2 Wakorintho 1
1 Barua hii ni kutoka kwangu mimi Paulo, mtume wa Kristo Yesu kwa mapenzi ya Mungu, na Timotheo ndugu yetu, Kwa kanisa la Mungu lililoko Korintho, pamoja na watakatifu wote walioko Akaya yote:
To the church of God in Corinth, and to all Christ’s people throughout Greece, from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God, and from Timothy, who is also a follower.
2 Neema na amani itokayo kwa Mungu Baba yetu na kwa Bwana Yesu Kristo iwe nanyi.
May God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ bless you and give you peace.
3 Ahimidiwe Mungu na Baba wa Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo, Baba wa huruma na Mungu wa faraja yote.
Blessed is the God and Father of Jesus Christ our Lord, the all-merciful Father, the God ever ready to console,
4 Yeye hutufariji katika taabu zetu, ili tuweze kuwafariji walio katika taabu yoyote kwa faraja ambayo sisi wenyewe tumepokea kutoka kwa Mungu.
who consoles us in all our troubles, so that we may be able to console those who are in any trouble with the consolation that we ourselves receive from him.
5 Kama vile mateso ya Kristo yanavyozidi ndani ya maisha yetu, hivyo ndivyo faraja yetu inavyofurika kwa njia ya Kristo.
It is true that we have our full share of the sufferings of the Christ, but through the Christ we have also our full share of consolation.
6 Kama tunataabika, ni kwa ajili ya faraja na wokovu wenu; kama tukifarijiwa, ni kwa ajili ya faraja yenu, iwaleteayo saburi ya mateso yale yale yanayotupata.
If we meet with trouble, it is for the sake of your consolation and salvation; and, if we find consolation, it is for the sake of the consolation that you will experience when you are called to endure the sufferings that we ourselves are enduring;
7 Nalo tumaini letu kwenu ni thabiti, kwa sababu tunajua kwamba kama vile mnavyoshiriki mateso yetu, ndivyo pia mnavyoshiriki katika faraja yetu.
and our hope for you remains unshaken. We know that, as you are sharing our sufferings, you will also share our consolation.
8 Ndugu wapendwa, hatutaki mkose kujua kuhusu zile taabu tulizopata huko Asia. Kwa maana tulilemewa na mizigo sana, kiasi cha kushindwa kuvumilia, hata tulikata tamaa ya kuishi.
We want you, friends, to know that, in the troubles which befell us in Roman Asia, we were burdened altogether beyond our strength, so much so that we even despaired of life.
9 Kwa kweli, mioyoni mwetu tulihisi tumekabiliwa na hukumu ya kifo, ili tusijitegemee sisi wenyewe bali tumtegemee Mungu afufuaye wafu.
Indeed, we had the presentiment that we must die, so that we might rely, not on ourselves, but on God who raises the dead.
10 Yeye aliyetuokoa kwenye hatari kubwa ya kifo na atatuokoa tena. Kwake yeye tumeweka tumaini letu kwamba ataendelea kutuokoa.
And from so imminent a death God delivered us, and will deliver us again; for in him we have placed our hopes of future deliverance, while you, also, help us by your prayers.
11 Kama vile mlivyoungana kusaidiana nasi katika maombi, hivyo wengi watatoa shukrani kwa niaba yetu kwa ajili ya baraka za neema tulizopata kwa majibu ya maombi ya wengi.
And then many lips will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us in answer to many prayers.
12 Basi haya ndiyo majivuno yetu: Dhamiri yetu inatushuhudia kwamba tumeenenda katika ulimwengu na hasa katika uhusiano wetu na ninyi, katika utakatifu na uaminifu utokao kwa Mungu. Hatukufanya hivyo kwa hekima ya kidunia bali kwa neema ya Mungu.
Indeed, our main ground for satisfaction is this – Our conscience tells us that our conduct in the world, and still more in our relations with you, was marked by a purity of motive and a sincerity that were inspired by God, and was based, not on worldly policy, but on the help of God.
13 Kwa maana hatuwaandikii mambo ambayo hamwezi kusoma au kuyaelewa. Natumaini kwamba,
We never write anything to you other than what you will acknowledge to the very end –
14 kama vile mlivyotuelewa kwa sehemu, mtakuja kuelewa kwa ukamilifu ili mweze kujivuna kwa ajili yetu, kama na sisi tutakavyojivuna kwa ajili yenu katika siku ya Bwana Yesu.
And, indeed, you have already partly acknowledged it about us – that you have a right to be proud of us, as we will be proud of you, on the day of our Lord Jesus.
15 Kwa kuwa nilikuwa na uhakika wa mambo haya, nilitaka nije kwenu kwanza, ili mpate faida mara mbili.
With this conviction in my mind, I planned to come to see you first, so that your pleasure might be doubled –
16 Nilipanga kuwatembelea nikiwa safarini kwenda Makedonia na kurudi tena kwenu nikitoka Makedonia, ili mnisafirishe katika safari yangu ya kwenda Uyahudi.
To visit you both on my way to Macedonia, and to come to you again on my return from Macedonia, and then to get you to send me on my way into Judea.
17 Nilipopanga jambo hili, je, nilikuwa kigeugeu? Au ninafanya mipango yangu kwa hali ya mwili, ili niseme, “Ndiyo, ndiyo” na “Siyo, siyo” wakati huo huo?
As this was my plan, where, pray, did I show any fickleness of purpose? Or do you think that my plans are formed on mere impulse, so that in the same breath I say “Yes” and “No”?
18 Hakika kama Mungu alivyo mwaminifu, maneno yetu kwenu hayajawa “Ndiyo na Siyo.”
As God is true, the message that we brought you does not waver between “Yes” and “No”!
19 Kwa kuwa Yesu Kristo, Mwana wa Mungu, ambaye tulimhubiri kwenu: Mimi, Silvano na Timotheo, hakuwa “Ndiyo” na “Siyo,” bali kwake yeye siku zote ni “Ndiyo.”
The Son of God, Christ Jesus, whom we – Silas, Timothy, and I – proclaimed among you, never wavered between “Yes” and “No.” With him it has always been “Yes.”
20 Kwa maana ahadi zote za Mungu zilizo katika Kristo ni “Ndiyo.” Kwa sababu hii ni kwake yeye tunasema “Amen” kwa utukufu wa Mungu.
For, many as were the promises of God, in Christ is the “Yes” that fulfils them. Therefore, through Christ again, let the “Amen” rise, through us, to the glory of God.
21 Basi ni Mungu atufanyaye sisi pamoja nanyi kusimama imara katika Kristo. Ametutia mafuta
God who brings us, with you, into close union with Christ, and who consecrated us,
22 kwa kututia muhuri wake na kutupa Roho wake mioyoni mwetu kuwa rehani kwa ajili ya kututhibitishia kile kijacho.
also set his seal on us, and gave us his Spirit in our hearts as a pledge of future blessings.
23 Mungu ni shahidi wangu kwamba ilikuwa ni kwa ajili ya kuwahurumia ninyi sikurudi Korintho.
But, as my life will answer for it, I call God to witness that it was to spare you that I deferred my visit to Corinth.
24 Si kwamba tunatawala imani yenu, bali twatenda kazi pamoja nanyi kwa ajili ya furaha yenu, kwa sababu ni kwa imani mwasimama imara.
I do not mean that we are to dictate to you with regard to your faith; on the contrary, we work with you for your true happiness; indeed, it is through your faith that you are standing firm.
