Waefeso 2
1 Kama vile mlivyo kuwa mmekufa katika makosa na dhambi zenu.
Formerly, because you were habitually sinning [DOU], you were ([spiritually] dead/[as unable to please God as a] corpse [MET] is).
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)
You were acting in the same [evil] way as those who oppose Christ [MTY] act. That is, you were behaving in the [evil] ways [that Satan wanted you to behave]. He rules over evil spiritual beings that no person can see [MTY]. He is the spirit who now powerfully controls the people who disobey God. (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.
Formerly, we all used to disobey God as they do. We did the things that our self-centered nature wanted us to do. We habitually did those [evil] deeds that our bodies and our minds wanted to do. When we were acting like that, it was certain that [God] would punish [MTY] us, just like he will certainly punish all other [evil people].
4 Lakini Mungu ni mwingi wa rehema kwa sababu ya pendo lake kubwa alilotupenda sisi.
But God always acts very mercifully, and he loves us very much.
5 Wakati tulipokuwa wafu katika makosa yetu, alituleta pamoja katika maisha mapya ndani ya Kristo. Ni kwa neema kwamba mmeokolewa.
As a result, even when we were ([spiritually] dead/[as unable to please God as] a corpse [MET] is) because we were habitually sinning, he enabled us to receive [spiritual]/[eternal] life because of our relationship with Christ. [Do not forget this: It is only] because God has acted so kindly toward you, in a way that you did not deserve, that you are saved {that [he] saved you} [from the guilt of your sin]
6 Mungu alitufufua pamoja na kutufanya kukaa pamoja katika mahali pa mbingu ndani ya Kristo Yesu.
And [it is as though] God gave us spiritual life when he caused Christ Jesus to be alive again after he died [MET]. And [it is as though] God caused us to sit [and rule] [MTY] with him in heaven,
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 he might show to everyone at all times in the future that he has acted toward us in an extremely kind way because of what Christ Jesus [did for us]. (aiōn g165)
8 Kwa neema mmeokolewa kwa njia ya imani. Na hii haikutoka kwetu. Ni zawadi ya Mungu.
It is [only] by [God] acting [PRS] [toward you] in a way that you did not deserve that you have been saved {that he has saved you} as a result of your trusting [in Christ]. You did not save yourselves. His saving you was his gift to you.
9 Haitokani na matendo. Matokeo yake, asiwepo mmoja wapo wa kujisifu.
He did not save any of you because of anything you yourselves did. Because you have done nothing [to save yourselves], you cannot be proud of your efforts to save yourselves.
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.
It is God who has made us what we are now. Because of our relationship with Christ Jesus, he has enabled us to receive [spiritual/eternal] life in order that we should conduct our lives habitually doing the good deeds that God previously planned for us to do.
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.
You [Ephesians] have been non-Jews from the time that you were born. The Jews ([insult you/say that you are not God’s people]) [by] calling you ‘those who are not circumcised’. They [proudly] call themselves ‘we [(exc)] who are circumcised’. [They have allowed people to] circumcise [them to indicate that they are God’s people, but] that has [only] changed their bodies, [not their] ([inner beings/hearts]).
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.
You should constantly remember these things: Formerly you did not have any relationship with Christ. You did not belong to the people of Israel, [the people whom God chose]. You did not know about the things God promised in his agreements [with his people]. You did not confidently expect to go to heaven after you die (OR, [that God would save you]). You [lived] in this world without knowing God.
13 Lakini sasa katika Kristo Yesu ninyi ambao hapo mwanzo mlikuwa mbali na Mungu mmeletwa karibu na Mungu kwa damu ya Kristo.
But now, because of your relationship with Christ Jesus, God has brought you, who had no relationship with him [MET], into his family [MET]. He did that because [you trusted in what Christ accomplished when] his blood [MTY] [flowed from his body when he died on the cross].
14 Kwa maana yeye ndiye amani yetu. Alifanya wawili kuwa mmoja. Kwa mwili wake aliuharibu ukuta wa utengano ambao ulikuwa umetutenganisha, huo uadui.
Christ himself [has caused us Jewish and non-Jewish believers] to have peace [with each other]. He has made both [of our groups] to become one [group]. [Just like people] (tear down/demolish) a wall that separates [groups of people] [MET], he has destroyed the hatred [between Jews and non-Jews].
15 Kwamba alikomesha sheria ya amri na kanuni ili kwamba aumbe mtu mmoja mpya ndani yake. Akafanya amani.
By dying [MTY] [for us on the cross] he made it no longer [necessary for us to obey] all the [Jewish] laws and rituals [in order to be saved]. He did that in order to enable the two [groups] to become one new group because of our relationship with him. The result was that he has caused us to have peace [with each other].
16 Alifanya hivi ili kuwapatanisha makundi mawili ya watu kuwa mwili mmoja kwa Mungu kupitia msalaba. Kwa njia ya msalaba aliufisha uadui.
By [dying on] the cross [MTY] he caused both Jews and non-Jews to have a peaceful relationship with God. That is how he caused us to no longer be [MET] enemies [with God] (OR, [with each other]).
17 Yesu alikuja na kutangaza amani kwenu ninyi mliokuwa mbali na amani kwao wale waliokuwa karibu.
He came [to earth] and proclaimed that you [non-Jews], who did not have a relationship with [MET] [God], and [us(exc) Jews], who [considered that we(exc) belonged to] [MET] God’s [family], can [all] now have peace [with God].
18 Kwa maana kwa njia ya Yesu sisi wote wawili tuna nafasi kwa yule Roho mmoja kuingia kwa Baba.
[We know that he has done that] because we both, [Jews and non-Jews], are [now] able to approach God the Father in prayer by the help of his Spirit, because of what Christ [has done].
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.
So [God no longer treats] you [non-Jews] as [people treat] [MET] foreigners and strangers [who live among them] [MET]. Instead, along with all God’s people, [it is as though] you have become citizens of a country that he rules over, and [as though you have become] members of the family [of which he is the father] [MET].
20 Mmejengwa juu ya msingi wa mitume na manabii. Kristo Yesu mwenyewe alikuwa jiwe kuu la pembeni.
[Just like] a building is built {[as someone] builds a building} on a foundation, [God has joined you into one group that originated/began] from what the apostles and prophets [taught]. Christ Jesus is the [most important one in that group, just like a] cornerstone [is the most important part of a building]. And
21 Katika yeye jengo lote limeungamanishwa pamoja na kukua kama hekalu ndani ya Bwana.
just like [a builder might] join together all the parts of a building to make it a temple that [people will] dedicate to the Lord [MET], [Christ is continually causing all of] you who have a relationship with [him to be united, in order that you will become one holy group].
22 Ni ndani yake ninyi nanyi mnajengwa pamoja kama mahali pa kuishi pa Mungu katika Roho.
And because of your relationship with Christ, [God] is joining you [non-Jews] together with [Jewish believers] to be [like] one building [MET] in which his Spirit lives.
