1 Wakorintho 8
1 Sasa kuhusu chakula kilichotolewa sadaka kwa sanamu, tunajua kwamba “sisi sote tuna ujuzi.” Lakini ujuzi hujivuna, bali upendo hujenga.
Now as to things which have been sacrificed to idols. This is a subject which we already understand--because we all have knowledge of it. Knowledge, however, tends to make people conceited; it is love that builds us up.
2 Mtu yeyote anayedhani kwamba anajua kitu, bado hajui kama impasavyo kujua.
If any one imagines that he already possesses any true knowledge, he has as yet attained to no knowledge of the kind to which he ought to have attained;
3 Lakini mtu ampendaye Mungu, hujulikana naye Mungu.
but if any one loves God, that man is known by God.
4 Hivyo basi, kuhusu kula chakula kilichotolewa sadaka kwa sanamu: Tunajua kwamba “Sanamu si kitu chochote kabisa duniani,” na kwamba “Kuna Mungu mmoja tu.”
As to eating things which have been sacrificed to idols, we are fully aware that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no God but One.
5 Kwa kuwa hata kama wapo hao wanaoitwa miungu, kama wakiwa mbinguni au duniani (kama ilivyo kweli wapo “miungu” wengi na “mabwana” wengi),
For if so-called gods do exist, either in Heaven or on earth--and in fact there are many such gods and many such lords--
6 kwetu sisi yuko Mungu mmoja, aliye Baba, ambaye vitu vyote vyatoka kwake na kwa ajili yake sisi twaishi; na kuna Bwana mmoja tu, Yesu Kristo, ambaye kwa yeye vitu vyote vimekuwepo na kwa yeye tunaishi.
yet we have but one God, the Father, who is the source of all things and for whose service we exist, and but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom we and all things exist.
7 Lakini si wote wanaojua jambo hili. Baadhi ya watu bado wamezoea sanamu kuwa halisi hivi kwamba wanapokula chakula kama hicho wanadhani kimetolewa sadaka kwa sanamu na kwa kuwa dhamiri zao ni dhaifu, dhamiri yao inanajisika.
But all believers do not recognize these facts. Some, from force of habit in relation to the idol, even now eat idol sacrifices as such, and their consciences, being but weak, are polluted.
8 Lakini chakula hakituleti karibu na Mungu, wala hatupotezi chochote tusipokula, wala hatuongezi chochote kama tukila.
It is true that a particular kind of food will not bring us into God's presence; we are neither inferior to others if we abstain from it, nor superior to them if we eat it.
9 Lakini angalieni jinsi mnavyotumia uhuru wenu usije ukawa kikwazo kwao walio dhaifu.
But take care lest this liberty of yours should prove a hindrance to the progress of weak believers.
10 Kwa maana kama mtu yeyote mwenye dhamiri dhaifu akiwaona ninyi wenye ujuzi huu mkila katika hekalu la sanamu, je, si atatiwa moyo kula chakula kilichotolewa sadaka kwa sanamu?
For if any one were to see you, who know the real truth of this matter, reclining at table in an idol's temple, would not his conscience (supposing him to be a weak believer) be emboldened to eat the food which has been sacrificed to the idol?
11 Kwa njia hiyo, huyo ndugu mwenye dhamiri dhaifu, ambaye Kristo alikufa kwa ajili yake, ataangamia kwa sababu ya ujuzi wenu.
Why, your knowledge becomes the ruin of the weak believer--your brother, for whom Christ died!
12 Mnapotenda dhambi dhidi ya ndugu zenu kwa njia hii na kujeruhi dhamiri zao zilizo dhaifu, mnamkosea Kristo.
Moreover when you thus sin against the brethren and wound their weak consciences, you are, in reality, sinning against Christ.
13 Kwa hiyo, kama kile ninachokula kitamfanya ndugu yangu aanguke katika dhambi, sitakula nyama kamwe, nisije nikamfanya ndugu yangu aanguke. (aiōn g165)
Therefore if what I eat causes my brother to fall, never again to the end of my days will I touch any kind of animal food, for fear I should cause my brother to fall. (aiōn g165)
