Wafilipi 1
1 Waraka wa Paulo na Timotheo, watumishi wa Kristo Yesu: Kwa watakatifu wote katika Kristo Yesu walioko Filipi, pamoja na waangalizi na mashemasi:
Paul, and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus, who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
2 Neema na amani itokayo kwa Mungu Baba yetu na kwa Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo iwe nanyi.
Favor to you, and peace from God our Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Ninamshukuru Mungu wangu kila niwakumbukapo ninyi.
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you;
4 Katika maombi yangu yote daima nimekuwa nikiwaombea ninyi nyote kwa furaha,
always in my prayers for you all, giving thanks with joy
5 kwa sababu ya kushiriki kwenu katika kueneza Injili, tangu siku ya kwanza hadi leo.
for your contribution for the gospel, from the first day till now:
6 Nina hakika kwamba yeye aliyeianza kazi njema mioyoni mwenu, ataiendeleza na kuikamilisha hata siku ya Kristo Yesu.
having this very confidence, that he who has begun a good work among you, will continue to perfect it till the day of Jesus Christ.
7 Ni haki na ni wajibu wangu kufikiri hivi juu yenu nyote, kwa sababu ninyi mko moyoni mwangu. Ikiwa nimefungwa au nikiwa ninaitetea na kuithibitisha Injili, ninyi nyote mnashiriki neema ya Mungu pamoja nami.
As it is just for me to think this concerning you all, because you have me at heart, both in my bonds, and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. You are all partakers of my gratitude;
8 Mungu ni shahidi wangu jinsi ninavyowaonea shauku ninyi nyote kwa huruma ya Kristo Yesu.
for God is my witness how vehemently I long after you all, with the tender affections of Jesus Christ.
9 Haya ndiyo maombi yangu: kwamba upendo wenu uongezeke zaidi na zaidi katika maarifa na ufahamu wote,
And this I pray, that your love may yet abound more and more, with knowledge and with all discretion;
10 ili mpate kutambua yale yaliyo mema, mkawe safi, wasio na hatia hadi siku ya Kristo,
that you may approve the things that are excellent; that you may be sincere and inoffensive till the day of Christ;
11 mkiwa mmejawa na matunda ya haki yapatikanayo kwa njia ya Yesu Kristo, kwa utukufu na sifa za Mungu.
filled with the fruit of righteousness, which is through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
12 Basi, ndugu zangu, nataka mjue kwamba mambo yale yaliyonipata kwa kweli yamesaidia sana kueneza Injili.
Now I wish you to know, brethren that the things which have befallen me, have turned out rather to the advancement of the gospel.
13 Matokeo yake ni kwamba imejulikana wazi kwa walinzi wote wa jumba la kifalme na kwa wengine wote kuwa nimefungwa kwa ajili ya Kristo.
So that my bonds are manifested to be on account of Christ, through the whole palace, and in all the other places.
14 Kwa sababu ya vifungo vyangu, ndugu wengi katika Bwana wametiwa moyo kuhubiri neno la Mungu kwa ujasiri zaidi na bila woga.
And the greater number of the brethren in the Lord, made confident by my bonds, have become much more bold to speak the word without fear.
15 Ni kweli kwamba wengine wanamhubiri Kristo kutokana na wivu na kwa kutaka kushindana, lakini wengine wanamhubiri Kristo kwa nia njema.
Some, indeed, preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some, also, of good will.
16 Hawa wa mwisho wanamhubiri Kristo kwa moyo wa upendo, wakifahamu kwamba nimo humu gerezani kwa ajili ya kuitetea Injili.
The latter, indeed, from love; knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel;
17 Hao wa kwanza wanamtangaza Kristo kutokana na tamaa zao wenyewe wala si kwa moyo mweupe, bali wanakusudia kuongeza mateso yangu katika huku kufungwa kwangu.
the former preach Christ out of contention, not sincerely, thinking to add affliction to my bonds.
18 Lakini inadhuru nini? Jambo la muhimu ni kwamba kwa kila njia, ikiwa ni kwa nia mbaya au njema, Kristo anahubiriwa. Nami kwa ajili ya jambo hilo ninafurahi. Naam, nami nitaendelea kufurahi,
What, then? Still in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; even in this I do rejoice; yes, and will rejoice:
19 kwa maana ninajua kwamba kwa maombi yenu na kwa msaada unaotolewa na Roho wa Yesu Kristo, yale yaliyonipata mimi yatageuka kuwa wokovu wangu.
for I know that this will turn out to me for salvation, through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ--
20 Ninatarajia kwa shauku kubwa na kutumaini kwamba sitaaibika kwa njia yoyote, bali nitakuwa na ujasiri wa kutosha ili sasa kama wakati mwingine wowote, Kristo atukuzwe katika mwili wangu, ikiwa ni kwa kuishi au kwa kufa.
that agreeably to my earnest expectation and hope, in nothing I shall be ashamed; but that with all boldness, as at all times, so now, also, Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.
21 Kwa maana kwangu mimi, kuishi ni Kristo, na kufa ni faida.
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22 Kama nitaendelea kuishi katika mwili, kwangu hili ni kwa ajili ya matunda ya kazi. Lakini sijui nichague lipi? Mimi sijui!
But whether to live in the flesh would be to my advantage; or what to choose, I do not know:
23 Ninavutwa kati ya mambo mawili: Ninatamani kuondoka nikakae pamoja na Kristo, jambo hilo ni bora zaidi.
for I am in a strait between the two, having a strong desire to depart and be with Christ, which is by far the better.
24 Lakini kwa sababu yenu ni muhimu zaidi mimi nikiendelea kuishi katika mwili.
Nevertheless, to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
25 Kwa kuwa nina matumaini haya, ninajua kwamba nitaendelea kuwepo na kuwa pamoja nanyi nyote, ili mpate kukua na kuwa na furaha katika imani.
And being firmly persuaded of this, I know that I shall live and abide some time with you all, for the advancement of the joy of your faith;
26 Ili kwamba furaha yenu iwe nyingi katika Kristo Yesu kwa ajili yangu kwa kule kuja kwangu kwenu tena.
and that your boasting concerning me in Christ Jesus, may abound, through my coming again to you.
27 Lakini lolote litakalotukia, mwenende kama ipasavyo Injili ya Kristo, ili kwamba nikija na kuwaona au ikiwa sipo, nipate kusikia haya juu yenu: Kuwa mnasimama imara katika roho moja, mkiishindania imani ya Injili kwa umoja,
Only behave in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ; that whether I shall come and see you, ot, being absent, shall hear of your affairs, that you are steadfast in one spirit, with one soul striving together for the faith of the gospel;
28 wala msitishwe na wale wanaowapinga. Hii ni ishara kwao kuwa wataangamia, lakini ninyi mtaokolewa, na hii ni kazi ya Mungu.
and not terrified in anything by your adversaries; which is to them a demonstration of perdition; but to you of salvation, and that from God.
29 Kwa maana mmepewa kwa ajili ya Kristo, si kumwamini tu, bali pia kuteswa kwa ajili yake,
For to you it is graciously given, on the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
30 kwa kuwa mnashiriki mashindano yale yale mliyoyaona nikiwa nayo na ambayo hata sasa mnasikia kuwa bado ninayo.
having the very same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
