< 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 reckon us as officers of Christ, and stewards of the secrets of God,
2 Katika hili, kinachotakiwa kwa uwakili ni kwamba wawe wa kutumainiwa.
and as to the rest, it is required in the stewards that one may 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.
and to me it is for a very little thing that by you I may be judged, or by man's day, but not even myself do I judge,
4 Sijihukumu mimi mwenyewe, hii haina maana kuwa mimi ni mwenye haki. Ni Bwana anihukumuye.
for of nothing to myself have I been conscious, but not in this have I been declared right — and he who is discerning 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.
so, then, nothing before the time judge ye, till the Lord may come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of the darkness, and will manifest the counsels of the hearts, and then the praise shall come to each 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.
And these things, brethren, I did transfer to myself and to Apollos because of you, that in us ye may learn not to think above that which hath been written, that ye may not be puffed up one for 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 doth make thee to differ? and what hast thou, that thou didst not receive? and if thou didst also receive, why dost thou glory as not having received?
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 ye are having been filled, already ye were rich, apart from us ye did reign, and I would also ye did reign, that we also with you may reign together,
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 did set forth us the apostles last — as appointed to death, because a spectacle we became to the world, and messengers, and 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 because of Christ, and ye wise in Christ; we [are] ailing, and ye strong; ye glorious, and we dishonoured;
11 Hata saa hii tuna njaa na kiu, hatuna nguo, tuna mapigo, na tena hatuna makazi.
unto the present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and wander about,
12 Tunafanya kazi kwa bidii, kwa mikono yetu wenyewe. Tunapodharauliwa, twabariki. Wakati tunapoteswa, twavumilia.
and labour, working with [our] own hands; being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer;
13 Tunapotukanwa, twarudisha kwa upole. Tumekuwa, na tu bado tunahesabiwa kuwa kama kukataliwa na dunia na takataka kwa mambo yote.
being spoken evil of, we entreat; as filth of the world we did become — of all things an offscouring — till now.
14 Siandiki mambo haya kuwaaibisha ninyi, lakini kuwarudi ninyi kama watoto wangu niwapendao.
Not [as] putting you to shame do I write these things, but as my beloved children I do admonish,
15 Hata kama mna waalimu makumi elfu katika Kristo, hamna baba wengi. Kwa kuwa nimekuwa baba yenu katika Yesu Kristo kupitia injili.
for if a myriad of child-conductors ye may have in Christ, yet not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus, through the good news, I — I did beget you;
16 Hivyo ninawasihi mniige mimi.
I call upon you, therefore, become ye followers 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.
because of this I sent to you Timotheus, who is my child, beloved and faithful in the Lord, who shall remind you of my ways in Christ, according as everywhere in every assembly I teach.
18 Sasa baadhi yenu wanajisifu, wakitenda kana kwamba sitakuja kwenu.
And as if I were not coming unto you certain were puffed up;
19 Lakini nitakuja kwenu kitambo, kama Bwana akipenda. Ndipo nitajua si maneno yao tu wanaojisifu, lakini nitaona nguvu zao.
but I will come quickly unto you, if the Lord may will, and I will know not the word of those puffed up, but the power;
20 Kwa kuwa ufalme wa Mungu hauwi katika maneno bali katika nguvu.
for not in word is the reign of God, but in power?
21 Mnataka nini? Nije kwenu na fimbo au kwa upendo na katika roho ya upole?
what do ye wish? with a rod shall I come unto you, or in love, with a spirit also of meekness?