< 1 Wakorintho 8 >
1 Sasa kuhusu chakula kilichotolewa sadaka kwa sanamu, tunajua kwamba “sisi sote tuna ujuzi.” Lakini ujuzi hujivuna, bali upendo hujenga.
Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
2 Mtu yeyote anayedhani kwamba anajua kitu, bado hajui kama impasavyo kujua.
But if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he doesn’t yet know as he ought to know.
3 Lakini mtu ampendaye Mungu, hujulikana naye Mungu.
But anyone who loves God is known by him.
4 Hivyo basi, kuhusu kula chakula kilichotolewa sadaka kwa sanamu: Tunajua kwamba “Sanamu si kitu chochote kabisa duniani,” na kwamba “Kuna Mungu mmoja tu.”
Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that no idol is anything in the world, and that there is no other 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 though there are things that are called “gods”, whether in the heavens or on earth—as there are many “gods” and many “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 to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we live through him.
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.
However, that knowledge isn’t in all men. But some, with consciousness of an idol until now, eat as of a thing sacrificed to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
8 Lakini chakula hakituleti karibu na Mungu, wala hatupotezi chochote tusipokula, wala hatuongezi chochote kama tukila.
But food will not commend us to God. For neither, if we don’t eat are we the worse, nor if we eat are we the better.
9 Lakini angalieni jinsi mnavyotumia uhuru wenu usije ukawa kikwazo kwao walio dhaifu.
But be careful that by no means does this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to the weak.
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 a man sees you who have knowledge sitting in an idol’s temple, won’t his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols?
11 Kwa njia hiyo, huyo ndugu mwenye dhamiri dhaifu, ambaye Kristo alikufa kwa ajili yake, ataangamia kwa sababu ya ujuzi wenu.
And through your knowledge, he who is weak perishes, the brother for whose sake Christ died.
12 Mnapotenda dhambi dhidi ya ndugu zenu kwa njia hii na kujeruhi dhamiri zao zilizo dhaifu, mnamkosea Kristo.
Thus, sinning against the brothers, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.
13 Kwa hiyo, kama kile ninachokula kitamfanya ndugu yangu aanguke katika dhambi, sitakula nyama kamwe, nisije nikamfanya ndugu yangu aanguke. (aiōn )
Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will eat no meat forever more, that I don’t cause my brother to stumble. (aiōn )