1 Wakorintho 4
1 Basi, watu na watuhesabu sisi kuwa tu watumishi wa Kristo na mawakili wa siri za Mungu.
Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2 Tena, litakiwalo ni mawakili waonekane kuwa waaminifu.
Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
3 Lakini kwangu mimi ni jambo dogo sana kwamba nihukumiwe na ninyi au na mahakama yoyote ya kibinadamu. Naam, hata mimi mwenyewe sijihukumu.
But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or by man’s judgment: yea, I judge not my own self.
4 Dhamiri yangu ni safi, lakini hilo halinihesabii kuwa asiye na hatia. Bwana ndiye anihukumuye.
For I know nothing against myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
5 Kwa hiyo msihukumu jambo lolote kabla ya wakati wake. Ngojeni mpaka Bwana atakapokuja. Yeye atayaleta nuruni mambo yale yaliyofichwa gizani, na kuweka wazi nia za mioyo ya wanadamu. Wakati huo kila mmoja atapokea sifa anayostahili kutoka kwa Mungu.
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord shall come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will reveal the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise from God.
6 Basi ndugu zangu, mambo haya nimeyafanya kwangu binafsi na Apolo kwa faida yenu, ili mweze kujifunza kutoka kwetu maana ya ule usemi usemao, “Msivuke zaidi ya yale yaliyoandikwa.” Hivyo hamtajivunia mtu fulani na kumdharau mwingine.
And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye may learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you on account of one may be puffed up against another.
7 Kwa maana ni nani aliyewafanya kuwa tofauti na wengine? Ni nini mlicho nacho ambacho hamkupokea? Nanyi kama mlipokea, kwa nini mnajivuna kama vile hamkupokea?
For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
8 Sasa tayari mnayo yale yote mnayohitaji! Tayari mmekwisha kuwa matajiri! Mmekuwa wafalme, tena bila sisi! Laiti mngekuwa wafalme kweli ili na sisi tupate kuwa wafalme pamoja nanyi!
Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I wish ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.
9 Kwa maana ninaona kwamba Mungu ametuweka sisi mitume katika nafasi ya mwisho kabisa, kama watu waliohukumiwa kufa kwenye uwanja wa tamasha, kwa sababu tumefanywa kuwa maonyesho kwa ulimwengu wote, kwa malaika na kwa wanadamu pia.
For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle to the world, and to angels, and to men.
10 Kwa ajili ya Kristo sisi ni wajinga, lakini ninyi mna hekima sana ndani ya Kristo. Sisi tu dhaifu, lakini ninyi mna nguvu. Tunadharauliwa, lakini ninyi mnaheshimiwa.
We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.
11 Mpaka saa hii tuna njaa na kiu, tu uchi, tumepigwa na hatuna makao.
Even to this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
12 Tunafanya kazi kwa bidii kwa mikono yetu wenyewe. Tunapolaaniwa, tunabariki, tunapoteswa, tunastahimili,
And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure it:
13 tunaposingiziwa, tunajibu kwa upole. Mpaka sasa tumekuwa kama takataka ya dunia na uchafu wa ulimwengu.
Being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things to this day.
14 Siwaandikii mambo haya ili kuwaaibisha, bali ili kuwaonya, kama wanangu wapendwa.
I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
15 Hata kama mnao walimu 10,000 katika Kristo, lakini hamna baba wengi. Mimi nilikuwa baba yenu katika Kristo Yesu kwa kuwaletea Injili.
For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
16 Basi nawasihi igeni mfano wangu.
Therefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
17 Kwa sababu hii ninamtuma Timotheo, mwanangu mpendwa na mwaminifu katika Bwana. Yeye atawakumbusha kuhusu njia za maisha yangu katika Kristo Yesu, ambayo yanakubaliana na mafundisho yangu ninayofundisha katika kila kanisa.
For this cause have I sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which are in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.
18 Baadhi yenu mmekuwa na jeuri mkidhani kuwa sitafika kwenu.
Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.
19 Lakini kama Bwana akipenda, nitafika kwenu mapema, nami nitapenda kujua, si tu kile wanachosema hawa watu jeuri, bali pia kujua nguvu yao.
But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them who are puffed up, but the power.
20 Kwa kuwa Ufalme wa Mungu si maneno matupu tu bali ni nguvu.
For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
21 Ninyi amueni. Je, nije kwenu na fimbo, au nije kwa upendo na kwa roho ya upole?
What will ye? shall I come to you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?
