them and protected them when they left Egypt with Moses]. All those ancestors crossed the [Red] Sea [after God miraculously made the water separate so that they could walk through it].
2 Voha vabatiziwi mulihundi lila na munyanja yila muni vawungayi na Musa.
God caused all of them to begin to live under the authority of [MTY] Moses [when they walked] under that cloud and [walked through the Red] Sea.
3 Voha valili chakulya chilachila cha mpungu.
All [those ancestors of ours ate the same food that God] miraculously [provided].
4 Voha vanywili unywelelu wulawula wa chimpungu, muni vanywili manji kuhuma muliganga la Chimpungu lelavi mulugendu pamonga nawu, litalau lelilo lavi Kilisitu mwene.
They all drank water that [God] miraculously [provided]. That is, they all drank water that God miraculously made come out of the rock. That rock was [a symbol of] [MET] Christ, who went with them. [So we conclude that God helped all of those people in many ways].
5 Nambu vamahele neju vamganisi lepi Chapanga ndi vafwili na higa zavi zadandasiki kulugangatu.
However, [we also conclude that] God was angry [LIT] with most of those people [because they sinned against him. He caused almost all of them to die, and as] a result their bodies were scattered in the desert.
6 Mambu genago ndi luhumu kwitu, lwelukutilangisa tikotoka kunogela mambu gahakau ngati chevanogili vene.
Those things [that happened long ago] became examples to teach us [the following things]: We should not desire to [do] evil things as those people desired to do.
7 Mukoto kuyupa chimong'omong'o ngati chevakitili yavi, ngati Mayandiku Gamsopi chegijova, “Vandu vatamili kulya na kunywa, vakayima na kukita mambu ga ukemi.”
We should not worship idols as many of those people did. [Remember that Moses] wrote, “The people sat down. They ate and drank [to honor the golden calf that they had just made]. Then they got up to dance [immorally].”
8 Mewa tikotoka kukita ugoni ngati vangi vavi, vakafwa ligono limonga vandu elufu ishilini na zidatu.
We should not have sexual relations with someone to whom we are not married, as many of them did. As a result, God [punished them by] causing 23,000 people to die in [only] one day.
9 Tikotoka kumlinga Kilisitu ngati vene chevakitili vangi vavi, vakomiwi na liyoka.
We should not try to see how much we can sin without the Lord punishing us. Some of them did that, and as a result they died because [poisonous] snakes [bit them].
10 Mkoto kuvembeneka ngati chavavembenike vangi vavi mtumu wa kunani kwa Chapanga mweileta lifwa.
We should not complain [about what God does]. Some of them did that, and as a result an angel destroyed them. [So God will certainly punish us if we sin like they did].
11 Hinu, mambu genago gavakolili vene gavyai luhumu kwa vangi, na gayandikiwi muni kutihakalila tete vetitama lukumbi ulu lwa mwishu. (aiōn g165)
All those things [that happened to our ancestors long ago] are examples for us. [Moses] wrote those things to warn us [who are living at this time which is near the end]. We are the people for whom God has done [the things that he decided to do in] the previous periods of time. (aiōn g165)
12 Mwakujiwona ayimili chakukangamala ajiyangalila akotoka kugwa.
So [I say this to] all those who confidently [think that they will always] steadfastly continue to [believe what God said and will never disobey what he commanded]: Be careful that you [(sg)] do not sin [when you are tempted].
13 Kulingiwa kwekuvakolili ndi kudebe kwa vandu. Chapanga msadikika, nakutilinga kupita makakala ginu, pamonga na kulingiwa, mwene yati akuvapela makakala ga kukangamala na njila ya kuhuma mwenumo.
[Remember that] your desires to sin are the same desires that other people have. But when you are tempted to sin, you can trust God [to help you]. He will not permit you to be tempted {anything to tempt you} more than you are able to resist. Instead, when you are tempted {things tempt you}, he will also provide a way [for you] to endure it [without sinning].
14 Hinu, vankozi vangu, muyepayi kuyupa chimong'omong'o.
So, [I say to] you people whom I love, [avoid] worshipping idols [just like you would] run away from [anything that is dangerous].
15 Nilongela na nyenye, vandu mwemuvi na luhala, muamula mwavene genijova aga.
It is to people who [think that they] are wise that I write. So, you, as wise people, judge whether what I am writing [is true].
16 Chikombi chetihengela pachakulya cha BAMBU. Ndi chetimsengusa Chapanga, petihenga kunywelela tiwungana na ngasi ya Kilisitu? Mewa petimetula libumunda tiwungana na higa ya Kilisitu?
[During the Lord’s Supper, after we ask God to] bless (the [wine]/the [juice]) [in the] cup, we give thanks for it [and drink it]. By doing that, we certainly are [RHQ] sharing in what Christ [did for us when] his blood [flowed from his body when he died. During the Lord’s Supper, when we break] the bread [and eat it], we are certainly sharing in [MTY] what Christ [did for us when] his body [suffered for us on the cross]. [RHQ]
17 Ndava kuvi na libumunda limonga, pamonga tete tivii tavamahele, ndi higa yimonga, muni tavoha tilya libumunda lenilo.
Because it is one loaf of bread that we [break and eat during the Lord’s Supper, it symbolizes that] we who are many are one group, because we all eat from the one loaf.
18 Mlolayi luhumu lwa vandu va Isilaeli, vevilya luteta viwungana pamonga na lusanja lwa luteta lwenulo.
Consider [what happens when] the Israeli people [eat the food that the priests] sacrifice on the altar [outside the Temple]. They participate in [what the priests do at] [MTY] the altar. [RHQ] [Similarly, if you eat food that non-believers have offered to an idol in a temple, you are participating in their worship of the idol there].
