Wahebrania 11
1 Basi imani ni kuwa na hakika ya mambo yatarajiwayo, na udhahiri wa mambo yasiyoonekana.
Now faith is the confident expectation of things hoped for, and a conviction of things not seen:
2 Maana baba zetu wa kale walipongezwa kwa haya.
for by it the ancients obtained an honorable testimony.
3 Kwa imani tunafahamu kwamba ulimwengu uliumbwa kwa neno la Mungu, vitu vyote vinavyoonekana havikuumbwa kutoka kwa vitu vinavyoonekana. (aiōn g165)
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, for the things which are seen were not made of things which appear. (aiōn g165)
4 Kwa imani Abeli alimtolea Mungu dhabihu bora zaidi kuliko Kaini. Kwa imani alishuhudiwa kuwa mwenye haki, Mungu mwenyewe akazishuhudia sadaka zake. Kwa imani bado ananena ingawa amekufa.
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God bearing witness to his gifts: and by it, though dead, he yet speaketh.
5 Kwa imani Enoki alitwaliwa kutoka maisha haya, kiasi kwamba hakuonja mauti. Hakuonekana, kwa sababu Mungu alikuwa amemchukua. Kwa kuwa kabla hajatwaliwa alikuwa ameshuhudiwa kuwa ni mtu aliyempendeza Mungu.
By faith Enoch was translated, that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him; for before his translation he had this testimony that he pleased God:
6 Lakini pasipo imani haiwezekani kumpendeza Mungu, kwa maana yeyote anayemjia Mungu lazima aamini kwamba yeye yuko na ya kuwa huwapa thawabu wale wamtafutao kwa bidii.
whereas without faith it is impossible to please Him; for he that cometh to God must believe, that He is, and is the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
7 Kwa imani, Noa alipoonywa na Mungu kuhusu mambo ambayo hayajaonekana bado, kwa kumcha Mungu alitengeneza safina ili kuokoa jamaa yake. Kwa imani yake aliuhukumu ulimwengu na akawa mrithi wa haki ipatikanayo kwa imani.
By faith Noah being warned by God of things which were not yet seen, moved with pious fear, prepared an ark for the safety of his family; whereby he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
8 Kwa imani Abrahamu, alipoitwa aende mahali ambapo Mungu angempa baadaye kuwa urithi, alitii na akaenda, ingawa hakujua anakokwenda.
By faith Abraham when called to go out to a place which he was afterwards to receive for an inheritance obeyed: and went out, though he knew not whither he was going.
9 Kwa imani alifanya maskani yake katika nchi ya ahadi kama mgeni katika nchi ya kigeni; aliishi katika mahema, kama Isaki na Yakobo walivyofanya, waliokuwa pia warithi pamoja naye wa ahadi ile ile.
By faith he sojourned in the land promised him, as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob the heirs with him of the same promise.
10 Kwa maana alikuwa akiutazamia mji wenye misingi ya kudumu ambao mwenye kuubuni na kuujenga ni Mungu.
For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose maker and founder is God.
11 Kwa imani Abrahamu, ingawa alikuwa mzee wa umri, naye Sara mwenyewe aliyekuwa tasa, alipokea uwezo wa kuwa baba kwa sababu alimhesabu Mungu aliyemwahidi kuwa mwaminifu na kwamba angetimiza ahadi yake.
By faith also Sarah received strength to conceive seed, and brought forth a son when she was past age, because she accounted Him faithful who had promised.
12 Hivyo kutokana na huyu huyu ambaye alikuwa sawa na mfu, wakazaliwa wazao wengi kama nyota za mbinguni na kama mchanga wa pwani usiohesabika.
So that there descended even from one, and him in a manner dead, a posterity like the stars of heaven for multitude, and as the sand on the sea shore, innumerable.
13 Watu hawa wote wakafa katika imani bila kuzipokea zile ahadi, lakini waliziona kwa mbali na kuzishangilia. Nao walikubali kwamba walikuwa wageni na wasiokuwa na maskani hapa duniani.
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but seen them from afar, and been persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth.
14 Watu wasemao mambo kama haya, wanaonyesha wazi kwamba wanatafuta nchi yao wenyewe.
Now they that say such things shew plainly that they are seeking their own country:
15 Kwa kweli kama wangekuwa wanafikiri kuhusu nchi waliyoiacha, wangalipata nafasi ya kurudi huko.
and if they had been mindful of that from which they came, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
16 Lakini badala yake walitamani nchi iliyo bora zaidi, yaani nchi ya mbinguni. Kwa hiyo Mungu haoni aibu kuitwa Mungu wao, kwa kuwa amekwisha kuandaa mji kwa ajili yao.
But they desire a better, that is, an heavenly one; wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He hath prepared for them a city.
17 Kwa imani Abrahamu, alipojaribiwa na Mungu, alimtoa Isaki kuwa dhabihu. Yeye aliyekuwa amezipokea ahadi za Mungu alikuwa tayari kumtoa mwanawe, aliyekuwa mwanawe pekee awe dhabihu.
