Warumi 4
1 Tutasema nini tena kwamba Abrahamu, baba yetu kwa jinsi ya mwili, amepatikana?
WHAT then shall we say that Abraham our father hath obtained by the flesh?
2 Kwa maana ikiwa Abrahamu alihesabiwa haki kwa matendo, angekuwa na sababu ya kujisifu, lakini si mbele za Mungu.
For if Abraham was justified by works, he hath cause for glorying; though not before God.
3 Kwani maandiko yanasemaje? “Abrahamu alimwamini Mungu, na ikahesabiwa kwake kuwa haki.”
For what doth the scripture say? Abraham truly believed God, and it was imputed to him for righteousness.
4 Sasa kwa mtu afanyaye kazi, malipo yake hayahesabiwi kuwa ni neema, bali kuwa ni deni.
Now to him that worketh, the reward is not brought to account as a favour, but as a debt.
5 Lakini kwa mtu asiyefanya kazi bali anamwamini yeye ambaye amhesabia haki asiyekuwa mtaua, imani yake mtu huyo imehesabiwa kuwa haki.
But to him who doth not work, but believeth in him who justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reckoned in account for righteousness.
6 Daudi pia hunena baraka juu ya mtu ambaye Mungu amhesabia haki pasipo matendo.
As David also describeth the blessedness of that man, to whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
7 Alisema, “Wamebarikiwa wale ambao maovu yao yamesamehewa na ambao dhambi zao zimefunikwa.
“Blessed are they whose unrighteousnesses are forgiven, and whose sins are covered up.
8 Amebarikiwa mtu yule ambaye Bwana hamhesabii dhambi.”
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will in nowise impute sin.”
9 Basi je baraka hizi ni kwa wale waliotahiriwa tu, au pia kwa wale wasiotahiriwa? Kwa maana twasema, “kwa Abrahamu imani yake ilihesabiwa kuwa ni haki.”
This blessedness then, is it for the circumcision, or for the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was imputed to Abraham for righteousness.
10 Hivyo ilihesabiwaje basi? Wakati Abrahamu alikuwa katika tohara, au kabla hajatahiriwa? Haikuwa katika kutahiriwa, bali katika kutotahiriwa.
How then was it imputed to him? when circumcised, or while uncircumcised? Not when circumcised, but whilst uncircumcised.
11 Abrahamu alipokea alama ya kutahiriwa. Huu ulikuwa muhuri wa ile haki ya imani aliyokuwa nayo tayari kabla hajatahiriwa. Matokeo ya ishara hii ni kwamba alifanyika kuwa baba wa wote waaminio, hata kama wapo katika kutotahiriwa. Hii ina maana kwamba haki itahesabiwa kwao.
And he received the sign of circumcision, as a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had when uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all those who believe, though uncircumcised; that to them also the righteousness might be imputed:
12 Hii pia ilimaanisha kuwa Abrahamu alifanyika baba wa tohara si tu kwa wale wanaotokana na tohara, bali pia wale wanaozifuata nyayo za baba yetu Abrahamu. Na hii ndiyo imani aliyokuwa nayo kwa wasiotahiriwa.
and the father of circumcision, not to those who are of the circumcision merely, but who also tread in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham, which he exercised while uncircumcised.
13 Kwa maana haikuwa kwa sheria kwamba ahadi ilitolewa kwa Abrahamu na uzao wake, ahadi hii ya kwamba watakuwa warithi wa dunia. isipokuwa, ilikuwa kupitia haki ya imani.
For not by the law came the promise to Abraham and his seed, that he should be heir of the world, but by the righteousness of faith.
14 Kwa maana kama wale wa sheria ndio warithi, imani imekuwa bure, na ahadi imebatilika.
For if they who are of the law are heirs, faith becomes vain, and the promise is useless:
15 Kwa sababu sheria huleta ghadhabu, lakini pale ambapo hakuna sheria, pia hakuna kutotii.
for the law causeth wrath: for where there is no law, neither is there transgression.
16 Kwa sababu hii hili hutokea kwa imani, ili iwe kwa neema. Matokeo yake, ahadi ni dhahiri kwa uzao wote. Na wazawa hawa si tu wale wanaojua sheria, bali pia wale ambao ni wa imani ya Abrahamu. Kwa maana yeye ni baba yetu sisi sote,
Therefore it is by faith, that it might be of grace; in order that the promise might be secured to all the seed; not only to that which is of the law, but to that which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
17 kama ilivyoandikwa, “Nimekufanya wewe kuwa baba wa mataifa mengi.” Abrahamu alikuwa katika uwepo wa yule aliyemwamini, yaani, Mungu ambaye huwapa wafu uzima na kuyaita mambo ambayo hayapo ili yaweze kuwepo.
(as it is written “that I have constituted thee father of many nations,”) before God, in whom he trusted, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth things that are not as if existing.
18 Licha ya hali zote za nje, Abrahamu kwa ujasiri alimuamini Mungu kwa siku zijazo. Hivyo akawa baba wa mataifa mengi, kulingana na kile kilichonenwa,”... Ndivyo utakavyokuwa uzao wako.”
Who contrary to hope, in hope believed, that he should be the father of many nations, according to what was said, “So shall thy seed be.”
19 Yeye hakuwa dhaifu katika imani. Abrahamu alikiri kwamba mwili wake mwenyewe ulikwisha kufa - alikuwa na umri wa karibu miaka mia moja. Pia alikubaliana na hali ya kufa ya tumbo la Sara.
And not being weak in faith, he regarded not his own body now deadened, being about an hundred years old, nor the deadness of Sarah’s womb:
20 Lakini kwa sababu ya ahadi ya Mungu, Abrahamu hakusita katika kutokuamini. Bali, alitiwa nguvu katika imani na alimsifu Mungu.
for he disputed not against the promise of God with unbelief; but was mighty in faith, giving glory to God;
21 Alikuwa akijua hakika ya kuwa kile ambacho Mungu ameahidi, alikuwa pia na uwezo wa kukikamilisha.
and enjoyed the fullest assurance, that what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
22 Kwa hiyo hii pia ilihesabiwa kwake kuwa ni haki.
And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
23 Sasa haikuandikwa tu kwa faida yake, kwamba ilihesabiwa kwake.
Now it was not written for his sake only, that it was imputed to him;
24 Iliandikwa kwa ajili yetu pia, kwa waliowekewa kuhesabiwa, sisi ambao tunaamini katika yeye aliyemfufua Bwana wetu Yesu kutoka wafu.
but also for our sakes, to whom it will be imputed, if we believe in him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
25 Huyu ni yule ambaye alitolewa kwa ajili ya makosa yetu na kufufuliwa ili tupate kuhesabiwa haki.
who was delivered up for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
