1 Petro 5
1 wazee! Mimi niliye mzee ninalo ombi moja kwenu wazee wenzangu. Mimi mwenyewe nilishuhudia kwa macho yangu mateso ya Kristo na natumaini kuushiriki ule utukufu utakaofunuliwa. Mimi nawaombeni
[Now I will say this to those among] you who are elders in the congregations: I also am an elder. I am one [of those] who saw Christ when he suffered, and I am also one who will share some of the glory/greatness that Christ has in heaven.
2 mlichunge lile kundi la Mungu mlilokabidhiwa, mlitunze si kwa kulazimika, bali kwa hiari kama atakavyo Mungu. Fanyeni kazi hiyo si kwa tamaa ya fedha, bali kwa moyo wenu wote.
[I appeal to you elders] to take care of the people who are in your [congregations] [MET] as shepherds [take care of their] flocks of sheep. Do this, not because you must do it, but instead do it willingly, as God desires. Do not be greedy to get a lot [of money for doing it], but instead do it enthusiastically/wholeheartedly.
3 Msiwatawale kwa mabavu hao waliowekwa chini ya ulinzi wenu, bali muwe mfano kwa hilo kundi.
Do not act like domineering [bosses over] the people [MET] whom God has assigned/entrusted to you, but instead be examples to them by the way in which you conduct your lives.
4 Na wakati Mchungaji Mkuu atakapotokea, ninyi mtapokea taji ya utukufu isiyofifia.
[If you do that], when Jesus, who is [like] our chief shepherd [MET], appears, he will give each of you a [glorious/wonderful reward] [MET]. [That reward will be like] the wreaths [that are given to victorious athletes], but your reward will never wither [like wreaths do].
5 Kadhalika nanyi vijana mnapaswa kujiweka chini ya mamlaka ya wazee. Ninyi nyote mnapaswa kuwa na unyenyekevu mpate kutumikiana; maana Maandiko Matakatifu yasema: “Mungu huwapinga wenye majivuno, lakini huwajalia neema wanyenyekevu.”
[Now I will say this to] you young men [and women]: [Just like married men and women are] ([to be subject/to submit themselves]) [to their spouses], you must (be subject/submit yourselves) (to the older men/to the leaders) [of the congregation]. And all of you [believers] should act [MET] humbly toward each other, because this proverb is true: God opposes people who are proud, but he acts kindly toward those who are humble.
6 Basi, nyenyekeeni chini ya mkono wa enzi wa Mungu, ili awainue wakati ufaao.
Therefore, realizing that God has great power [MTY] [to punish proud people], humble yourselves, in order that he may honor you at the time that [he has determined].
7 Mwekeeni matatizo yenu yote, maana yeye anawatunzeni.
Because he takes care of you, let him take care of all the things that you are worried/concerned about.
8 Muwe macho; kesheni! Maana adui yenu, Ibilisi, huzungukazunguka kama simba angurumaye akitafuta mawindo.
Always be fully alert, because the devil, who is your enemy, is going/sneaking around, looking for people [to destroy]. [He is] like [SIM] a lion who roars as it prowls around, seeking someone to [kill and] devour.
9 Muwe imara katika imani na kumpinga, mkijua kwamba ndugu zenu pote duniani wanapatwa na mateso hayohayo.
You must resist him by continuing to firmly trust in [Christ and his message], remembering that your fellow believers all over the world are experiencing similar sufferings [that the devil is bringing to them].
10 Lakini mkisha teseka muda mfupi, Mungu aliye asili ya neema yote na ambaye anawaiteni muushiriki utukufu wake wa milele katika kuungana na Kristo, yeye mwenyewe atawakamilisheni na kuwapeni uthabiti, nguvu na msingi imara. (aiōnios g166)
God is the one who kindly helps us in every [situation], and [he is the one] who chose us to share his eternal glory/greatness [in heaven] because of our relationship with Christ. [And] after you have suffered for a while [because of things that people do to harm you], he will remove your spiritual defects/imperfections, he will strengthen you [spiritually] [DOU], and he will support you [emotionally]. (aiōnios g166)
[I pray/desire that] he will [rule] powerfully forever. (May it be so!/Amen!) (aiōn g165)
12 Nimewaandikieni barua hii fupi kwa msaada wa Silwano, ndugu ambaye namjua na kumwamini. Nataka kuwapeni moyo na kushuhudia kwamba jambo hili ni neema ya Mungu kweli. Kaeni imara katika neema hiyo.
Silas has written this letter [for me as I have] ([dictated it to him/told him what to write]). I consider/know that he is a faithful fellow believer. I have written this short letter to you to encourage you, and I want to assure you that [what I have written] is a true message about the things that God kindly does for [us, things that we do not deserve]. Continue to firmly believe this message.
13 Jumuiya ya wenzenu walioteuliwa na Mungu hapa Babuloni wanawasalimuni. Vilevile mwanangu Marko anawasalimuni.
In [this city that is sometimes referred to as] ‘Babylon’ [MET], the believers [SYN], whom [God] has chosen [to belong to him] just like he chose you, (send you [(pl)] their greetings/say that they are thinking affectionately about you). Mark, who is [MET] [like] a son to me, also ([sends you his greetings/says that he is thinking affectionately about you]).
14 Salimianeni kwa ishara ya upendo wa Kikristo. Nawatakieni amani ninyi mlio wake Kristo.
Greet each other with a kiss [on the cheek] to [show that] you love [each other]. [I pray that God will give inner] peace to all of you who have a relationship with Christ.
