< 1 Wakorintho 4 >
1 Hivi ndivyo mtu atuhesabu sisi, kama watumishi wa Kristo na mawakili wa siri za kweli za Mungu.
Let a man so account of us, as of ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2 Katika hili, kinachotakiwa kwa uwakili ni kwamba wawe wa kutumainiwa.
Here, moreover, it is required in stewards, that a man 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.
But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.
4 Sijihukumu mimi mwenyewe, hii haina maana kuwa mimi ni mwenye haki. Ni Bwana anihukumuye.
For I know nothing against myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth 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 judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall each man have his praise 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 in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes; that in us ye might learn not [to go] beyond the things which are written; that no one of you be puffed up for the one against 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?
For who maketh thee to differ? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? but if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received 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.
Already are ye filled, already ye are become rich, ye have reigned without us: yea and I would that ye did reign, 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, God hath set forth us the apostles last of all, as men doomed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and 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 for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye have glory, but we have dishonour.
11 Hata saa hii tuna njaa na kiu, hatuna nguo, tuna mapigo, na tena hatuna makazi.
Even unto this 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 we toil, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;
13 Tunapotukanwa, twarudisha kwa upole. Tumekuwa, na tu bado tunahesabiwa kuwa kama kukataliwa na dunia na takataka kwa mambo yote.
being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things, even until now.
14 Siandiki mambo haya kuwaaibisha ninyi, lakini kuwarudi ninyi kama watoto wangu niwapendao.
I write not these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.
15 Hata kama mna waalimu makumi elfu katika Kristo, hamna baba wengi. Kwa kuwa nimekuwa baba yenu katika Yesu Kristo kupitia injili.
For though ye should have ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet [have ye] not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I begat you through the gospel.
16 Hivyo ninawasihi mniige mimi.
I beseech you therefore, be ye 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 cause have I sent unto you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who shall put you in remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every church.
18 Sasa baadhi yenu wanajisifu, wakitenda kana kwamba sitakuja kwenu.
Now some are puffed up, as though 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 shortly, if the Lord will; and I will know, not the word of them which are puffed up, but the power.
20 Kwa kuwa ufalme wa Mungu hauwi katika maneno bali katika nguvu.
For the kingdom 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 will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of meekness?