Waefeso 1
1 Paulo, mtume wa Kristo Yesu, kwa mapenzi ya Mungu: Kwa watakatifu walioko Efeso, walio waaminifu katika Kristo Yesu:
To Christ’s people at Ephesus who are faithful to him, from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God.
2 Neema na amani itokayo kwa Mungu Baba yetu na kwa Bwana wetu 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, aliyetubariki sisi kwa baraka zote za rohoni, katika ulimwengu wa roho ndani ya Kristo.
Blessed is the God and Father of Jesus Christ, our Lord, who has blessed us on high with every spiritual blessing, in Christ.
4 Kwa maana alituchagua katika yeye kabla ya kuumbwa ulimwengu ili tuwe watakatifu na bila lawama mbele zake. Kwa upendo
For he chose us in our union with Christ before the creation of the universe, so that we might be holy and blameless in his sight, living in the spirit of love.
5 alitangulia kutuchagua tuwe wanawe kwa njia ya Yesu Kristo kwa furaha yake na mapenzi yake mwenyewe.
From the first he destined us, in his goodwill towards us, to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ,
6 Kwa hiyo tunamsifu Mungu kwa huruma zake kuu alizotumiminia sisi katika Mwanawe Mpendwa.
and so to enhance that glorious manifestation of his loving kindness which he gave us in the one he loves;
7 Ndani yake tunao ukombozi kwa njia ya damu yake, yaani, msamaha wa dhambi, sawasawa na wingi wa neema yake
for in him, and through the shedding of his blood, we have found redemption in the pardon of our offences.
8 aliyotumiminia kwa wingi, kwa hekima yote na maarifa yote.
All this accords with the loving kindness which God lavished on us, accompanied by countless gifts of wisdom and discernment,
9 Naye alitujulisha siri ya mapenzi yake sawasawa na uradhi wa mapenzi yake, ambayo alikusudia katika Kristo,
when he made known to us his hidden purpose. And it also accords with the goodwill which God purposed to exhibit in Christ,
10 ili yapate kutimizwa wakati mkamilifu utakapowadia, yaani, kuvitia vitu vyote vya mbinguni na vya duniani pamoja, chini ya kiongozi mmoja, ndiye Kristo.
in view of that divine order which was to mark the completion of the ages, when he should make everything, both in heaven and on earth, centre in him.
11 Katika Kristo sisi nasi tumepata urithi, tukisha kuchaguliwa sawasawa na kusudi la Mungu, yeye ambaye hufanya mambo yote kulingana na kusudi la mapenzi yake,
In him, I say, for by our union with him we became God’s heritage, having from the first been destined for this in the intention of him who, in all that happens, is carrying out his own fixed purpose;
12 ili kwamba, sisi tuliokuwa wa kwanza kuweka tumaini katika Kristo, tupate kuishi kwa sifa ya utukufu wake.
that we should enhance his glory – we who have been the first to rest our hopes on the Christ.
13 Ninyi pia mliingia ndani ya Kristo mliposikia Neno la kweli, Injili ya wokovu wenu. Mkiisha kuamini, ndani yake mlitiwa muhuri, yaani, Roho Mtakatifu mliyeahidiwa,
And you, too, by your union with him, after you had heard the message of the truth, the good news of your salvation – you believed in him and were sealed as his by receiving the holy Spirit, which he had promised.
14 yeye ambaye ni amana yetu akituhakikishia urithi wetu hadi ukombozi wa wale walio milki ya Mungu kwa sifa ya utukufu wake.
And the Spirit is a pledge of our future heritage, foreshadowing the full redemption of God’s own people – to enhance his glory.
15 Kwa sababu hii, tangu niliposikia juu ya imani yenu katika Bwana Yesu na upendo wenu kwa watakatifu wote,
And therefore I, ever since I heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which prevails among you, and of your confidence in all Christ’s people,
16 sijaacha kumshukuru Mungu kwa ajili yenu, nikiwakumbuka katika maombi yangu.
have never omitted to thank God on your behalf, whenever I make mention of you in my prayers.
17 Nazidi kumwomba Mungu wa Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo, Baba wa utukufu, awajalieni ninyi roho ya hekima na ya ufunuo, ili mpate kumjua zaidi.
My prayer is that the God of Jesus Christ our Lord, the all-glorious Father, may inspire you with wisdom and true insight through a fuller knowledge of himself;
18 Ninaomba pia kwamba macho ya mioyo yenu yatiwe nuru ili mpate kujua tumaini mliloitiwa, utajiri wa urithi wa utukufu wake kwa watakatifu
that your minds may be so enlightened that you may realise the hope given by God’s call, the wealth of the glory of his heritage among Christ’s people,
19 na uweza wake mkuu usiolinganishwa kwa ajili yetu sisi tuaminio. Uweza huo unaofanya kazi ndani yetu, ni sawa na ile nguvu kuu mno
and the transcendent greatness of the power which he is able to exercise in dealing with us who believe in him.
20 aliyoitumia katika Kristo alipomfufua kutoka kwa wafu, na akamketisha mkono wake wa kuume huko mbinguni,
The same mighty power was exerted on the Christ, when he raised the Christ from the dead and “caused him to sit at his right hand” on high, exalting him above all angels and archangels of every rank,
21 juu sana kuliko falme zote na mamlaka, enzi na milki, na juu ya kila jina litajwalo, si katika ulimwengu huu tu, bali katika ule ujao pia. (aiōn g165)
and above every name that can be named, whether in the present age, or in the age to come. (aiōn g165)
22 Naye Mungu ameweka vitu vyote viwe chini ya miguu yake na amemfanya yeye awe kichwa cha vitu vyote kwa ajili ya Kanisa,
And God placed all things under Christ’s feet, and gave him to the church as its supreme head;
23 ambalo ndilo mwili wake, ukamilifu wake yeye aliye yote katika yote.
for the church is Christ’s body, and is filled by him who fills all things everywhere with his presence.
