1 Petro 2
1 Basi, acheni uovu wote; uongo, unafiki, wivu na maneno ya kashfa visiweko tena.
So then, laying aside all malignity—even all deceit and play-actings and envies, yes all malicious speaking—
2 Kama vile watoto wachanga wanavyotamani maziwa, nanyi pia mnapaswa kuwa na hamu ya maziwa halisi ya kiroho, ili kwa nguvu yake mpate kukua na kukombolewa.
crave the pure spiritual ‘milk’, like newborn babies do, so that by it you may grow into salvation,
3 Kama yasemavyo Maandiko Matakatifu: “Mmegundua kwamba Bwana ni mwema.”
if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is benevolent.
4 Basi, mwendeeni Bwana! Yeye ndiye jiwe hai lililokataliwa na watu; lakini mbele ya Mungu ni jiwe teule, na la thamani kubwa.
Coming to Him, a living stone—rejected indeed by men but chosen by God, precious—
5 Mwendeeni yeye kama mawe hai mkajengeke na kuwa nyumba ya kiroho, ambamo mtatumikia kama makuhani watakatifu, kutolea dhabihu za kiroho zenye kumpendeza Mungu kwa njia ya Yesu Kristo.
you also, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6 Maana Maandiko Matakatifu yasema: “Tazama! Naweka huko sioni jiwe kuu la msingi, jiwe la thamani kubwa nililoliteua. Mtu atakayemwamini yeye aliye hilo jiwe, hataaibishwa.”
That is why the Scripture contains: “Attention, I am laying in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen, precious, and the one who rests his trust upon Him will absolutely not be humiliated.”
7 Kwenu ninyi mnaoamini, jiwe hilo ni la thamani kubwa; lakini kwa wale wasioamini, “Jiwe walilokataa waashi, sasa limekuwa jiwe kuu la msingi.”
So then, this recompense is for you who believe, but to those who disobey, “the stone that the builders rejected is just the one that became the chief cornerstone,”
8 Tena Maandiko yasema: “Jiwe hilo ni jiwe la kujikwaa, mwamba wa kuwaangusha watu.” Watu hujikwaa kwa sababu hawauamini ule ujumbe; na ndivyo walivyopangiwa tangu mwanzo.
also “a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense”; being disobedient to the Word, they stumble, to which, indeed, they were appointed.
9 Lakini ninyi ni ukoo mteule, makuhani wa Mfalme, taifa takatifu; watu wake Mungu mwenyewe, mlioteuliwa kutangaza matendo makuu ya Mungu aliyewaiteni kutoka gizani akawaingizeni katika mwanga wake mkuu.
But you are a chosen family, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a private-property people, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
10 Wakati mmoja ninyi hamkuwa watu wa Mungu, lakini sasa ninyi ni watu wake; wakati mmoja hamkupewa huruma ya Mungu, lakini sasa mmeipokea.
who formerly were not a people but now are God's people, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
11 Wapenzi wangu, nawasihi ninyi kama wageni na wakimbizi hapa duniani! Achaneni na tamaa za mwili ambazo hupingana na roho.
Dear ones, I urge you to abstain from the lusts of the flesh, that war against the soul,
12 Mwenendo wenu kati ya watu wasiomjua Mungu unapaswa kuwa mwema kabisa, ili hata watakapowasingizieni kwamba mnatenda mabaya, waweze kutambua matendo yenu mema na hivyo wamtukuze Mungu Siku ya kuja kwake.
keeping your way of life among the nations praiseworthy (you being foreigners and sojourners), so that wherein they speak against you as evildoers, in spite of the praiseworthy deeds they have observed, they may glorify God in the day of visitation.
13 Basi, jiwekeni chini ya mamlaka yote ya kibinadamu, kwa ajili ya Bwana: utii kwa mfalme aliye mtawala mkuu,
Therefore subordinate yourselves to every human institution because of the Lord, whether to a king, as being in authority,
14 utii kwa wakuu wa mikoa ambao wameteuliwa naye kuwaadhibu wahalifu na kuwasifu watendao mema.
or to governors, as being sent by him, both for punishment of evildoers and for praise of good-doers.
15 Maana Mungu anataka mweze kuyakomesha maneno ya kijinga ya watu wasio na akili kwa matendo mema mnayofanya.
Because such is the will of God, to silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good:
16 Ishini kama watu huru; lakini msiutumie uhuru wenu kuuficha ubaya, bali ishini kama watumishi wa Mungu.
as free (not using the freedom as a cover for evil), yet as slaves of God.
17 Waheshimuni watu wote, wapendeni ndugu zenu waumini, mcheni Mungu, mheshimuni mfalme.
Respect everyone; love the brotherhood; fear God; honor the king.
18 Enyi watumishi wa nyumbani, watiini wakuu wenu kwa heshima yote, wawe wema na wapole au wenye kuchukiza.
Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unscrupulous.
19 Maana kama mnavumilia maumivu ya mateso msiyostahili kwa sababu mwajua kwamba Mungu anataka hivyo, basi Mungu atawafadhili.
For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God someone endures grief, suffering unjustly.
20 Maana, mtapata tuzo gani mkivumilia mapigo mnayostahili kwa sababu ya makosa yenu? Lakini kama mnavumilia mateso hata ingawa mmetenda mema, Mungu atawapeni baraka kwa ajili hiyo.
For what credit is it if upon sinning and being beaten you endure patiently? But if upon doing good and suffering you endure patiently, this is commendable before God.
21 Hayo ndiyo mliyoitiwa; maana Kristo mwenyewe aliteseka kwa ajili yenu, akawaachieni mfano, ili muufuate mwenendo wake.
Now you have been called to this, really, because Christ also suffered in our behalf, leaving you an example that you should follow in His footsteps:
22 Yeye hakutenda dhambi, wala neno la udanganyifu halikusikika mdomoni mwake.
who did not commit sin, neither was deceit found in His mouth;
23 Alipotukanwa yeye hakujibu kwa tukano; alipoteseka yeye hakutoa vitisho, bali aliyaweka matumaini yake kwa Mungu, hakimu mwenye haki.
who being reviled did not revile in return, suffering did not threaten but committed it to Him who judges righteously;
24 Yeye mwenyewe alizibeba dhambi zetu katika mwili wake juu ya msalaba, tupate kufa kuhusu dhambi, na kuishi kwa ajili ya uadilifu. Kwa majeraha yake, ninyi mmeponywa.
who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, so that we, having died to those sins, might live for the righteousness; by whose wound you were healed.
25 Ninyi mlikuwa kama kondoo waliokuwa wamepotea; lakini sasa mmemrudia Mchungaji na Mlinzi wa roho zenu.
Yes, you were like straying sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls.
