Waefeso 2
1 Kama vile mlivyo kuwa mmekufa katika makosa na dhambi zenu.
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
2 Ilikuwa katika haya kwamba kwanza mlienenda kulingana na nyakati za ulimwengu huu. Mlikuwa mkienenda kwa kufuata mtawala wa mamlaka ya anga. Hii ndiyo roho yake yule afanyaye kazi katika wana wa kuasi. (aiōn g165)
in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience. (aiōn g165)
3 Sisi wote hapo mwanzo tulikuwa miongoni mwa hawa wasioamini. Tulikuwa tukitenda kwa namna ya tamaa mbaya za miili yetu. Tulikuwa tukifanya mapenzi ya mwili na ufahamu wetu. Tulikuwa kwa asili wana wa ghadhabu kama wengine.
All of us also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath.
4 Lakini Mungu ni mwingi wa rehema kwa sababu ya pendo lake kubwa alilotupenda sisi.
But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
5 Wakati tulipokuwa wafu katika makosa yetu, alituleta pamoja katika maisha mapya ndani ya Kristo. Ni kwa neema kwamba mmeokolewa.
made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved!
6 Mungu alitufufua pamoja na kutufanya kukaa pamoja katika mahali pa mbingu ndani ya Kristo Yesu.
And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
7 Alifanya hivi ili katika nyakati zijazo aweze kutuonesha utajiri mkuu wa neema yake. Hutuonesha sisi hili kwa njia ya wema wake ndani ya Kristo Yesu. (aiōn g165)
in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. (aiōn g165)
8 Kwa neema mmeokolewa kwa njia ya imani. Na hii haikutoka kwetu. Ni zawadi ya Mungu.
For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9 Haitokani na matendo. Matokeo yake, asiwepo mmoja wapo wa kujisifu.
not by works, so that no one can boast.
10 Kwa sababu sisi tu kazi ya Mungu, tumeumbwa katika Kristo Yesu kutenda matendo mema. Ni matendo haya ambayo Mungu aliyapanga tangu zamani za kale kwa ajili yetu, ili tutembee katika hayo.
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.
11 Kwa hiyo kumbukeni kwamba hapo zamani mlikuwa watu wa Mataifa kwa jinsi ya mwili. Mnaitwa “msio na tohara” kwa kile kinachoitwa tohara ya mwili inayofanywa kwa mikono ya binadamu.
Therefore remember that formerly you who are Gentiles in the flesh and called uncircumcised by the so-called circumcision (that done in the body by human hands)—
12 Kwa wakati huo mlikuwa mmetengwa na Kristo. Mlikuwa wageni kwa watu wa Israel. Mlikuwa wageni kwa agano la ahadi. Hamkuwa na uhakika wa wakati ujao. Mlikuwa bila Mungu katika ulimwengiu.
remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.
13 Lakini sasa katika Kristo Yesu ninyi ambao hapo mwanzo mlikuwa mbali na Mungu mmeletwa karibu na Mungu kwa damu ya Kristo.
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
14 Kwa maana yeye ndiye amani yetu. Alifanya wawili kuwa mmoja. Kwa mwili wake aliuharibu ukuta wa utengano ambao ulikuwa umetutenganisha, huo uadui.
For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility
15 Kwamba alikomesha sheria ya amri na kanuni ili kwamba aumbe mtu mmoja mpya ndani yake. Akafanya amani.
by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees. He did this to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace
16 Alifanya hivi ili kuwapatanisha makundi mawili ya watu kuwa mwili mmoja kwa Mungu kupitia msalaba. Kwa njia ya msalaba aliufisha uadui.
and reconciling both of them to God in one body through the cross, by which He extinguished their hostility.
17 Yesu alikuja na kutangaza amani kwenu ninyi mliokuwa mbali na amani kwao wale waliokuwa karibu.
He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.
18 Kwa maana kwa njia ya Yesu sisi wote wawili tuna nafasi kwa yule Roho mmoja kuingia kwa Baba.
For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
19 Hivyo basi, ninyi watu wa mataifa si wasafiri na wageni tena. Bali ni wenyeji pamoja na wale waliotengwa kwa ajili ya Mungu na wajumbe katika nyumba ya Mungu.
Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household,
20 Mmejengwa juu ya msingi wa mitume na manabii. Kristo Yesu mwenyewe alikuwa jiwe kuu la pembeni.
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.
21 Katika yeye jengo lote limeungamanishwa pamoja na kukua kama hekalu ndani ya Bwana.
In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
22 Ni ndani yake ninyi nanyi mnajengwa pamoja kama mahali pa kuishi pa Mungu katika Roho.
And in Him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God in His Spirit.
