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 that 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.
grace be to you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Ninamshukuru Mungu wangu kila niwakumbukapo ninyi.
I thank my God on every remembrance of you―
4 Katika maombi yangu yote daima nimekuwa nikiwaombea ninyi nyote kwa furaha,
always in every supplication of mine for you all, making my supplication with joy―
5 kwa sababu ya kushiriki kwenu katika kueneza Injili, tangu siku ya kwanza hadi leo.
for your fellowship in 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.
being confident of this very thing, that he who has begun a good work in you, will carry it on 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 right for me to think this of you all, because I say I have you in my heart; both in my bonds and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, I say I have you all in my heart as being joint partakers of my grace.
8 Mungu ni shahidi wangu jinsi ninavyowaonea shauku ninyi nyote kwa huruma ya Kristo Yesu.
For God is my witness how ardently I love you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
9 Haya ndiyo maombi yangu: kwamba upendo wenu uongezeke zaidi na zaidi katika maarifa na ufahamu wote,
I also pray for this, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all understanding,
10 ili mpate kutambua yale yaliyo mema, mkawe safi, wasio na hatia hadi siku ya Kristo,
in order that you may distinguish things that differ, to the end that you may be pure and blameless till the day of Christ,
11 mkiwa mmejawa na matunda ya haki yapatikanayo kwa njia ya Yesu Kristo, kwa utukufu na sifa za Mungu.
being filled with the fruit of righteousness, which fruit is by 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.
But 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 which are for Christ have become known to be such in all the palace, and in all 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 most of the brethren in the Lord, having confidence in my bonds, are 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 the Christ, because of envy and a contentious disposition, and some because of good-will.
16 Hawa wa mwisho wanamhubiri Kristo kwa moyo wa upendo, wakifahamu kwamba nimo humu gerezani kwa ajili ya kuitetea Injili.
These do it from love, because they know 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.
those preach Christ from a contentious disposition, not sincerely, thinking that they will 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 difference does this make? Christ is, nevertheless, preached in every way, whether in pretense or in truth; and in this I rejoice, yes, and I 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 result in my benefit through your supplication, 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.
according to my earnest expectation and hope, that in nothing shall I be ashamed, but with all boldness, as at all times, so even now, 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 if this, my life in the flesh, would be profitable for my work in the ministry, verily, what I should choose I know not.
23 Ninavutwa kati ya mambo mawili: Ninatamani kuondoka nikakae pamoja na Kristo, jambo hilo ni bora zaidi.
I am in a strait between the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better:
24 Lakini kwa sababu yenu ni muhimu zaidi mimi nikiendelea kuishi katika mwili.
yet 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 of this I feel assured, that I shall remain and continue among you all for your advancement and joy in the faith,
26 Ili kwamba furaha yenu iwe nyingi katika Kristo Yesu kwa ajili yangu kwa kule kuja kwangu kwenu tena.
that your rejoicing in Christ Jesus may become more abundant through me by my being present among you again.
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 conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of the Christ, that, whether I come and see you, or be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast 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 in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of destruction, 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 given in behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but, also, to suffer for him,
30 kwa kuwa mnashiriki mashindano yale yale mliyoyaona nikiwa nayo na ambayo hata sasa mnasikia kuwa bado ninayo.
since you have the same conflict that you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
