2 Wakorintho 12
1 Ni lazima nijivune, lakini hakuna kinachoongezwa na hilo. Bali nitaendelea kwenye maono na mafunuo kutoka kwa Bwana.
(Really, to me boasting is not helpful.) For I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 Namjua mtu mmoja katika Kristo ambaye miaka kumi na minne iliyopita ambaye—ikiwa katika mwili, au nje ya mwili, mimi sijui, Mungu anajua—alinyakuliwa juu katika mbingu ya tatu.
I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in body, I know not, or whether outside the body, I know not, God knows) such a man was caught up as far as the third heaven.
3 Na ninajua kwamba mtu huyu—ikiwa katika mwili, au nje ya mwili, mimi sijui, Mungu anajua—
And I know such a man (whether in body, or whether outside the body, I know not, God knows)
4 alichukuliwa juu hadi paradiso na kusikia mambo matakatifu sana kwa mtu yeyote kuyasema.
that he was caught up into the paradise, and heard inexpressible sayings that are not permitted for a man to utter.
5 Kwa niaba ya mtu kama huyo nitajivuna. lakini kwa niaba yangu mwenyewe sitajivuna. Isipokuwa kuhusu udhaifu wangu.
For such a man I will boast, but for myself I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.
6 Kama nikitaka kujivuna, nisingekuwa mpumbavu, kwa kuwa ningekuwa ninazungumza ukweli. Lakini nitaacha kujivuna, ili kwamba asiwepo yeyote atakayenifikiria zaidi ya hayo kuliko kinachoonekana ndani yangu au kusikika kutoka kwangu.
For if I should want to boast, I will not be foolish, for I will speak the truth. But I refrain lest any man should reckon to me above what he sees of me or hears anything from me.
7 Sitajivuna pia kwa sababu ya hayo mafunuo ya aina ya ajabu. Kwa hiyo, hivyo sitajawa na kiburi, mwiba uliwekwa ndani ya mwili wangu, mjumbe wa shetani kunishambulia mimi, ili nisigeuke kuwa mwenye majivuno.
And so that I might not be over exalted by the extraordinariness of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, an agent of Satan so that he would buffet me, so that I would not be over exalted.
8 Mara tatu nilimsihi Bwana kuhusu hili, ili yeye kuundoa kutoka kwangu.
I besought the Lord thrice about this, that it might depart from me.
9 Naye akaniambia, “Neema yangu inatosha kwa ajili yako, kwa kuwa nguvu hufanywa kamili katika udhaifu. Hivyo, ningetamani zaidi kujivuna zaidi kuhusu udhaifu wangu, ili kwamba uwezo wa Kristo uweze kukaa juu yangu.
And he said to me, My grace is sufficient for thee, for my power is made fully perfect in weakness. More gladly therefore I will boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of the Christ may reside in me.
10 Kwa hiyo ninatosheka kwa ajili ya Kristo, katika udhaifu, katika matukano, katika shida, katika mateso, katika hali ya masikitiko. Kwa kuwa wakati nikiwa dhaifu, kisha nina nguvu.
Therefore I am pleased in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in restrictions, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
11 Mimi nimekuwa mpumbavu! ninyi mlinilazimisha kwa hili, kwa kuwa ningekuwa nimesifiwa na ninyi. Kwa kuwa sikuwa duni kabisa kwa hao waitwao mitume—bora, hata kama mimi si kitu.
I have become foolish, boasting. Ye compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I came short in nothing of those, superlative apostles, even though I am nothing.
12 Ishara za kweli za mtume zilifanyika katikati yenu kwa uvumilivu, ishara na maajabu na matendo makuu.
Indeed the signs of the apostle were performed among you in all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty works.
13 Kwa namna gani mlikuwa wa muhimu wa chini kuliko makanisa yaliyobaki, isipokuwa kwamba sikuwa mzigo kwenu? Mnisamehe kwa kosa hili!
For what is there which ye were inferior to the other congregations? Except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong.
14 Tazama! mimi niko tayari kuja kwenu kwa mara ya tatu. Sitakuwa mzigo kwenu, kwa kuwa sitaki kitu kilicho chenu. Nawataka ninyi. Kwa kuwa watoto hawapaswi kuweka akiba kwa ajili ya wazazi. Badala yake, wazazi wanapaswa kuweka akiba kwa ajili ya watoto.
Behold, a third time I fare readily to come to you, and I will not be burdensome to you, for I seek not the things of you, but you. For the children ought not lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
15 Nitafurahi zaidi kutumia na kutumiwa kwa ajili ya nafsi zenu. Kama ninawapenda zaidi, natakiwa kupendwa kidogo?
And I most gladly will spend, and will be spent for your souls. Even though more earnestly loving you, the worse I am loved.
16 Lakini kama ilivyo, sikuwalemea mzigo ninyi. Lakini kwa kuwa mimi ni mwerevu sana, mimi ni yule aliyewashika ninyi kwa nimekuwa ambaye aliyewapata kwa udanganyifu.
But let it be. I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being clever, I caught you with bait.
17 Je, nilichukua kwa kujifanyia faida kwa yeyote niliyemtuma kwenu?
Any man of whom I have sent to you, did I exploit you through him?
18 Nilimsihi Tito kuja kwenu, na nilituma ndugu mwingine pamoja naye. Je, Tito aliwafanyia faida ninyi? Je, hatukutembea katika njia ile ile? Je, hatukutembea katika nyayo zile zile?
I encouraged Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus exploit you in anything? Did we not walk in the same spirit, not in the same steps?
19 Mnadhani kwa muda huu wote tumekuwa tukijitetea sisi wenyewe kwenu? Mbele za Mungu, na katika Kristo, tumekuwa tukisema kila kitu kwa ajili ya kuwaimarisha ninyi.
Again, do ye think that we are making defense to you? In the sight of God we speak in Christ. But all things, beloved, are for your edification.
20 Kwa kuwa nina hofu kwamba nitakapokuja naweza nisiwapate ninyi kama ninavyotamani. Nina hofu kwamba mnaweza msinipate mimi kama mnavyotamani. Nahofia kwamba kunaweza kuwa na majadiliano, wivu, milipuko ya hasira, tamaa ya ubinafsi, umbeya, kiburi, na ugomvi.
For I fear lest somehow, having come, I may find you not such as I want, and I may be found by you such as ye do not want, lest somehow there be strifes, envyings, wraths, selfish ambitions, slanderings, whisperings, puffings up, turmoils,
21 Nina hofu kwamba nitakaporudi tena, Mungu wangu anaweza kuninyenyekeza mbele yenu. Nina hofu kwamba ninaweza kuhuzunishwa na wengi ambao wamefanya dhambi kabla ya sasa, na ambao hawakutubu uchafu, na uasherati na mambo ya tamaa wanayoyatenda.
lest having come again my God will make me low toward you, and I will bewail many of those who have sinned previously, and who did not repent from the trash and fornication and licentiousness that they committed.
