2 Wakorintho 8
1 Tunawataka ninyi mjue, kaka na dada, kuhusu neema ya Mungu ambayo imetolewa kwa makanisa ya Makedonia.
We make known to you, brethren, God’s gracious gift, which has been given in the churches of Macedonia;
2 Wakati wa jaribu kubwa la mateso, wingi wa furaha yao na ongezeko la umaskini wao umezaa utjiri mkubwa wa ukarimu.
that under an afflicting trial, their overflowing joy, and their deep poverty, abounded to the riches of their liberality;
3 Kwa maana nashuhudia kwamba walitoa kwa kadiri ya walivyoweza, na hata zaidi ya walivyoweza.
for I testify that according to their power, and beyond their power, they gave voluntarily,
4 Na kwa hiari yao wenyewe kwa kutusihi kwingi, walituomba kwa ajili ya kushiriki katika huduma hii kwa waumini.
beseeching us, with much entreaty, that they might give, and take part in the ministering to the saints;
5 Hii haikutokea kama tulivyokuwa tunatarajia. Badala yake, kwanza walijitoa wao wenyewe kwa Bwana. Kisha wakajitoa wao wenyewe kwetu kwa mapenzi ya Mungu.
and they did this, not only as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord, and then to us, through the will of God;
6 Hivyo tulimsihi Tito, aliyekuwa tayari ameanzisha kazi hii, kuleta katika utimilifu tendo hili la ukarimu juu yenu.
so that we exhorted Titus, that, as he had previously begun, so he would bring to an end this gift among you also.
7 Lakini ninyi mna wingi katika kila kitu- katika imani, katika usemi, katika maarifa, katika bidii, na katika upendo wenu kwa ajili yetu. Hivyo hakikisheni kwamba ninyi mnakuwa na wingi pia katika tendo hili la ukarimu.
Now as you excel in every thing, in faith, and in speech, and in knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love for us, see that you excel in this gift also.
8 Nasema hili si kama amri. Badala yake, nasema hili ili kupima uhalisi wa upendo wenu kwa kuulinganisha na shauku ya watu wengine.
I do not speak this as a commandment, but on account of the zeal of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
9 Kwa maana mnajua neema ya Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo. Hata kama alikuwa tajiri, kwa ajili yenu alikuwa maskini. Ili kwamba kupitia umaskini wake mweze kuwa tajiri.
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet, for your sakes, he became poor, that you, through his poverty, might become rich.
10 Katika jambo hili nitawapa ushauri ambao utawasaidia. Mwaka mmoja uliopita, hamkuanza tuu kufanya jambo. Lakini mlitamani kulifanya.
And I give my judgment in this matter; for this is profitable for you, who began not only to do, but to show a willing mind, a year ago.
11 Sasa likamilisheni. Kama tu kulivyokuwa na shauku na nia ya kulifanya, kisha, je, mngeweza pia kulileta katika ukamilifu, kwa kadri ya mnavyoweza.
Now, therefore, perfect also the doing of this; that as there was a readiness of mind to be willing, so also there may be an accomplishment of the doing, out of that which you have.
12 Kwa kuwa mnashauku ya kufanya tendo hili, ni jambo zuri na linakubalika. Lazima lisimame juu ya kile alichonacho mtu, siyo juu ya asichokuwa nacho mtu.
For if there is a readiness of mind, one is accepted according to what he has, not according to what he has not.
13 Kwa kuwa kazi hii siyo kwa ajili kwamba wengine waweze kupata nafuu na ninyi mweze kulemewa. Badala yake, kuwe na usawa.
For I do not intend that there shall be relief to others, and affliction to you; but that, according to equality, your abundance, at the present time, may supply their wants;
14 Wingi wenu wa wakati wa sasa utasaidia kwa kile wanachohitaji. Hii ni hivyo pia ili kwamba wingi wao uweze kusaidia mahitaji yenu, na kwamba kuwe na usawa.
and that, at a future time, their abundance may supply your wants; that there may be equality,
15 Hii ni kama ilivyoandikwa; “Yeye aliye na vingi hakuwa na kitu chochote kilichobaki na yeye aliyekuwa na kidogo hakuwa na uhitaji wowote.”
as it is written: He that gathered much had nothing over; and he that gathered little did not lack.
16 Lakini ashukuriwe Mungu, aliyeweka ndani ya moyo wa Tito moyo uleule wa bidii ya kujali ambyo ninayo kwa ajili yenu.
But thanks be to God, who put the same earnest care for you in the heart of Titus:
17 Kwa kuwa si tu alipokea maombi yetu, bali pia alikuwa na bidii kuhusiana na maombi hayo. Alikuja kwenu kwa hiari yake mwenyewe.
for he accepted my exhortation, and, being more earnest, he went to you of his own accord.
18 Tumemtuma pamoja naye ndugu ambaye anasifiwa miongoni mwa makanisa kwa ajili ya kazi yake katika kutangaza injili.
And we have sent with him the brother whose praise in the gospel is in all the churches;
19 Si hivi tu, lakini pia alichaguliwa na makanisa kusafiri nasisi katika kulibeba sehemu mbalimbali tendo hili la ukarimu. Hii ni kwa utukufu wa Bwana mwenyewe na kwa shauku yetu ya kusaidia.
and who, moreover, was chosen by the churches as our fellow-traveler with this gift, which is to be distributed by us to the glory of the Lord himself, and as a declaration of your readiness of mind;
20 Tunaepuka uwezekano kwamba yeyote napaswa kulalamika kuhusiana na sisi kuhusiana na ukarimu huu ambao tunaubeba.
being careful for this―that no one shall blame us in this abundance, which is ministered by us;
21 Tunachukua uangalifu kufanya kilicho cha heshima, sio tu mbele za Bwana, lakini pia mbele za watu.
for we provide what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
22 Pia tunamtuma ndugu mwingine pamoja nao. Tumempima mara nyingi, na tumemwona ni mwenye shauku for ajili ya kazi nyingi. Hata sasa ana bidii zaidi kwa sababu ya ujasiri mkubwa alionao ndani yenu.
And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have often proved to be diligent in many things, but now much more diligent on account of the strong confidence which he has in you.
23 Kwa habari ya Tito, yeye ni mshirika mwenza wangu na mtendakazi mwenzangu kwa ajili yenu. Kama kwa ndugu zetu, wanatumwa na makanisa. Ni waheshima kwa Kristo.
If it is necessary to speak of Titus, he is my partner and fellow-worker for you; if our brethren are spoken of, they are the apostles of the churches, the glory of Christ.
24 Hivyo, waonesheni upendo wenu, na muoneshe kwa makanisa sababu ya majivuno yetu kwa ajili yenu.
Therefore, give to them, in the presence of the churches, a proof of your love, and of our boasting of you.
