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 let’s also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with perseverance the race that is set 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.
looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has 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.
For consider him who has endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, that you don’t grow weary, fainting in your souls.
4 Katika kushindana kwenu dhidi ya dhambi, bado hamjapigana kiasi cha kumwaga damu yenu.
You have not yet resisted to blood, striving against sin.
5 Nanyi mmesahau yale maneno ya kuwaonya yanayowataja ninyi kuwa wana, yakisema: “Mwanangu, usidharau adhabu ya Bwana, wala usikate tamaa akikukemea,
You have forgotten the exhortation which reasons with you as with children, “My son, don’t take lightly the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by him;
6 kwa sababu Bwana huwaadibisha wale awapendao, na humwadhibu kila mmoja anayemkubali kuwa mwana.”
for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines, and chastises 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?
It is for discipline that you endure. God deals with you as with children, for what son is there whom his father doesn’t 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, of which all have been made partakers, then you are illegitimate, and not children.
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 the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much rather be in subjection 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.
For they indeed for a few days disciplined us as seemed good to them, but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of 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.
All chastening seems for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
12 Kwa hiyo, itieni nguvu mikono yenu iliyo dhaifu na magoti yenu yaliyolegea.
Therefore lift up the hands that hang down and the feeble knees,
13 Sawazisheni mapito ya miguu yenu, ili kitu kilicho kiwete kisidhoofishwe bali kiponywe.
and make straight paths for your feet, so what is lame may not be dislocated, 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.
Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man 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.
looking carefully lest there be any man who falls short of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you and many be defiled 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.
lest there be any sexually immoral person or profane person, like Esau, who sold his birthright for one meal.
17 Baadaye kama mnavyofahamu, alipotaka kurithi ile baraka, alikataliwa, maana hakupata nafasi ya kutubu, ingawa aliitafuta kwa machozi.
For you know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for a change of mind though he sought it diligently 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 might be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness, darkness, storm,
19 kwenye mlio wa tarumbeta, au kwenye sauti isemayo maneno ya kutisha kiasi ambacho wale walioisikia waliomba wasiambiwe neno jingine zaidi,
the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which those who heard it begged that not one more word should be spoken to them,
20 kwa sababu hawangeweza kustahimili neno lile lililoamriwa: “Hata kama mnyama atagusa mlima huu, atapigwa mawe.”
for they could not stand that which was commanded, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned”.
21 Waliyoyaona yalikuwa ya kutisha kiasi kwamba Mose alisema, “Ninatetemeka kwa hofu.”
So fearful was the appearance that Moses said, “I am terrified and 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,
But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable multitudes of angels,
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,
to the festal gathering and assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,
24 kwa Yesu mpatanishi wa agano jipya, na kwa damu iliyonyunyizwa, ile inenayo mambo mema kuliko damu ya Abeli.
to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better than that of Abel.
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 don’t refuse him who speaks. For if they didn’t escape when they refused him who warned on the earth, how much more will we not escape who turn away from him who warns from heaven,
26 Wakati ule sauti yake ilitetemesha dunia, lakini sasa ameahidi, “Kwa mara moja tena nitatetemesha si nchi tu bali na mbingu pia.”
whose voice shook the earth then, but now he has promised, saying, “Yet once more 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.
This phrase, “Yet once more” signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that those things which are not shaken may 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 can’t be shaken, let’s have grace, through which we serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe,
29 kwa kuwa “Mungu wetu ni moto ulao.”
for our God is a consuming fire.