By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he who had received the promises, offered up his only son;
18 Ingawa Mungu alikuwa amemwambia Abrahamu, “Uzao wako utahesabiwa kupitia kwa Isaki,”
of whom it was told him, that in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
19 Abrahamu alihesabu kuwa Mungu angaliweza kumfufua Isaki kutoka kwa wafu. Na kwa kusema kwa mfano, alimpata tena Isaki kutoka kwa wafu.
concluding that God was able to raise him even from the dead; from whence indeed he had in a manner received him.
20 Kwa imani Isaki alimbariki Yakobo na Esau kuhusu maisha yao ya baadaye.
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things future.
21 Kwa imani Yakobo alipokuwa anakufa, alimbariki kila mmoja wa mtoto wa Yosefu, akamwabudu Mungu akiwa ameegemea juu ya kichwa cha fimbo yake.
By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped leaning on the top of his staff.
22 Kwa imani, Yosefu alipokaribia mwisho wa maisha yake, alinena habari za kutoka kwa wana wa Israeli huko Misri na akatoa maagizo kuhusu mifupa yake.
By faith Joseph when he died, mentioned the departure of the children of Israel and gave a charge concerning his bones.
23 Kwa imani, wazazi wa Mose walimficha kwa miezi mitatu baada ya kuzaliwa, kwa sababu waliona kuwa si mtoto wa kawaida, wala hawakuiogopa amri ya mfalme.
By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw he was a fine child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.
24 Kwa imani, Mose alipokuwa mtu mzima, alikataa kuitwa mwana wa binti Farao.
By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
25 Akachagua kupata mateso pamoja na watu wa Mungu kuliko kujifurahisha kwa anasa za dhambi kwa kitambo kidogo tu.
chusing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to have the temporary enjoyment of sin:
26 Aliona kushutumiwa kwa ajili ya Kristo ni utajiri mkubwa zaidi kuliko hazina za Misri, maana alikuwa anatazamia kupata thawabu baadaye.
esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt, for he looked to the recompence of reward.
27 Kwa imani Mose aliondoka Misri bila kuogopa ghadhabu ya mfalme. Alivumilia kwa sababu alimwona yeye asiyeonekana kwa macho.
By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he continued firm as seeing Him who is invisible.
28 Kwa imani akaadhimisha Pasaka na kunyunyiza damu, ili yule mwenye kuwaangamiza wazaliwa wa kwanza asiwaguse wazaliwa wa Israeli.
By faith he observed the passover and sprinkling of the blood, that he, who destroyed the first-born of the Egyptians, might not touch them.
29 Kwa imani, watu walivuka Bahari ya Shamu kama vile juu ya nchi kavu; lakini Wamisri walipojaribu kufanya hivyo, walitoswa ndani ya maji.
By faith they passed through the Red-sea, as by dry land, which the Egyptians attempting to do were drowned.
30 Kwa imani kuta za Yeriko zilianguka, baada ya watu kuzizunguka kwa siku saba.
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been encompassed seven days.
31 Kwa imani, Rahabu, yule kahaba, hakuangamizwa pamoja na wale waliomwasi Mungu, kwa kuwa aliwakaribisha wale wapelelezi.
By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with the unbelievers, having received the spies with peace.
32 Basi niseme nini zaidi? Sina wakati wa kusema habari za Gideoni, Baraka, Samsoni, Yeftha, Daudi, Samweli na manabii,
And what need I say more? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and Barak, and Sampson, and Jephthah, and David, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
33 ambao kwa imani walishinda milki za wafalme, walitekeleza haki, na wakapokea ahadi za Mungu; walifunga vinywa vya simba,
who by faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34 wakazima makali ya miali ya moto, na wakaepuka kuuawa kwa upanga; udhaifu wao uligeuka kuwa nguvu; pia walikuwa hodari vitani na kuyafukuza majeshi ya wageni.
quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made powerful, became strong in battle, and turned to flight the armies of their enemies.
35 Wanawake walipokea watu wao waliokuwa wamekufa, wakafufuliwa. Lakini wengine waliteswa, nao wakakataa kufunguliwa, ili wapate ufufuo ulio bora zaidi.
Women received their dead raised to life again; and others were tortured to death, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.
36 Wengine walidhihakiwa na kupigwa, hata walifungwa minyororo na kutiwa gerezani.
And others had the trial of mockings and scourgings, and of bonds too and imprisonment.
37 Walipigwa kwa mawe; walipasuliwa vipande viwili kwa msumeno; waliuawa kwa upanga. Walizungukazunguka wakiwa wamevaa ngozi za kondoo na mbuzi, wakiwa maskini, wakiteswa na kutendwa mabaya,
They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain by the sword: they went about in sheep-skins, and goat-skins, being destitute, afflicted,
38 watu ambao ulimwengu haukustahili kuwa nao. Walizunguka majangwani na milimani, katika mapango na katika mahandaki ardhini.
distressed, (of whom the world was not worthy) wandering in deserts, and mountains, and dens, and caves of the earth.
39 Hawa wote walishuhudiwa vyema kwa sababu ya imani yao, lakini hakuna hata mmoja wao aliyepokea yale yaliyoahidiwa.
And these all, though they obtained an honorable testimony by faith, yet received not the promise;
40 Kwa kuwa Mungu alikuwa ametangulia kutuwekea kitu kilicho bora zaidi ili wao wasikamilishwe pasipo sisi.
God having provided something better concerning us, that without us they might not be made perfect.
