Wahebrania 12
1 Kwa sababu hii, kwa kuwa tumezungukwa na wingu kubwa namna hii la mashahidi, basi na tuweke kando kila kitu kinachotuzuia na ile dhambi inayotuzinga kwa urahisi, nasi tupige mbio kwa saburi katika yale mashindano yaliyowekwa kwa ajili yetu.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a large cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and easily entangling sin. Let us patiently run the race that is placed before us.
2 Basi na tumtazame sana Yesu mwanzilishi na mkamilishaji wa imani yetu, yeye ambaye kwa ajili ya furaha iliyowekwa mbele yake alistahimili msalaba, bila kujali aibu ya huo msalaba, naye ameketi mkono wa kuume wa kiti cha enzi cha Mungu.
Let us pay attention to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of the faith. For the joy that was placed before him, he endured the cross, despised its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 Mtafakarini sana yeye aliyestahimili upinzani mkuu namna hii kutoka kwa watu wenye dhambi, ili kwamba msije mkachoka na kukata tamaa.
So think about him, the one who has endured such opposition from sinners against himself, so that you do not become weary in your hearts and give up.
4 Katika kushindana kwenu dhidi ya dhambi, bado hamjapigana kiasi cha kumwaga damu yenu.
You have not yet resisted or struggled against sin to the point of blood;
5 Nanyi mmesahau yale maneno ya kuwaonya yanayowataja ninyi kuwa wana, yakisema: “Mwanangu, usidharau adhabu ya Bwana, wala usikate tamaa akikukemea,
and you have forgotten the encouragement that instructs you as sons: “My son, do not think lightly of the Lord's discipline, nor grow weary when you are corrected by him.”
6 kwa sababu Bwana huwaadibisha wale awapendao, na humwadhibu kila mmoja anayemkubali kuwa mwana.”
For the Lord disciplines everyone whom he loves, and he punishes every son whom he receives.
7 Vumilieni taabu kwa ajili ya kufunzwa adabu. Mungu anawatendea ninyi kama watoto wake, kwa maana ni mtoto yupi asiyeadibishwa na mzazi wake?
Endure suffering as discipline. God deals with you as with sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
8 Kama hakuna kuadibishwa (ambalo ni fungu la watoto wote), basi ninyi ni watoto wa haramu wala si watoto halali.
But if you are without discipline, which all people share in, then you are illegitimate and not his sons.
9 Tena, sisi sote tunao baba wa kimwili, waliotuadibisha nasi tukawaheshimu kwa ajili ya hilo. Je, si inatupasa kujinyenyekeza zaidi kwa Baba wa roho zetu ili tuishi?
Furthermore, we had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live!
10 Baba zetu walituadibisha kwa kitambo kidogo kama wao wenyewe walivyoona vyema, lakini Mungu hutuadibisha kwa faida yetu ili tupate kushiriki utakatifu wake.
Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best. But God disciplines us for our good, so that we can share in his holiness.
11 Kuadibishwa wakati wowote hakuonekani kuwa kitu cha kufurahisha bali chenye maumivu kinapotekelezwa. Lakini baadaye huzaa matunda ya haki na amani kwa wale waliofunzwa nayo.
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. But later it produces the peaceful fruit of righteousness for those who have been trained by it.
12 Kwa hiyo, itieni nguvu mikono yenu iliyo dhaifu na magoti yenu yaliyolegea.
So strengthen your hands that hang down and your weak knees.
13 Sawazisheni mapito ya miguu yenu, ili kitu kilicho kiwete kisidhoofishwe bali kiponywe.
Make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame will not be sprained but rather be healed.
14 Tafuteni kwa bidii kuwa na amani na watu wote na huo utakatifu, ambao bila kuwa nao hakuna mtu atakayemwona Bwana.
Pursue peace with everyone, and also the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
15 Angalieni sana mtu yeyote asiikose neema ya Mungu na kwamba shina la uchungu lisije likachipuka na kuwasumbua na watu wengi wakatiwa unajisi kwa hilo.
