Waefeso 3
1 Kwa sababu ya hii mimi, Paulo, ni mfungwa wa Yesu Kristo kwa ajili yenu Mataifa.
For this reason I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles--
2 Na amini ya kwamba mmesikia juu ya kazi ya neema ya Mungu aliyo nipa kwa ajili yenu.
if, that is, you have heard of the work which God has graciously entrusted to me for your benefit,
3 Nawaandikieni kutokana na jinsi ufunuo ulivyo funuliwa kwangu. Huu ni ukweli uliyofichika ambao niliandika kwa kifupi kwenye barua nyingine.
and that by a revelation the truth hitherto kept secret was made known to me as I have already briefly explained it to you.
4 Usomapo kuhusu haya, utaweza kutambua busara yangu katika ukweli huu uliofichika kuhusu Kristo.
By means of that explanation, as you read it, you can judge of my insight into the truth of Christ
5 Kwa vizazi vingine ukweli huu haukufanywa utambulike kwa wana wa watu. Ila kwa sasa umewekwa wazi kwa Roho kwa Mitume waliotengwa na Manabii.
which in earlier ages was not made known to the human race, as it has now been revealed to His holy Apostles and Prophets through the Spirit--
6 Ukweli huu uliofichika ni kwamba watu wa Mataifa ni washiriki wenzetu na wajumbe wenzetu wa mwili. Niwashiriki pamoja na ahadi ya Kristo Yesu kupitia injili.
I mean the truth that the Gentiles are joint heirs with us Jews, and that they form one body with us, and have the same interest as we have in the promise which has been made good in Christ Jesus through the Good News,
7 Na kwa hili nimefanyika mtumishi kwa zawadi ya neema ya Mungu iliyotolewa kwangu kupitia utendaji wa nguvu yake.
in which I have been appointed to serve, in virtue of the work which God, in the exercise of His power within me, has graciously entrusted to me.
8 Mungu alitoa zawadi hii kwangu, japo kuwa mimi ni mtu mdogo wa wote katika wale waliotengwa kwa ajili ya Mungu. Zawadi hii ni kwamba inanipasa kuwatangazia mataifa injili yenye utajiri usiochunguzika wa Kristo.
To me who am less than the least of all God's people has this work been graciously entrusted--to proclaim to the Gentiles the Good News of the exhaustless wealth of Christ,
9 inanipasa kuwaangazia watu wote juu ya nini ni mpango wa Mungu wa siri. Huu ni mpango ambao ulikuwa umefichwa kwa miaka mingi iliyopita, na Mungu ambaye aliviumba vitu vyote. (aiōn g165)
and to show all men in a clear light what my stewardship is. It is the stewardship of the truth which from all the Ages lay concealed in the mind of God, the Creator of all things-- (aiōn g165)
10 Hii ilikuwa kwamba, kupitia Kanisa, watawala na mamlaka katika sehemu za mbingu wapate kujua pande nyingi za asili ya hekima ya Mungu.
concealed in order that the Church might now be used to display to the powers and authorities in the heavenly realms the innumerable aspects of God's wisdom.
11 Haya yangetokea kupitia mpango wa milele ambao aliukamilisha ndani ya Kristo Yesu Bwana wetu. (aiōn g165)
Such was the eternal purpose which He had formed in Christ Jesus our Lord, (aiōn g165)
12 Kwa kuwa katika Kristo tuna ujasiri na uwezo wa kuingia kwa ujasiri kwa sababu ya imani yetu kwake.
in whom we have this bold and confident access through our faith in Him.
13 Kwa hiyo nawaomba msikate tamaa kwasababu ya mateso yangu kwa ajili yenu. Haya ni utukufu wenu.
Therefore I entreat you not to lose heart in the midst of my sufferings on your behalf, for they bring you honour.
14 Kwa sababu hii napiga magoti kwa Baba.
For this reason, on bended knee I beseech the Father,
15 ambaye kwa yeye kila familia mbinguni na juu ya nchi imeitwa jina.
from whom the whole family in Heaven and on earth derives its name,
16 Ninaomba kwamba apate kuwanemesha, kutokana na utajiri wa utukufu wake, awafanye imara kwa nguvu kupitia Roho wake, ambaye yu ndani yenu.
to grant you--in accordance with the wealth of His glorious perfections--to be strengthened by His Spirit with power penetrating to your inmost being.
17 Ninaomba kwamba Kristo aishi ndani ya mioyo yenu kupitia imani.
I pray that Christ may make His home in your hearts through your faith; so that having your roots deep and your foundations strong, in love, you may become mighty to grasp the idea,
18 Ninaomba kwamba muwe na shina na msingi wa upendo wake. Muwe katika pendo lake ili muweze kuelewa, pamoja na wote waaminio, jinsi upana, na urefu na kimo na kina cha upendo wa Kristo.
as it is grasped by all God's people, of the breadth and length, the height and depth--
19 Ninaomba Kwamba mjue ukuu wa upendo wa Kristo, ambao unazidi ufahamu. Mfanye haya ili mjazwe na ukamilifu wote wa Mungu.
yes, to attain to a knowledge of the knowledge-surpassing love of Christ, so that you may be made complete in accordance with God's own standard of completeness.
20 Na sasa kwake yeye awezaye kufanya kila jambo, zaidi ya yote tuyaombayo au tuyawazayo, kupitia nguvu yake itendayo kazi ndani yetu,
Now to Him who, in exercise of His power that is at work within us, is able to do infinitely beyond all our highest prayers or thoughts--
