Warumi 11
1 Basi nasema, je, Mungu aliwakataa watu wake? Hata kidogo. Kwa kuwa mimi pia ni Mwiisraeli, wa ukoo wa Abrahamu, wa kabila la Benyamini.
I say then, Hath God cast away his people? By no means. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, [of] the tribe of Benjamin.
2 Mungu hakuwakataa watu wake, aliowajua tangu mwanzo. Je hamjui andiko linasema nini kuhusu Eliya, jinsi alivyomsihi Mungu juu ya Israeli?
God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Know ye not what the scripture saith of Elijah? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,
3 “Bwana, wamewaua manabii wako, nao wamebomoa madhabahu zako. Mimi peke yangu nimesalia, nao wanatafuta uhai wangu.”
Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thy altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
4 Lakini jibu la Mungu lasema nini kwako? “Nimetunza kwa ajili yangu watu elfu saba ambao hawampigii magoti Baali.”
But what saith the answer of God to him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal.
5 Hata hivyo, wakati huu wa sasa pia kuna walio salia kwa sababu ya uchaguzi wa neema.
Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
6 Lakini ikiwa ni kwa neema, si tena kwa matendo. Vinginevyo neema haitakuwa tena neema.
And if by grace, then [is it] no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
7 Ni nini basi? Jambo ambalo Israeli alikuwa akitafuta, hakukipata, bali wateule walikipata, na wengine walitiwa uzito.
What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
8 Ni kama ilivyoandikwa: “Mungu amewapa roho ya ubutu, macho ili wasione, na masikio ili wasisikie, mpaka leo hii.”
(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear; ) to this day.
9 Naye Daudi anasema, “Acha meza zao na ziwe wavu, mtego, sehemu ya kujikwaa, na kulipiza kisasi dhidi yao.
And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling-block, and a recompense to them:
10 Acha macho yao yatiwe giza ili wasiweze kuona. Ukawainamishe migongo yao daima.”
Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back always.
11 Basi nasema, “Je, wamejikwaa hata kuanguka?” Isiwe hivyo kamwe. Badala yake, kwa kushindwa kwao, wokovu umefika kwa Mataifa, ili wao wenyewe watiwe wivu.
I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? By no means: but [rather] through their fall salvation [is come] to the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy.
12 Sasa ikiwa kushindwa kwao ni utajiri wa ulimwengu, na kama hasara yao ni utajiri wa mataifa, ni kiasi gani zaidi itakuwa kukamilika kwao?
Now if the fall of them [be] the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fullness?
13 Na sasa naongea nanyi watu wa Mataifa. Kwa kuwa nimekuwa mtume kwa watu wa Mataifa mengine, najivunia huduma yangu.
For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify my office:
14 Labda nitawatia wivu walio mwili mmoja na mimi. Labda tutawaokoa baadhi yao.
If by any means I may incite to emulation [them who are] my flesh, and may save some of them.
15 Maana ikiwa kukataliwa kwao ni maridhiano ya dunia, kupokelewa kwao kutakuwaje ila uhai toka kwa wafu?
For if the rejection of them [be] the reconciling of the world, what [shall] the receiving [of them be], but life from the dead?
16 Kama matunda ya kwanza ni akiba, ndivyo ilivyo kwa donge la unga. Kama mzizi ni akiba, matawi nayo kadhalika.
For if the first fruit [is] holy, the lump [is] also [holy]: and if the root [is] holy, so [are] the branches.
17 Lakini kama baadhi ya matawi yamekatwa, kama wewe, tawi pori la mzeituni, ulipandikizwa kati yao, na kama ulishiriki pamoja nao katika mizizi ya utajiri wa mzeituni,
And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive-tree, art ingrafted among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive-tree;
18 usijisifu juu ya matawi. Lakini kama unajisifu, si wewe ambaye unaisaidia mizizi, bali mizizi inakusaidia wewe.
Boast not against the branches. But if thou boastest, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
19 Basi utasema, “Matawi yalikatwa ili nipate kupandikizwa katika shina.”
Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be ingrafted.
20 Hiyo ni kweli. Kwa sababu ya kutoamini kwao walikatwa, lakini wewe ulisimama imara kwa sababu ya imani yako. Usijifikirie mwenyewe kwa hali ya juu sana, bali ogopa.
Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear:
21 Kwa maana ikiwa Mungu hakuyaachia matawi ya asili, hatakuhurumia wewe pia.
For if God spared not the natural branches, [take heed] lest he also spare not thee.
22 Angalia, basi, matendo mema na ukali wa Mungu. Kwa upande mmoja, ukali ulikuja juu ya Wayahudi ambao walianguka. Lakini kwa upande mwingine, wema wa Mungu huja juu yako, kama utadumu katika wema wake. Vinginevyo wewe pia utakatiliwa mbali.
Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them who fell, severity; but towards thee, goodness, if thou shalt continue in [his] goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
23 Na pia, kama hawataendelea katika kutoamini kwao, watapandikizwa tena. Maana Mungu anao uwezo wa kuwapandikiza tena.
And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be ingrafted: for God is able to ingraft them again.
24 Kwa maana ikiwa ninyi mlikatwa nje kwa ulio kwa asili mzeituni mwitu, na kinyume cha asili mlipandikizwa katika mzeituni ulio mwema, si zaidi sana hawa Wayahudi, ambao ni kama matawi ya asili kuweza kupandikizwa tena ndani ya mzeituni wao wenyewe?
For if thou wast cut out of the olive-tree which is wild by nature, and wast ingrafted contrary to nature into a good olive-tree; how much more shall these, which are the natural [branches], be grafted into their own olive-tree?
25 Kwa maana ndugu sitaki msijue, kuhusiana na siri hii, ili kwamba msiwe na hekima katika kufikiri kwenu wenyewe. Siri hii ni kwamba ugumu umetokea katika Israeli, hadi kukamilika kwa mataifa kutakapokuja.
For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, (lest ye should be wise in your own conceits) that blindness in part hath happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles shall be come in.
26 Hivyo Israeli wote wataokoka, kama ilivyoandikwa: “Kutoka Sayuni atakuja Mkombozi. Atauondoa uovu kutoka kwa Yakobo.
And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
27 Na hili litakuwa agano langu pamoja nao, wakati nitakapoziondoa dhambi zao.”
For this [is] my covenant to them, when I shall take away their sins.
28 Kwa upande mmoja kuhusu injili, wanachukiwa kwa sababu yenu. Kwa upande mwingine kutokana na uchaguzi wa Mungu, wamependwa kwa sababu ya mababu.
As concerning the gospel, [they are] enemies for your sakes: but as concerning the election, [they are] beloved for the father's sakes.
29 Kwa kuwa zawadi na wito wa Mungu haubadiliki.
For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance.
30 Kwa kuwa awali ninyi mlikuwa mmemwasi Mungu, lakini sasa mmeipokea rehema kwa sababu ya kuasi kwao.
For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief;
31 Kwa njia iyo hiyo, sasa hawa Wayahudi wameasi. Matokeo yake ni kwamba kutokana na huruma mliyojaliwa ninyi wanaweza pia kupokea rehema.
Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. (eleēsē g1653)
33 Jinsi zilivyo kuu utajiri na hekima na maarifa ya Mungu! Hazichunguziki hukumu zake, na njia zake hazigunduliki!
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable [are] his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
34 “Maana ni nani aliyeijua nia ya Bwana? Au ni nani amekuwa mshauri wake?
For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counselor?
35 Au ni nani kwanza aliyempa kitu Mungu, ili alipwe tena?”
Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed to him again?