Be careful so that no one lacks God's grace, and that no root of bitterness grows up to cause trouble, so that many do not become polluted by it.
16 Angalieni miongoni mwenu asiwepo mwasherati au mtu asiyemcha Mungu kama Esau, ambaye kwa ajili ya mlo mmoja aliuza haki ya uzaliwa wake wa kwanza.
Be careful that there be no sexually immoral or ungodly person such as Esau, who for one meal sold his own birthright.
17 Baadaye kama mnavyofahamu, alipotaka kurithi ile baraka, alikataliwa, maana hakupata nafasi ya kutubu, ingawa aliitafuta kwa machozi.
For you know that afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, because he found no opportunity for repentance, even though he sought it with tears.
18 Hamjaufikia mlima ule uwezao kuguswa na ambao unawaka moto; wala kwenye giza, utusitusi na dhoruba;
For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched, a mountain of burning fire, darkness, gloom, and storm.
19 kwenye mlio wa tarumbeta, au kwenye sauti isemayo maneno ya kutisha kiasi ambacho wale walioisikia waliomba wasiambiwe neno jingine zaidi,
You have not come to a trumpet blast, nor to a voice that speaks words whose hearers begged that not another word be spoken to them.
20 kwa sababu hawangeweza kustahimili neno lile lililoamriwa: “Hata kama mnyama atagusa mlima huu, atapigwa mawe.”
For they could not endure what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.”
21 Waliyoyaona yalikuwa ya kutisha kiasi kwamba Mose alisema, “Ninatetemeka kwa hofu.”
So fearful was this sight that Moses said, “I am terrified and am trembling.”
22 Lakini ninyi mmekuja Mlima Sayuni, Yerusalemu ya mbinguni, mji wa Mungu aliye hai. Mmekuja penye kusanyiko kubwa la malaika maelfu kwa maelfu wasiohesabika wanaoshangilia,
Instead, you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to tens of thousands of angels in celebration.
23 kwenye kanisa la wazaliwa wa kwanza wa Mungu, ambao majina yao yameandikwa mbinguni. Mmekuja kwa Mungu, mhukumu wa watu wote, kwenye roho za wenye haki waliokamilishwa,
You have come to the congregation of the firstborn, who have been registered in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous ones who have been made perfect.
24 kwa Yesu mpatanishi wa agano jipya, na kwa damu iliyonyunyizwa, ile inenayo mambo mema kuliko damu ya Abeli.
You have come to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks better than Abel's blood.
25 Angalieni, msije mkamkataa yeye anenaye. Ikiwa wao hawakuepuka adhabu walipomkataa yeye aliyewaonya hapa duniani, sisi je, tutaokokaje tusipomsikiliza yeye anayetuonya kutoka mbinguni?
See that you do not refuse the one who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we turn away from the one who is warning from heaven.
26 Wakati ule sauti yake ilitetemesha dunia, lakini sasa ameahidi, “Kwa mara moja tena nitatetemesha si nchi tu bali na mbingu pia.”
At one time, his voice shook the earth. But now he has promised and said, “One more time I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens.”
27 Maneno haya “kwa mara moja tena” yanaonyesha kuondoshwa kwa vile vitu vinavyoweza kutetemeshwa, yaani vile vitu vilivyoumbwa, kwa kusudi vile tu visivyoweza kutetemeshwa vibaki.
These words, “One more time,” mean the removal of those things that can be shaken, that is, of the things that have been created, so that the things that cannot be shaken will remain.
28 Kwa hiyo, kwa kuwa tunapokea ufalme ambao hauwezi kutetemeshwa, basi na tuwe na shukrani, na hivyo tumwabudu Mungu kwa namna inayompendeza, kwa unyenyekevu na uchaji,
Therefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be grateful and in this manner worship God with reverence and awe.
29 kwa kuwa “Mungu wetu ni moto ulao.”
For our God is a consuming fire.
