2 Wakorintho 12
1 Yanipasa nijisifu, ingawa haifaidi kitu. Nitaenda kwenye maono na ufunuo kutoka kwa Bwana.
I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to gain, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.
2 Namjua mtu mmoja katika Kristo ambaye miaka kumi na minne iliyopita alichukuliwa juu hadi mbingu ya tatu. Kama ni katika mwili au nje ya mwili, sijui, Mungu ajua.
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows.
3 Nami najua ya kwamba mtu huyu, kwamba ni katika mwili au nje ya mwili mimi sijui, lakini Mungu ajua,
And I know that this man—whether in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows—
4 alinyakuliwa hadi Paradiso. Huko alisikia mambo yasiyoelezeka, mambo ambayo binadamu hana ruhusa ya kuyasimulia.
was caught up to Paradise. The things he heard were too sacred for words, things that man is not permitted to tell.
5 Nitajisifu kwa ajili ya mtu kama huyo, lakini sitajisifu kuhusu mimi mwenyewe ila mimi nitajisifia udhaifu wangu.
I will boast about such a man, but I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses.
6 Hata kama ningependa kujisifu, sitakuwa mjinga, kwa maana nitakuwa nasema kweli. Lakini najizuia, ili mtu yeyote asije akaniona mimi kuwa bora zaidi kuliko ninavyoonekana katika yale ninayotenda na kusema.
Even if I wanted to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me,
7 Ili kunizuia nisijivune kwa sababu ya ufunuo huu mkuu, nilipewa mwiba katika mwili wangu, mjumbe wa Shetani, ili anitese.
or because of these surpassingly great revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
8 Kwa habari ya jambo hili nilimsihi Bwana mara tatu aniondolee mwiba huu.
Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
9 Lakini aliniambia, “Neema yangu inakutosha, kwa kuwa uweza wangu hukamilika katika udhaifu.” Kwa hiyo nitajisifu kwa furaha zaidi kuhusu udhaifu wangu, ili uweza wa Kristo ukae juu yangu.
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.
10 Hii ndiyo sababu, kwa ajili ya Kristo, nafurahia udhaifu, katika kutukanwa, katika taabu, katika mateso na katika shida, kwa maana ninapokuwa dhaifu, ndipo nina nguvu.
That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
11 Nimekuwa mjinga, lakini ninyi mmenilazimisha niwe hivyo. Kwa kuwa ilinipasa kusifiwa na ninyi, kwa sababu mimi si dhalili kuliko wale “mitume walio bora,” ingawa mimi si kitu.
I have become a fool, but you drove me to it. In fact, you should have commended me, since I am in no way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.
12 Mambo yanayomtambulisha mtume wa kweli, yaani, ishara, miujiza na maajabu, yalifanywa miongoni mwenu kwa saburi nyingi.
The true marks of an apostle—signs, wonders, and miracles—were performed among you with great perseverance.
13 Je, ninyi ni kitu gani mlichopungukiwa kuliko makanisa mengine, ila tu kwamba mimi sikuwa mzigo kwenu? Nisameheni kwa kosa hili!
In what way were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
14 Sasa niko tayari kuja kwenu kwa mara hii ya tatu, nami sitawalemea, kwa sababu sitahitaji chochote chenu, ila ninawahitaji ninyi, kwa kuwa hata hivyo watoto hawaweki akiba kwa ajili ya wazazi wao, bali wazazi huweka akiba kwa ajili ya watoto wao.
See, I am ready to come to you a third time, and I will not be a burden, because I am not seeking your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
15 Hivyo nitafurahi kutumia kila kitu nilicho nacho kwa ajili yenu, hata mwili wangu pia. Hata ingawa inaonekana ninavyozidi kuwapenda, ndivyo upendo wenu kwangu unavyopungua.
And for the sake of your souls, I will most gladly spend my money and myself. If I love you more, will you love me less?
16 Iwe iwavyo, kwa vyovyote vile mimi sikuwalemea. Lakini kwa mimi kuwa mwerevu naliwapata.
Be that as it may, I was not a burden to you; but crafty as I am, I caught you by trickery.
17 Je, nilijipatia faida kwa kumtumia mtu yeyote niliyemtuma kwenu?
Did I exploit you by anyone I sent you?
18 Nilimshawishi Tito aje kwenu, nami nilimtuma pamoja na ndugu yetu. Je, Tito aliwatumia ninyi ili kujipatia faida? Je, hatuenendi kwa roho moja, na hatuchukui hatua zile zile?
I urged Titus to visit you, and I sent our brother with him. Did Titus exploit you in any way? Did we not walk in the same Spirit and follow in the same footsteps?
19 Je, mmekuwa mkifikiri kwamba sisi tunajaribu kujitetea mbele yenu? Sisi tumekuwa tukinena mbele za Mungu kama wale walio katika Kristo. Na chochote tufanyacho, ndugu wapendwa, ni kwa ajili ya kuwatia nguvu.
Have you been thinking all along that we were making a defense to you? We speak before God in Christ, and all of this, beloved, is to build you up.
20 Kwa kuwa nina hofu ya kwamba nitakapokuja naweza kuwakuta nisivyotaka, nanyi mkanikuta msivyotaka. Nina hofu kwamba panaweza kuwa na ugomvi, wivu, ghadhabu, fitina, masingizio, masengenyo, majivuno na machafuko.
For I am afraid that when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, rage, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.
21 Nina hofu kwamba nitakapokuja tena kwenu, Mungu wangu atanidhili mbele yenu, nami nitasikitishwa na wengi waliotenda dhambi mbeleni, na wala hawajatubu kwa uchafu wao, uasherati, na ufisadi walioushiriki.
I am afraid that when I come again, my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of their acts of impurity, sexual immorality, and debauchery.