19 Hinu nijova kyani? Chakulya amala chimong'omong'o chechiwusiwi luteta kwa chivii na mana yoyoha?
By saying that, [I] do not mean that offering food to an idol makes it anything [more than just ordinary food [RHQ].] I do not mean that an idol is anything [more than just an idol].
20 Lepi! Luteta lwa lweluwusiwa na vandu vangammanya Chapanga vakumuwusila mzuka, lepi Chapanga. Katu mbwitu nyenye muwunganayi na mzuka.
No! Instead, I mean that what people sacrifice [to idols], they are sacrificing to demons, not to God. So, [if you eat food that has been sacrificed to idols, you are participating in worshipping the demons that the idols represent]. And I do not want you to participate in worshipping demons!
21 Mwihotola lepi kunywa chikombi cha BAMBU mewa chikombi cha mizuka, mwihotola lepi kulya pameza ya BAMBU mewa pameza ya mizuka.
When you drink the [grape juice/wine in] [MTY] the cup [at the Lord’s Supper], you cannot participate in the [blessings that] the Lord [Jesus] brought to us and at the same time drink the [wine in the] [MTY] cup that people offer to demons! When you eat at the Lord’s table, you cannot participate in the blessings the Lord provided [MTY] when he died for us and at the same time participate in the things that represent demons [by eating food that has been sacrificed to idols]
22 Wu, tigana kumkita BAMBU avyai na wihu? Tiholalela kuvya tivii na makakala kuliku mwene?
[If you participate in honoring demons in that way], you will certainly make the Lord very angry [RHQ]! (Remember that you are certainly not stronger than he is./Do you think that you are stronger than he is?) [RHQ] [Certainly not, so you will not escape his punishing you if you honor demons in that way!]
23 Vindu vyoha viyidakiliwa, nambu lepi vyoha vyabwina. Vindu vyoha viyidikilwa nambu lepi vyoha vijenga sadika.
[Some people say], “[God] permits [believers to do] anything.” But [I say that] not everything that people do benefits [those who do it! Yes, some people say], “God permits [believers to do] all things.” But not everything that people do helps them to become [spiritually] mature.
24 Mundu akotoka kulonda chiyonjokesu yaki mwene, nambu chiyonjokesu cha muyaki.
No one should try to benefit [only] himself. Instead, each person should try to benefit other people [spiritually].
25 Mlyai chindu chochoha chila chechiguliswa pandu paki changali kukota kota ndava ya mtima winu weukuvalangisa gabwina na gahakau.
[This is what you should do]: Eat any [food] that is sold {that people sell} in the market. Do not ask questions [to find out if that food has been offered] {[someone offered that food]} [to idols, just] because you think it would be wrong [to eat such food].
26 Muni Mayandiku Gamsopi gijova, “Mulima na vyoha vyevivii mugati yaki ndi vya BAMBU.”
[Remember that the Psalmist wrote], “Everything on the earth belongs to [the] Lord [God because he created it!]” [So, food that has been offered to idols belongs to the Lord, not to the idols, and you may eat it].
27 Ngati mundu nakuvya msadika akavagongolela kulya chakulya myidikilayi kuhamba, mlyayi vyoha vyeakuvatekela changali kukota ndava ya mtima waeukuvalangisa gabwina na gahakau.
If a non-believer invites you to a meal, go if you want to, and eat any food that is set {that [he] sets} before you. Do not ask [whether it was offered to idols, just] because you think that it would be wrong [to eat such food].
28 Nambu mundu akavajovelayi, “Chakulya chenichi chiwusiwi kwa chimong'omong'o,” Ndi mkoto kulya ndava ya mwenuyo mwavajovili.
But if someone says to you, “This is food that was sacrificed [to an idol],” do not eat it, for the sake of the person who told that to you, and also because someone there may think that it is wrong [to eat such food].
29 Nijova, “Ndava ya mtima weukuvalangisa gabwina na gahakau.” Lepi Ndava ya mtima weukuvalangisa gabwina na gahakau, ndava ya mtima weukuvalangisa gabwina na gahakau ga mwenuyo mwavajovili. “Yati mnikota ndava kyani uwaka wangu uhamuliwayi mtima weulangisa gabwina na gahakau?
I do not mean that you [should be concerned about whether it is all right to eat such food]. What I mean is that you should be concerned about others who may think that it is wrong to eat such food. Since I know that I (am free/have the right) [to eat such food without God punishing me], no one should [RHQ] say that what I am doing is wrong just because he himself thinks that it is wrong.
30 Yikavya nene nilya chakulya na kumsengusa Chapanga, ndava ya kyani nilaumiwayi kwa chakulya chenicho, kwa ndava nilya kwa kumsengusa Chapanga?”
If I thank [God] for the food when I eat [food that has been offered to an idol], no one should criticize me for eating food for which I have thanked God [RHQ]!
31 Hinu, chochoha chemwikita kulya amala kunywa, mkita goha kwa Ukulu wa Chapanga.
So [I say to you in conclusion], when you eat [food], or drink [something], or do anything else, do everything in order that [people will] praise God.
32 Hinu mlolayi, mkoto kuvayomesa Vayawudi amala vandu vangali Vayawudi amala kwa msambi wa vandu vevakumsadika Kilisitu.
Do not do anything that would hinder Jews or Greeks [from becoming believers], and do not do things that would encourage members of God’s congregations to sin.
33 Muvyai ngati nene, nilinga kuvaganisa voha kwa njila yoyoha, changali kulonda chiyonjokesu changu namwene nambu nikuvalondela chiyonjokesu vangi voha, muni vasanguliwayi.
[Do as I do]. I try to please everyone in every way. I do this by not seeking to benefit myself. Instead, I try to benefit many others, in order that they may be saved {that [God] may save them} [from the guilt of their sins].
