< 1 Wakorintho 4 >

1 Hivi ndivyo mtu atuhesabu sisi, kama watumishi wa Kristo na mawakili wa siri za kweli za Mungu.
So think of us as Christ's servants given the responsibility for “the mysteries of God.”
2 Katika hili, kinachotakiwa kwa uwakili ni kwamba wawe wa kutumainiwa.
More than this, those who have such responsibilities are required to be trustworthy.
3 Lakini kwangu mimi ni kitu kidogo sana kuwa ninahukumiwa na ninyi au hukumu ya kibinadamu. Kwa kuwa sijihukumu hata mimi mwenyewe.
Personally it hardly matters to me if you or anyone else judges me—in fact I don't even judge myself.
4 Sijihukumu mimi mwenyewe, hii haina maana kuwa mimi ni mwenye haki. Ni Bwana anihukumuye.
I don't know of anything I've done wrong, but that doesn't make me morally right. It's the Lord who judges me.
5 Kwa hiyo, msitamke hukumu juu ya lolote kabla ya wakati, kabla ya kuja kwa Bwana. Atayaleta nuruni mambo yaliyofichika gizani na kufunua makusudi ya mioyo. Ndipo kila mmoja atapokea sifa yake kutoka kwa Mungu.
So don't judge anything before the right time—when the Lord comes. He will bring to light all the darkest secrets that are hidden, and he will reveal people's motives. God will give everyone whatever praise they deserve.
6 Sasa, kaka na dada zangu, mimi mwenyewe na Apolo nimetumia kanuni hizi kwa ajili yenu. Ili kwamba kutoka kwetu mnaweza kujifunza maana ya usemi, “Usiende zaidi ya kilivyoandikwa.” Hii ni kwamba hakuna mmoja wenu ajivunaye juu ya mwingine.
Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied this to Apollos and myself as an example for you. That way you will learn not to go beyond what has been written, and not in arrogance prefer one over the other.
7 Maana ni nani aonaye tofauti kati yenu na mwingine? Ni nini ulicho nacho hukukipokea bure? Kama umekwisha kupokea bure, kwa nini mnajivuna kama hamkufanya hivyo?
Who made you so special? What do you have that you weren't given? Since you were given it, why do you proudly claim you weren't?
8 Tayari mnavyo vyote ambavyo mngetaka! Tayari mmekuwa na utajiri! Mmeanza kutawala-na kwamba mnamiliki zaidi yetu sisi! Kweli, nawatakia umililki mwema ili kwamba tumiliki pamoja nanyi.
You think you have all you need. You think you're so wealthy. You think you're kings already, and don't need us. I wish you were really ruling as kings, so we could rule with you!
9 Kwa hiyo ninadhani Mungu ametuweka sisi mitume kama kutuonyesha wa mwisho katika mustari wa maandamano na kama watu waliohukumiwa kuuawa. Tumekuwa kama tamasha kwa ulimwengu, kwa malaika na kwa wanadamu.
The way I see it, God has put us apostles on display as the last in the line, condemned to die. We have been made a public show before the entire universe, to angels and to human beings.
10 Sisi ni wajinga kwa ajili ya Kristo, lakini ninyi ni wenye hekima katika Kristo. Tu wanyonge, lakini ninyi mna nguvu. Mnaheshimiwa, lakina sisi tunadharauliwa.
We're Christ's fools, but you are so wise in Christ! We're the weak ones, but you are so strong! You have the glory, but we are despised!
11 Hata saa hii tuna njaa na kiu, hatuna nguo, tuna mapigo, na tena hatuna makazi.
Right up till now we're hungry and thirsty. We have no clothes. We're badly beaten up, and we have no place to call home.
12 Tunafanya kazi kwa bidii, kwa mikono yetu wenyewe. Tunapodharauliwa, twabariki. Wakati tunapoteswa, twavumilia.
We struggle on doing manual work. When people curse us, we bless them. When they persecute us, we put up with it.
13 Tunapotukanwa, twarudisha kwa upole. Tumekuwa, na tu bado tunahesabiwa kuwa kama kukataliwa na dunia na takataka kwa mambo yote.
When they insult us, we respond with kindness. Even now we are treated like dirt, the worst trash in the whole world.
14 Siandiki mambo haya kuwaaibisha ninyi, lakini kuwarudi ninyi kama watoto wangu niwapendao.
I'm not writing like this to make you feel ashamed, but to caution you as my children whom I love so much.
15 Hata kama mna waalimu makumi elfu katika Kristo, hamna baba wengi. Kwa kuwa nimekuwa baba yenu katika Yesu Kristo kupitia injili.
Even though you may have thousands of Christian instructors, you don't have many fathers—it was in Christ Jesus that I became your father when I shared the good news with you.
16 Hivyo ninawasihi mniige mimi.
So I'm pleading with you to imitate me!
17 Hiyo ndiyo sababu nilimtuma kwenu Timotheo, mpendwa wangu na mtoto mwaminifu katika Bwana. Atawakumbusheni njia zangu katika Kristo, kama ninavyofundisha kila mahali na kila kanisa.
That's why I sent Timothy to you, my trustworthy son in the Lord who I love so much. He will remind you about the way I follow Christ, just as I always teach in every church I visit.
18 Sasa baadhi yenu wanajisifu, wakitenda kana kwamba sitakuja kwenu.
Some among you have become arrogant, thinking I wouldn't bother coming to see you.
19 Lakini nitakuja kwenu kitambo, kama Bwana akipenda. Ndipo nitajua si maneno yao tu wanaojisifu, lakini nitaona nguvu zao.
But I am coming to visit you soon, if that's what the Lord wants. Then I'll find out what these arrogant people are saying, and what kind of power they have.
20 Kwa kuwa ufalme wa Mungu hauwi katika maneno bali katika nguvu.
For the kingdom of God is not about mere words, but about power.
21 Mnataka nini? Nije kwenu na fimbo au kwa upendo na katika roho ya upole?
So what do you want? Shall I come with a stick to beat you, or in love and a gentle spirit?

< 1 Wakorintho 4 >