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, which are at 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 unto you, and peace from God our father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Ninamshukuru Mungu wangu kila niwakumbukapo ninyi.
I give thanks unto my God upon every mention of you,
4 Katika maombi yangu yote daima nimekuwa nikiwaombea ninyi nyote kwa furaha,
(always making supplication for you all with joy
5 kwa sababu ya kushiriki kwenu katika kueneza Injili, tangu siku ya kwanza hadi leo.
in every prayer of mine) for your attachment to the gospel, from the first day even till now;
6 Nina hakika kwamba yeye aliyeianza kazi njema mioyoni mwenu, ataiendeleza na kuikamilisha hata siku ya Kristo Yesu.
being confident of this, that He who hath begun a good work in 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 of you all, because ye have me in your heart, both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, being all of you partakers of the same grace with me.
8 Mungu ni shahidi wangu jinsi ninavyowaonea shauku ninyi nyote kwa huruma ya Kristo Yesu.
For God is my witness, how much I long for you all, as with the bowels 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 abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all discernment;
10 ili mpate kutambua yale yaliyo mema, mkawe safi, wasio na hatia hadi siku ya Kristo,
that ye may try things that differ, that ye may be sincere and without offence until the day of Christ;
11 mkiwa mmejawa na matunda ya haki yapatikanayo kwa njia ya Yesu Kristo, kwa utukufu na sifa za Mungu.
being full of the fruits of righteousness which are through Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God.
12 Basi, ndugu zangu, nataka mjue kwamba mambo yale yaliyonipata kwa kweli yamesaidia sana kueneza Injili.
But I would have you know, my brethren, that the things, which have befallen me, have proved 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 manifest in all the palace, and all other places, to be for the sake of Christ;
14 Kwa sababu ya vifungo vyangu, ndugu wengi katika Bwana wametiwa moyo kuhubiri neno la Mungu kwa ujasiri zaidi na bila woga.
and many of the brethren in the Lord, encouraged by my bonds, are much more bold to publish 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 through envy and strife, and some also through good-will:
16 Hawa wa mwisho wanamhubiri Kristo kwa moyo wa upendo, wakifahamu kwamba nimo humu gerezani kwa ajili ya kuitetea Injili.
the former preach Christ out of contention, not sincerely, thinking to add affliction to my bonds;
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 others out of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.
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? yet every way, whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is preached: and in this I rejoice, yea 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 shall turn to my safety through your prayer, and the aid 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 I shall be put to shame in nothing; but that with all freedom of speech, as always, so now also Christ shall 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: and if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor:
22 Kama nitaendelea kuishi katika mwili, kwangu hili ni kwa ajili ya matunda ya kazi. Lakini sijui nichague lipi? Mimi sijui!
so that I know not what to chuse;
23 Ninavutwa kati ya mambo mawili: Ninatamani kuondoka nikakae pamoja na Kristo, jambo hilo ni bora zaidi.
for I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ, which is much preferable:
24 Lakini kwa sababu yenu ni muhimu zaidi mimi nikiendelea kuishi katika mwili.
but to abide in the flesh is more necessary 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 as I am confident of this, I know that I shall abide and shall continue with you all, for your improvement and the joy of your 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 abound through me, by my coming to 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 behave worthy of the gospel of Christ, that whether I come and see you, or be absent, I may hear of you, that ye stand firm in one Spirit, striving together as with one soul for the saith 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 are in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is a demonstration of ruin to them, but to you of salvation, and this from God.
29 Kwa maana mmepewa kwa ajili ya Kristo, si kumwamini tu, bali pia kuteswa kwa ajili yake,
For to you it is granted as a favor from 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 same conflict as ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
