< Wagalatia 2 >
1 Kisha, baada ya miaka kumi na minne, nilipanda tena kwenda Yerusalemu pamoja na Barnaba, nikamchukua na Tito ili awe pamoja nami.
Then after a period of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus also with me.
2 Nilikwenda kwa sababu nilikuwa nimefunuliwa na Mungu, ili nikawaeleze kwa faragha wale walioonekana kuwa viongozi, ile Injili ninayoihubiri kwa watu wa Mataifa. Nilifanya hivyo kwa kuhofia kwamba nisije nikawa nilikuwa ninakimbia au nilikimbia bure.
I went up by revelation, and I explained to them the Good News which I preach among those who are not Jewish, but privately before those who were respected, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain.
3 Lakini hata Tito ambaye alikuwa Myunani, hakulazimika kutahiriwa.
But not even Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.
4 Lakini kwa sababu ya ndugu wa uongo ambao walijiingiza kwa siri katikati yetu ili kupeleleza uhuru wetu tulio nao katika Kristo Yesu, wapate kututia utumwani,
This was because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who stole in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage;
5 hatukukubaliana nao hata dakika moja, ili kwamba ukweli wa Injili ubaki nanyi.
to whom we gave no place in the way of subjection, not for an hour, that the truth of the Good News might continue with you.
6 Kwa habari ya wale waliokuwa wakubaliwe kuwa viongozi (kwangu mimi sikujali vyeo vyao, maana Mungu hana upendeleo), wale watu hawakuniongezea chochote.
But from those who were reputed to be important (whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows no favoritism between people)—they, I say, who were respected imparted nothing to me,
7 Badala yake walitambua kwamba nilikuwa nimekabidhiwa kazi ya kuhubiri Injili kwa watu wa Mataifa, kama vile Petro alivyokabidhiwa kuhubiri Injili kwa Wayahudi.
but to the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the Good News for the uncircumcision, even as Peter with the Good News for the circumcision
8 Kwa maana, Mungu aliyekuwa akitenda kazi katika huduma ya Petro kama mtume kwa Wayahudi, ndiye pia aliyekuwa anatenda kazi katika huduma yangu kama mtume kwa watu wa Mataifa.
(for he who appointed Peter to be an apostle of the circumcision appointed me also to the non-Jews);
9 Basi, Yakobo, Kefa na Yohana, walioonekana kama nguzo za kanisa, walitupa mkono wa shirika, mimi na Barnaba walipotambua ile neema niliyopewa. Wakakubali kwamba sisi twende kwa watu wa Mataifa na wao waende kwa Wayahudi.
and when they perceived the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, they who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the non-Jews, and they to the circumcised.
10 Walichotuomba ni kwamba tuendelee kuwakumbuka maskini, jambo ambalo ndilo nililokuwa na shauku ya kulifanya.
They only asked us to remember the poor—which very thing I was also zealous to do.
11 Lakini Petro alipofika Antiokia, mimi nilimpinga ana kwa ana kwa sababu alikuwa amekosea kwa wazi.
But when Cephas came to Antioch, I resisted him to his face, because he stood condemned.
12 Kabla baadhi ya watu waliotoka kwa Yakobo hawajafika, alikuwa akila pamoja na watu wa Mataifa. Lakini hao watu walipofika alianza kujiondoa na kujitenga na watu wa Mataifa kwa sababu aliwaogopa wale wa kundi la tohara.
For before some people came from James, he ate with those who were not Jewish. But when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.
13 Pia Wayahudi wengine waliungana naye katika unafiki huu, hata Barnaba naye akapotoshwa na unafiki wao.
And the rest of the Jewish believers joined him in his hypocrisy; so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.
14 Nilipoona kwamba hawatendi sawasawa na kweli ya Injili, nilimwambia Petro mbele ya wote, “Wewe ni Myahudi, nawe unaishi kama mtu wa Mataifa na wala si kama Myahudi. Imekuwaje basi, mnawalazimisha watu wa Mataifa kufuata desturi za Kiyahudi?
But when I saw that they did not walk uprightly according to the truth of the Good News, I said to Cephas before them all, "If you, being a Jew, live as the non-Jews do, and not as the Jews do, how can you compel the non-Jews to live as the Jews do?
15 “Sisi wenyewe ni Wayahudi kwa kuzaliwa na si watu wenye dhambi kama watu wa Mataifa,
"We, being Jews by birth, and not non-Jewish sinners,
16 bado tunajua ya kwamba mtu hahesabiwi haki kwa matendo ya sheria bali kwa njia ya imani katika Yesu Kristo. Hivyo sisi pia, tumemwamini Kristo Yesu ili tupate kuhesabiwa haki kwa njia ya imani katika Kristo, wala si kwa matendo ya sheria, kwa sababu kwa kushika sheria hakuna hata mtu mmoja atakayehesabiwa haki.
yet knowing that no one is justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law.
17 “Lakini tukitafuta kuhesabiwa haki katika Kristo, inakuwa dhahiri kwamba sisi ni wenye dhambi. Je, ina maana kwamba Kristo amekuwa mtumishi wa dhambi? La hasha!
But if, while we sought to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also were found sinners, is Christ a servant of sin? Certainly not.
18 Lakini ikiwa mimi ninajenga tena kile ambacho nimekwisha kukibomoa, basi ninaonyesha kwamba mimi ni mkosaji.
For if I build up again those things which I destroyed, I prove myself a law-breaker.
19 Kwa maana mimi kwa njia ya sheria, nimeifia sheria ili nipate kuishi kwa ajili ya Mungu.
For I, through the law, died to the law, that I might live to God.
20 Nimesulubiwa pamoja na Kristo, wala si mimi tena ninayeishi, bali Kristo ndiye aishiye ndani yangu. Uhai nilio nao sasa katika mwili, ninaishi kwa imani ya Mwana wa Mungu, aliyenipenda na kujitoa kwa ajili yangu.
I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.
21 Siibatilishi neema ya Mungu, kwa maana kama haki ingeweza kupatikana kwa njia ya sheria, basi Kristo alikufa bure!”
I do not make void the grace of God. For if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing."