1 Wakorintho 8
1 Sasa kuhusu vyakula vilivyotolewa sadaka kwa sanamu: tunajua ya kwamba “sisi sote tuna maarifa.” Maarifa huleta majivuno, bali upendo hujenga.
With reference to food that has been offered in sacrifice to idols – We are aware that all of us have knowledge! Knowledge breeds conceit, while love builds up character.
2 Ikiwa mtu yeyote anadhani kwamba anajua jambo fulani, mtu huyo bado hajui kama impasavyo kujua.
If someone thinks that they know anything, they have not yet reached that knowledge which they ought to have reached.
3 Lakini ikiwa mmoja wapo akimpenda Mungu, mtu huyo anajulikana naye.
On the other hand, if a person loves God, they are known by God.
4 Basi kuhusu kula vyakula vilivyotolewa sadaka kwa sanamu: twajua kuwa “sanamu si kitu katika dunia hii,” na ya kuwa hakuna Mungu ila mmoja tu.”
With reference, then, to eating food that has been offered to idols – we are aware that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no God but one.
5 Kwa maana kuna wengi waitwao miungu ikiwa ni mbinguni au duniani, kama vile walivyo “miungu na mabwana wengi.”
Even supposing that there are so-called ‘gods’ either in heaven or on earth – and there are many such ‘gods’ and ‘lords’ –
6 “Ijapokuwa kwetu kuna Mungu mmoja tu ambaye ni Baba, vitu vyote vimetoka kwake, nasi tunaishi kwake, na Bwana mmoja Yesu Kristo, ambaye kwake vitu vyote vimekuwapo, na kwa yeye sisi tupo.”
Yet for us there is only one God, the Father, from whom all things come (and for him we live), and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things come (and through him we live).
7 Hata hivyo, ujuzi huu haupo ndani ya kila mmoja. Badala yake, wengine walishiriki ibada za sanamu hapo zamani, na hata sasa wanakula vyakula hivi kana kwamba ni kitu kilichotolewa sadaka kwa sanamu. Dhamiri zao zimepotoshwa kwa kuwa ni dhaifu.
Still, it is not everyone that has this knowledge. Some people, because of their association with idols, continued down to the present time, eat the food as food offered to an idol; and their consciences, while still weak, are dulled.
8 Lakini chakula hakitatuthibitisha sisi kwa Mungu. Sisi sio wabaya sana kama tusipo kula, wala wema sana ikiwa tutakula.
What we eat, however, will not bring us nearer to God. We lose nothing by not eating this food, and we gain nothing by eating it.
9 Lakini iweni makini ya kwamba uhuru wenu usiwe sababu ya kumkwaza aliye dhaifu katika imani.
But take care that this right of yours does not become in any way a stumbling-block to the weak.
10 Hebu fikiri kwamba mtu amekuona, wewe uliye na ujuzi, unakula chakula katika hekalu la sanamu. Dhamiri yake mtu huyo haitathibitika hata yeye naye ale vitu vilivyotolewa sadaka kwa sanamu?
For if someone should see you who possess this knowledge, feasting in an idol’s temple, will not their conscience, if they are weak, become so hardened that they, too, will eat food offered to idols?
11 Kwa hiyo kwa sababu ya ufahamu wako wa ukweli juu ya asili ya sanamu, kaka au dada yako aliye dhaifu, ambaye pia Kristo alikufa kwa ajili yake, anaangamizwa.
And so, through this knowledge of yours, the weak person is ruined – someone for whose sake Christ died!
12 Hivyo, unapofanya dhambi dhidi ya kaka na dada zako na kuzijeruhi dhamiri zao zilizo dhaifu, mnatenda dhambi dhidi ya Kristo.
In this way, by sinning against your fellow followers of the Lord and injuring their consciences, while still weak, you sin against Christ.
