Wafilipi 1
1 Paulo na Timotheo, watumishi wa Kristo Yesu, Kwa wale walitengwa katika Kristo wanaoishi Filipi, pamoja na waangalizi na mashemasi.
Paul and Timothy, slaves of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:
2 Neema na iwe kwenu na amani itokayo kwa Mungu Baba yetu na Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and Sovereign Jesus Christ.
3 Namshukuru Mungu wangu kila ninapowakumbuka ninyi nyote.
I thank my God every time I remember you;
4 Mara zote katika kila ombi langu kwa ajili yenu ninyi nyote, huwa na furahi ninapowaombea.
in all my prayers for all of you I always pray with joy,
5 Nina shukrani nyingi kwa sababu ya ushirika wenu katika injili tangu siku ya kwanza mpaka leo.
because of your partnership in the Gospel from the first day until now,
6 Nina hakika kuwa yeye aliyeanzisha kazi njema ndani yenu ataendelea kuikamilisha mpaka siku ya Bwana Yesu Kristo.
being certain of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will complete it until the Day of Jesus Christ;
7 Ni sawa kwangu kujisikia hivi juu yenu ninyi nyote kwa sababu nimewaweka moyoni wangu. Maana ninyi mmekuwa washirika wenza katika neema katika kifungo changu na katika utetezi na uthibitishaji wangu wa injili.
just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the Gospel you all are partakers with me of the Grace.
8 Mungu ni shahidi wangu, jinsi nilivyo na shauku juu ya yenu nyote katika undani wa pendo la Kristo Yesu.
God is my witness how I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.
9 Na ninaomba kwamba: upendo wenu uongezeke zaidi na zaidi katika maarifa na ufahamu wote.
This is what I pray: that your love may abound yet more and more in real knowledge and full discernment,
10 Ninaomba kwa ajili ya hili ili muwe na uwezo wa kupima na kuchagua mambo yaliyo bora sana. Pia ninawaombea ili muwe safi pasipokuwa na hatia yoyote katika siku ya Kristo.
for you to identify the things that really matter; that you may be sincere and blameless until the Day of Christ,
11 Na pia ili mjazwe na tunda la haki lipatikanalo katika Yesu Kristo, kwa utukufu na sifa ya Mungu.
having been filled with the fruits of righteousness that are through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
12 Sasa ndugu zangu, nataka mjue kuwa, mambo yaliyotokea kwangu yameifanya injili iendelee sana.
Now I want you to know, brothers, that the events against me have actually turned out for the advancement of the Gospel:
13 Ndiyo maana vifungo vyangu katika Kristo, vimejulikana kwa walinzi wa ikulu yote na kwa kila mtu pia.
as a result, it has become evident to the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that I am in chains for Christ;
14 Na ndugu wengi katika Bwana, kwa sababu ya vifungo vyangu, wameshawishika na kuthubutu kulihubiri Neno pasipo hofu.
also, most of the brothers in Sovereign have been influenced by my chains to be much bolder, to speak the Word fearlessly.
15 Baadhi kweli hata humtangaza Kristo kwa fitina na ugomvi, na pia wengine kwa nia njema.
To be sure, some are even preaching Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of good will;
16 Wale wanaomtangaza Kristo kwa upendo wanajua kuwa nimewekwa hapa kwa ajili ya utetezi wa injili.
the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, thinking to add to my affliction while in chains,
17 Bali wengine wanamtangaza Kristo kwa ubinafsi na nia mbaya. Hudhani kuwa wanasababisha matatizo kwangu katika minyororo yangu.
but the latter out of love, knowing that I am set here for the defense of the Gospel.
18 Kwa hiyo? Sijali, aidha njia ikiwa ni kwa hila au kwa kweli, Kristo anatangazwa, na katika hili ninafurahia! Ndiyo, nitafurahia.
No problem: in every way, be it in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice—yes, and will rejoice.
19 kwa kuwa ninajua ya kuwa hili litaleta kufunguliwa kwangu. Jambo hili litatokea kwa sababu ya maombi yenu na kwa msaada wa Roho wa Yesu Kristo.
You see, I know that this will turn out for my deliverance (through your supplication and the support of the Spirit of Jesus Christ)
20 Kulingana na matarajio yangu ya uhakika na kweli ni kwamba, sitaona aibu. Badala yake, kwa ujasiri wote, kama ambavyo siku zote na sasa, natarajia kuwa Kristo atainuliwa katika mwili wangu, ikiwa katika uzima au katika kifo.
according to my earnest expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame in anything but be truly bold, so that now as always Christ will be glorified in my person, whether by life or by death
21 Kwa maana kwangu mimi, kuishi ni Kristo na kufa ni faida.
—to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
22 Lakini, kama kuishi katika mwili huzaa tunda katika kazi yangu, kwa hiyo sijui ni lipi la kuchagua.
Now if I am to live on in the flesh it will mean fruitful labor for me, so I do not know what to choose.
23 Maana ninasukumwa sana na mawazo haya mawili. Nina hamu ya kuuacha mwili na kuwa pamoja na Kristo, kitu ambacho ni cha thamani sana sana.
I am torn between the two: I have the desire to depart and be with Christ (far better),
24 Ingawa, kubaki katika mwili huu ni jambo la muhimu sana kwa ajili yenu.
but to remain in the flesh is more necessary, because of you.
25 Kwa kuwa nina uhakika juu ya hili, ninajua nitabaki na kuendelea kuwa pamoja nanyi nyote, kwa ajili ya maendeleo na furaha ya imani yenu.
So having been persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith,
26 Na hii italeta furaha yenu kubwa katika Kristo Yesu, kwasababu yangu itaongezeka, kwa sababu ya uwepo wangu tena pamoja nanyi.
so that your rejoicing over me may be more abundant in Christ Jesus, through my coming to you again.
27 Mnatakiwa kuishi maisha yenu katika mwenendo mzuri uipasayo injili ya Kristo. fanyeni hivyo ili nikija kuwaona au nisipokuja, nisikie kuwa mmesimama imara katika roho moja. natamani kusikia kuwa mna roho moja, mkiishindania imani ya injili kwa pamoja.
Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you, or am absent, I may hear about you that you stand firm in one spirit, striving together for the faith of the Gospel with one soul,
28 na msitishwe na kitu chochote kinachofanywa na maadui zenu. Hii kwao ni ishara ya uharibifu. Bali kwenu ni ishara ya wokovu kutoka kwa Mungu.
and not being intimidated in any way by your opponents: to them this is an indicator of ruin, but to you of deliverance, and that from God.
29 kwa maana ninyi mmepewa kwa ajili ya Kristo, si kumwamini tu, bali na kuteswa pia katika Yeye.
For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe into Him, but also to suffer for His sake,
30 kwa maana mna mgogoro uleule kama mliouona kwangu na mnasikia kwamba ninao hata sasa.
having the same struggle that you saw in me and now hear to be in me.
