1 Wakorintho 4
1 Hivi ndivyo mtu atuhesabu sisi, kama watumishi wa Kristo na mawakili wa siri za kweli za Mungu.
So, then, let a man consider us as servants only of Christ, and stewards of the secrets of God.
2 Katika hili, kinachotakiwa kwa uwakili ni kwamba wawe wa kutumainiwa.
Now, it is required in stewards, that every one be found faithful.
3 Lakini kwangu mimi ni kitu kidogo sana kuwa ninahukumiwa na ninyi au hukumu ya kibinadamu. Kwa kuwa sijihukumu hata mimi mwenyewe.
Therefore, to me it is a very small matter that I be condemned by you, or by human judgment, seeing I do not condemn myself.
4 Sijihukumu mimi mwenyewe, hii haina maana kuwa mimi ni mwenye haki. Ni Bwana anihukumuye.
For I am conscious to myself of no fault. However, I am not by this justified; but he who judges me is the Lord.
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.
Wherefore, do not, before the time, pass any judgment, till the Lord come; who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and lay open the counsels of the hearts; and then praise shall be to every one from God.
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, these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself, and Apollos, for your sakes, that by us you may learn not to esteem teachers above what has been written, that no one of you may, on account of one teacher, be puffed up against another.
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?
Besides, who makes you to differ? For what have you which you did not receive? And now, if you did receive it, why do you boast as not receiving it?
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.
Now you are filled! now you are become rich! you have reigned without it! and I wish, indeed, you had reigned, that we also might reign 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.
For I think that God has set forth us, the Apostles, last, as persons appointed to death; because we are made a spectacle to the world, even to angels, and to men.
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 are fools on account of Christ; but you are wise in Christ: we are weak, but you are strong: you are honored, but we are despised.
11 Hata saa hii tuna njaa na kiu, hatuna nguo, tuna mapigo, na tena hatuna makazi.
To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place,
12 Tunafanya kazi kwa bidii, kwa mikono yetu wenyewe. Tunapodharauliwa, twabariki. Wakati tunapoteswa, twavumilia.
and labor, working with our own hands: when reviled, we bless: when persecuted, we bear:
13 Tunapotukanwa, twarudisha kwa upole. Tumekuwa, na tu bado tunahesabiwa kuwa kama kukataliwa na dunia na takataka kwa mambo yote.
when defamed, we beseech: when we are become as the purgations of the world, the filth of all things until now.
14 Siandiki mambo haya kuwaaibisha ninyi, lakini kuwarudi ninyi kama watoto wangu niwapendao.
I write not these things to shame you; but, as my beloved children, I instruct you.
15 Hata kama mna waalimu makumi elfu katika Kristo, hamna baba wengi. Kwa kuwa nimekuwa baba yenu katika Yesu Kristo kupitia injili.
For, though you have ten thousand teachers in Christ, yet you have not many fathers; for, to Christ Jesus, through the gospel, I have begotten you.
16 Hivyo ninawasihi mniige mimi.
Wherefore, I beseech you, be imitators of 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.
For this purpose I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord: he will put you in mind of my ways, which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere, in every congregation.
18 Sasa baadhi yenu wanajisifu, wakitenda kana kwamba sitakuja kwenu.
Now, some are puffed up, as if I were not coming to you.
19 Lakini nitakuja kwenu kitambo, kama Bwana akipenda. Ndipo nitajua si maneno yao tu wanaojisifu, lakini nitaona nguvu zao.
But I will come to you soon, if the Lord will, and shall know, not the speech of them who are puffed up, but the power.
20 Kwa kuwa ufalme wa Mungu hauwi katika maneno bali katika nguvu.
For the Reign of God is not in word, but in power.
21 Mnataka nini? Nije kwenu na fimbo au kwa upendo na katika roho ya upole?
What do you incline? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?
