Waefeso 4
1 Basi, mimi niliye mfungwa wa Bwana, nawasihi mwenende kama inavyostahili wito wenu mlioitiwa.
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation by which ye are called,
2 Kwa unyenyekevu wote na upole, mkiwa wavumilivu, mkichukuliana kwa upendo.
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
3 Jitahidini kudumisha umoja wa Roho katika kifungo cha amani.
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 Kuna mwili mmoja na Roho mmoja, kama vile mlivyoitwa katika tumaini moja.
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5 Tena kuna Bwana mmoja, imani moja, ubatizo mmoja,
One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 Mungu mmoja ambaye ni Baba wa wote, aliye juu ya yote, katika yote na ndani ya yote.
One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
7 Lakini kila mmoja wetu amepewa neema kwa kadiri ya kipimo cha kipawa cha Kristo.
But to every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
8 Kwa hiyo husema: “Alipopaa juu zaidi, aliteka mateka, akawapa wanadamu vipawa.”
Therefore he saith, When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.
9 (Asemapo “alipaa juu,” maana yake nini isipokuwa ni kusema pia kwamba Kristo alishuka pande za chini sana za dunia?
( Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
10 Yeye aliyeshuka ndiye alipaa juu zaidi kupita mbingu zote, ili apate kuujaza ulimwengu wote.)
He that descended is the same also that ascended far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
11 Ndiye aliweka wengine kuwa mitume, wengine kuwa manabii, wengine kuwa wainjilisti, wengine kuwa wachungaji na walimu,
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 kwa kusudi la kuwakamilisha watakatifu kwa ajili ya kazi za huduma, ili kwamba mwili wa Kristo upate kujengwa
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 mpaka sote tutakapoufikia umoja katika imani na katika kumjua sana Mwana wa Mungu na kuwa watu wazima kwa kufikia kimo cha ukamilifu wa Kristo.
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 Ili tusiwe tena watoto wachanga, tukitupwatupwa huku na huku na kuchukuliwa na kila upepo wa mafundisho kwa hila za watu, kwa ujanja, kwa kufuata njia zao za udanganyifu.
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, by which they lie in wait to deceive;
15 Badala yake, tukiambiana kweli kwa upendo, katika mambo yote tukue, hata tumfikie yeye aliye kichwa, yaani, Kristo.
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, who is the head, even Christ:
16 Kutoka kwake, mwili wote ukiwa umeungamanishwa na kushikamanishwa pamoja kwa msaada wa kila kiungo, hukua na kujijenga wenyewe katika upendo, wakati kila kiungo kinafanya kazi yake.
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body to the edifying of itself in love.
17 Hivyo nawaambia hivi, nami nasisitiza katika Bwana kwamba, msiishi tena kama watu wa Mataifa waishivyo, katika ubatili wa mawazo yao.
This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18 Watu hao akili zao zimetiwa giza na wametengwa mbali na uzima wa Mungu kwa sababu ya ujinga wao kutokana na ugumu wa mioyo yao.
Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
19 Wakiisha kufa ganzi, wamejitia katika mambo ya ufisadi na kupendelea kila aina ya uchafu, wakiendelea kutamani zaidi.
Who being past feeling have given themselves over to lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 Lakini ninyi, hivyo sivyo mlivyojifunza Kristo.
But ye have not so learned Christ;
21 Kama hivyo ndivyo ilivyo, ninyi mmemsikia, tena mmefundishwa naye, vile kweli ilivyo katika Yesu.
If indeed ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 Mlifundishwa kuuvua mwenendo wenu wa zamani, utu wenu wa kale, ulioharibiwa na tamaa zake za udanganyifu,
That ye put off concerning the former manner of life the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 ili mfanywe upya roho na nia zenu,
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 mkajivike utu mpya, ulioumbwa sawasawa na mfano wa Mungu katika haki yote na utakatifu.
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
25 Kwa hiyo kila mmoja wenu avue uongo na kuambiana kweli mtu na jirani yake, kwa maana sisi sote tu viungo vya mwili mmoja.
Therefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
26 Mkikasirika, msitende dhambi, wala jua lisichwe mkiwa bado mmekasirika,
Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
27 wala msimpe ibilisi nafasi.
Neither give place to the devil.
28 Yeye ambaye amekuwa akiiba, asiibe tena, lakini lazima ajishughulishe, afanye kitu kifaacho kwa mikono yake mwenyewe, ili awe na kitu cha kuwagawia wahitaji.
Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
29 Maneno mabaya yasitoke vinywani mwenu, bali yale yafaayo kwa ajili ya kuwajenga wengine kulingana na mahitaji yao, ili yawafae wale wasikiao.
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers.
30 Wala msimhuzunishe Roho Mtakatifu wa Mungu, ambaye kwake mlitiwa muhuri kwa ajili ya siku ya ukombozi.
And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, by whom ye are sealed to the day of redemption.
31 Ondoeni kabisa uchungu, ghadhabu, hasira, makelele na masingizio pamoja na kila aina ya uovu.
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 Kuweni wafadhili na wenye kuhurumiana ninyi kwa ninyi, mkisameheana, kama vile naye Mungu katika Kristo alivyowasamehe ninyi.
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
