1 Petro 5
1 Kwa wazee waliomo miongoni mwenu, nawasihi mimi nikiwa mzee mwenzenu, shahidi wa mateso ya Kristo, na mshiriki katika utukufu utakaofunuliwa:
[Now I will say this to those among] you who are elders in the congregations: I also am an elder. I am one [of those] who saw Christ when he suffered, and I am also one who will share some of the glory/greatness that Christ has in heaven.
2 lichungeni kundi la Mungu mlilokabidhiwa, mkitumika kama waangalizi, si kwa kulazimishwa bali kwa hiari, kama Mungu anavyowataka mwe; si kwa tamaa ya fedha, bali mlio na bidii katika kutumika.
[I appeal to you elders] to take care of the people who are in your [congregations] [MET] as shepherds [take care of their] flocks of sheep. Do this, not because you must do it, but instead do it willingly, as God desires. Do not be greedy to get a lot [of money for doing it], but instead do it enthusiastically/wholeheartedly.
3 Msijifanye mabwana juu ya wale walio chini ya uangalizi wenu, bali kuweni vielelezo kwa hilo kundi.
Do not act like domineering [bosses over] the people [MET] whom God has assigned/entrusted to you, but instead be examples to them by the way in which you conduct your lives.
4 Naye Mchungaji Mkuu atakapodhihirishwa, mtapokea taji ya utukufu isiyoharibika.
[If you do that], when Jesus, who is [like] our chief shepherd [MET], appears, he will give each of you a [glorious/wonderful reward] [MET]. [That reward will be like] the wreaths [that are given to victorious athletes], but your reward will never wither [like wreaths do].
5 Vivyo hivyo, ninyi mlio vijana watiini wazee. Nanyi nyote imewapasa kujivika unyenyekevu kila mtu kwa mwenzake, kwa kuwa, “Mungu huwapinga wenye kiburi, lakini huwapa wanyenyekevu neema.”
[Now I will say this to] you young men [and women]: [Just like married men and women are] ([to be subject/to submit themselves]) [to their spouses], you must (be subject/submit yourselves) (to the older men/to the leaders) [of the congregation]. And all of you [believers] should act [MET] humbly toward each other, because this proverb is true: God opposes people who are proud, but he acts kindly toward those who are humble.
6 Basi, nyenyekeeni chini ya mkono wa Mungu ulio hodari, ili awakweze kwa wakati wake.
Therefore, realizing that God has great power [MTY] [to punish proud people], humble yourselves, in order that he may honor you at the time that [he has determined].
7 Mtwikeni yeye fadhaa zenu zote, kwa maana yeye hujishughulisha sana na mambo yenu.
Because he takes care of you, let him take care of all the things that you are worried/concerned about.
8 Mwe na kiasi na kukesha, maana adui yenu ibilisi huzungukazunguka kama simba angurumaye akitafuta mtu ili apate kummeza.
Always be fully alert, because the devil, who is your enemy, is going/sneaking around, looking for people [to destroy]. [He is] like [SIM] a lion who roars as it prowls around, seeking someone to [kill and] devour.
9 Mpingeni, mkiwa thabiti katika imani, mkijua ya kwamba mateso kama hayo yanawapata ndugu zenu pote duniani.
You must resist him by continuing to firmly trust in [Christ and his message], remembering that your fellow believers all over the world are experiencing similar sufferings [that the devil is bringing to them].
10 Nanyi mkiisha kuteswa kwa kitambo kidogo, Mungu wa neema yote, aliyewaita kuingia katika utukufu wake wa milele ndani ya Kristo, yeye mwenyewe atawarejesha na kuwatia nguvu, akiwaimarisha na kuwathibitisha. (aiōnios g166)
God is the one who kindly helps us in every [situation], and [he is the one] who chose us to share his eternal glory/greatness [in heaven] because of our relationship with Christ. [And] after you have suffered for a while [because of things that people do to harm you], he will remove your spiritual defects/imperfections, he will strengthen you [spiritually] [DOU], and he will support you [emotionally]. (aiōnios g166)
[I pray/desire that] he will [rule] powerfully forever. (May it be so!/Amen!) (aiōn g165)
12 Kwa msaada wa Silvano, ambaye ninamhesabu kuwa ndugu mwaminifu, nimewaandikia waraka huu mfupi ili kuwatia moyo, na kushuhudia kwamba hii ni neema halisi ya Mungu. Simameni imara katika neema hiyo.
Silas has written this letter [for me as I have] ([dictated it to him/told him what to write]). I consider/know that he is a faithful fellow believer. I have written this short letter to you to encourage you, and I want to assure you that [what I have written] is a true message about the things that God kindly does for [us, things that we do not deserve]. Continue to firmly believe this message.
13 Kanisa lililoko Babeli, lililochaguliwa pamoja nanyi, wanawasalimu; vivyo hivyo mwanangu Marko anawasalimu.
In [this city that is sometimes referred to as] ‘Babylon’ [MET], the believers [SYN], whom [God] has chosen [to belong to him] just like he chose you, (send you [(pl)] their greetings/say that they are thinking affectionately about you). Mark, who is [MET] [like] a son to me, also ([sends you his greetings/says that he is thinking affectionately about you]).
14 Salimianeni kwa busu la upendo. Amani iwe nanyi nyote mlio katika Kristo.
Greet each other with a kiss [on the cheek] to [show that] you love [each other]. [I pray that God will give inner] peace to all of you who have a relationship with Christ.
