< 2 Wakorintho 6 >
1 Kama watendakazi pamoja na Mungu, tunawasihi msipokee neema ya Mungu bure.
As a worker with him I beseech you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
2 Kwa maana asema: “Wakati wangu uliokubalika nilikusikia, siku ya wokovu nilikusaidia.” Tazama, wakati uliokubalika ndio huu, siku ya wokovu ndiyo sasa.
For he said. In an acceptable time have I heard thee, And in the day of salvation have I succored thee. Behold, now is the acceptable time! behold, now is the day of salvation!
3 Hatuweki kitu cha kukwaza katika njia ya mtu yeyote, ili huduma yetu isionekane kuwa na lawama.
I am giving no one a cause of stumbling in order that my ministry may not be discredited;
4 Bali kama watumishi wa Mungu tuonyeshe kwa kila njia: katika saburi nyingi; katika dhiki, katika misiba, na katika shida;
but in every way I am striving to commend myself as God’s minister by stedfast endurance, by afflictions, by troubles, by distresses,
5 katika kupigwa, katika kufungwa gerezani na katika ghasia; katika kazi ngumu, katika kukesha na katika kufunga;
by floggings, by imprisonment; in riots, in labors, in sleepless watching, in hunger and thirst;
6 katika utakatifu, katika ufahamu, katika uvumilivu, na katika utu wema; katika Roho Mtakatifu na upendo wa kweli;
with purity, understanding, patience, and kindness; by the Holy Spirit, by love sincere,
7 katika maneno ya kweli na katika nguvu za Mungu, kwa silaha za haki za mkono wa kuume na za mkono wa kushoto;
by a true teaching and an energy divine; by the weapons of righteousness, for attack or for defense,
8 katika utukufu na katika kudharauliwa; katika sifa mbaya na katika sifa nzuri; tukiwa kama wadanganyaji, lakini tukiwa wakweli;
amid honor or dishonor, amid evil report and good report; as a deceiver and yet true;
9 tukiwa maarufu, lakini tukihesabiwa kama tusiojulikana; tukiwa kama wanaokufa, lakini tunaishi; tukipigwa, lakini hatuuawi;
as unknown and yet well known; as at death’s door, yet, strange to tell, I live on; as chastened, but not killed;
10 tukiwa kama wenye huzuni, lakini siku zote tukifurahi; tukionekana maskini, lakini tukitajirisha wengi; tukiwa kama wasio na kitu, lakini tuna vitu vyote.
as grieved, but always glad; as poor, but making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.
11 Tumesema nanyi wazi, enyi Wakorintho na kuwafungulieni mioyo yetu wazi kabisa.
O Corinthians, I am unsealing my lips to you; my heart is wide open to you.
12 Sisi hatujizuii kuwapenda, bali ninyi mmeuzuia upendo wenu kwetu.
There is no narrowness in my love; but the narrowness is in your own.
13 Sasa nasema, kama na watoto wangu: Ninyi pia ifungueni mioyo yenu kabisa.
I pray you, therefore, in fair exchange (I speak as to my children), let your hearts also be wide open to me.
14 Msifungiwe nira pamoja na watu wasioamini, kwa jinsi isivyo sawasawa, kwa maana pana uhusiano gani kati ya haki na uovu? Au kuna ushirika gani kati ya nuru na giza?
Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers; for what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? what communion has light with darkness?
15 Kuna mapatano gani kati ya Kristo na Beliari? Yeye aaminiye ana sehemu gani na yeye asiyeamini?
What concord has Christ with Belial? What portion has a believer with an unbeliever?
16 Kuna mapatano gani kati ya Hekalu la Mungu na sanamu? Kwa kuwa sisi tu Hekalu la Mungu aliye hai. Kama Mungu alivyosema: “Nitakaa pamoja nao na kutembea katikati yao, nami nitakuwa Mungu wao, nao watakuwa watu wangu.”
And what compact has God’s temple with idols? For we are a temple of the living God, as he has said. I will dwell among them, and walk about among them; I will be their God, and they will be my people.
17 “Kwa hiyo tokeni miongoni mwao, mkatengwe nao, asema Bwana. Msiguse kitu chochote kilicho najisi, nami nitawakaribisha.”
Therefore, Come out from among them and separate yourselves, saith the Lord, touch not what is unclean;
18 “Mimi nitakuwa Baba kwenu, nanyi mtakuwa wanangu na binti zangu, asema Bwana Mwenyezi.”
then I will receive you and will be to you a Father, and you shall be to me sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.