2 Wakorintho 8
1 Tunawataka ninyi mjue, kaka na dada, kuhusu neema ya Mungu ambayo imetolewa kwa makanisa ya Makedonia.
Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on 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 in a great trial of affliction, the abundance of their 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 to [their] power, I bear testimony, and even beyond [their] power, [they were] willing of themselves;
4 Na kwa hiari yao wenyewe kwa kutusihi kwingi, walituomba kwa ajili ya kushiriki katika huduma hii kwa waumini.
Praying us with much entreaty, that we would receive the gift, and [take upon us] the fellowship of 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 [this they did], not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us by 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 desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace 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.
Therefore, as ye abound in every [thing], [in] faith and utterance, and knowledge, and [in] all diligence, and [in] your love to us, [see] that ye abound in this grace 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 speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness 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 ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
10 Katika jambo hili nitawapa ushauri ambao utawasaidia. Mwaka mmoja uliopita, hamkuanza tuu kufanya jambo. Lakini mlitamani kulifanya.
And in this I give [my] advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward 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 finish the doing [of it]; that as [there was] a readiness to will, so [there may be] a performance also out of that which ye 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 first a willing mind, [it is] accepted according to what a man hath, [and] not according to what he hath 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 mean] not that other men should be eased, and you burdened:
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.
But by an equality, [that] now at this time your abundance [may be a supply] for their want, that their abundance also may be [a supply] for your want: 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 [had gathered] much had nothing over; and he that [had gathered] little had no want.
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 into the heart of Titus for you.
17 Kwa kuwa si tu alipokea maombi yetu, bali pia alikuwa na bidii kuhusiana na maombi hayo. Alikuja kwenu kwa hiari yake mwenyewe.
For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went to you.
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 [is] in the gospel throughout 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 not [that] only, but who was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and [declaration of] your ready mind:
20 Tunaepuka uwezekano kwamba yeyote napaswa kulalamika kuhusiana na sisi kuhusiana na ukarimu huu ambao tunaubeba.
Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:
21 Tunachukua uangalifu kufanya kilicho cha heshima, sio tu mbele za Bwana, lakini pia mbele za watu.
Providing for honest things, 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, upon the great confidence which [I have] 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 [any inquire] concerning Titus, [he is] my partner and fellow-helper concerning you: or our brethren [be inquired of], [they are] the messengers of the churches, [and] the glory of Christ.
24 Hivyo, waonesheni upendo wenu, na muoneshe kwa makanisa sababu ya majivuno yetu kwa ajili yenu.
Wherefore show ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.
