2 Wakorintho 8
1 Basi sasa ndugu, nataka ninyi mjue kuhusu ile neema ambayo Mungu amewapa makanisa ya Makedonia.
Moreover, brothers, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
2 Pamoja na majaribu makali na taabu walizopata, furaha waliyokuwa nayo ilikuwa kubwa, ingawa walikuwa maskini kupindukia, kwa upande wao walifurika kwa wingi wa ukarimu.
How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their liberality.
3 Kwa maana nashuhudia kwamba wao walitoa kwa kadiri wawezavyo, hata na zaidi ya uwezo wao, kwa hiari yao wenyewe,
For to their power, I bear record, yes, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
4 wakitusihi kwa bidii wapewe fursa ya kushiriki katika huduma hii ya kuwasaidia watakatifu.
Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take on us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
5 Wala hawakufanya tulivyotazamia, bali walijitoa wao wenyewe kwa Bwana kwanza na ndipo wakajitoa kwa ajili yetu, kufuatana na mapenzi ya Mungu.
And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us by the will of God.
6 Kwa hiyo tulimsihi Tito, kwa kuwa ndiye alianzisha jambo hili, akamilishe tendo hili la neema kwa upande wenu.
So that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.
7 Lakini kama vile mlivyo mbele sana katika yote: Katika imani, katika usemi, katika maarifa, katika uaminifu wote na katika upendo wenu kwetu sisi, vivyo hivyo tunataka pia mzidi katika neema hii ya kutoa.
Therefore, as you abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that you abound in this grace also.
8 Siwaamrishi, lakini nataka kujaribu unyofu wa upendo wenu kwa kuulinganisha na bidii ya wengine.
I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
9 Kwa maana mnajua neema ya Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo, kwamba ingawa alikuwa tajiri, kwa ajili yenu alikubali kuwa maskini, ili kwa umaskini wake ninyi mpate kuwa matajiri.
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might be rich.
10 Ushauri wangu kuhusu lile lililo bora kwenu juu ya jambo hili ni huu: Mwaka uliopita ninyi mlikuwa wa kwanza si tu kutoa lakini pia mlikuwa na shauku ya kufanya hivyo.
And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.
11 Sasa ikamilisheni kazi hii kwa shauku kama mlivyoanza, jitoleeni kulingana na uwezo wenu.
Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which you have.
12 Kwa kuwa kama nia ya kutoa ipo, kitolewacho kinakubalika kulingana na kile mtu alicho nacho, wala si kwa kile ambacho hana.
For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man has, and not according to that he has not.
13 Nia yetu si kwamba wengine wasaidike wakati ninyi mnateseka, bali pawe na uwiano.
For I mean not that other men be eased, and you burdened:
14 Kwa wakati huu, wingi wa vitu mlivyo navyo usaidie kutosheleza mahitaji yao, ili wakati wao watakapokuwa na wingi wa vitu, nao wapate kutosheleza mahitaji yenu.
But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:
15 Ndipo patakuwa na usawa, kama ilivyoandikwa: “Aliyekusanya zaidi hakuwa na ziada, wala aliyekusanya kidogo hakupungukiwa.”
As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
16 Ninamshukuru Mungu ambaye amemtia Tito moyo wa kuwajali ninyi kama mimi ninavyowajali.
But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.
17 Si kwamba Tito amekubali tu ombi letu, bali anakuja kwenu akiwa na shauku kuliko wakati mwingine, tena kwa hiari yake mwenyewe.
For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went to you.
18 Nasi tunamtuma pamoja naye ndugu ambaye anasifiwa na makanisa yote kwa huduma yake ya kuhubiri Injili.
And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;
19 Zaidi ya hayo, alichaguliwa na makanisa ili asafiri pamoja nasi tulipokuwa tunapeleka matoleo ya ukarimu, kwa ajili ya utukufu wa Bwana mwenyewe, na ili kuonyesha hisani yetu kuwasaidia.
And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:
20 Tunataka kuepuka lawama yoyote kuhusu jinsi tunavyosimamia matoleo haya ya ukarimu.
Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:
21 Kwa kuwa tunakusudia kufanya kile kilicho haki si machoni mwa Bwana peke yake, bali pia machoni mwa watu wengine.
Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
22 Pamoja nao, tunamtuma ndugu yetu ambaye mara kwa mara ametuthibitishia kwa njia nyingi kwamba ana shauku, naam, zaidi sana sasa kwa sababu analo tumaini kuu kwenu.
And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, on the great confidence which I have in you.
23 Kwa habari ya Tito, yeye ni mwenzangu na mtendakazi pamoja nami miongoni mwenu. Kwa habari za ndugu zetu, wao ni wawakilishi wa makanisa, na utukufu kwa Kristo.
Whether any do inquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellow helper concerning you: or our brothers be inquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.
24 Kwa hiyo waonyesheni wazi hawa ndugu uthibitisho wa upendo wenu na sababu inayotufanya tujivune kwa ajili yenu, mbele ya makanisa, ili yapate kuona.
Why show you to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.
