2 Wakorintho 12
1 Nitajivuna basi, ingawa haifai! Lakini sasa nitasema juu ya maono na ufunuo alivyonijalia Bwana.
It is necessary to boast, though it is not profitable. But I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 Namjua mtu mmoja Mkristo, ambaye miaka kumi na minne iliyopita alinyakuliwa mpaka katika mbingu ya tatu. (Sijui kama alikuwa huko kwa mwili au kwa roho; Mungu ajua.)
I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I do not know, or whether out of the body, I do not know; God knows), such a one was caught up into the third heaven.
3 Narudia: najua kwamba mtu huyo alinyakuliwa mpaka peponi. (Lakini sijui kama alikuwa huko kwa mwili au kwa roho; Mungu ajua.)
I know such a man (whether in the body, or apart from the body, I do not know; God knows),
4 Huko akasikia mambo ya siri ambayo binadamu hastahili kuyatamka.
how he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a human to utter.
5 Basi, nitajivunia juu ya mtu wa namna hiyo, na si juu yangu mimi binafsi, isipokuwa tu juu ya udhaifu wangu.
On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.
6 Kama ningetaka kujivuna singekuwa mpumbavu hata kidogo, maana ningekuwa nasema ukweli mtupu. Lakini sitajivuna; sipendi mtu anifikirie zaidi ya vile anavyoona na kusikia kutoka kwangu.
For if I would desire to boast, I will not be foolish; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, so that no one may think more of me than that which he sees in me, or hears from me.
7 Lakini, kusudi mambo haya makuu niliyofunuliwa yasinifanye nilewe majivuno, nilipewa maumivu mwilini kama mwiba, mjumbe wa Shetani mwenye kunipiga nisijivune kupita kiasi.
And because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, therefore, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to pound away at me, to keep me from exalting myself.
8 Nilimsihi Bwana mara tatu kuhusu jambo hili ili linitoke.
Concerning this thing, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
9 Lakini akaniambia: “Neema yangu inatosha kwa ajili yako; maana uwezo wangu hukamilishwa zaidi katika udhaifu.” Basi, ni radhi kabisa kujivunia udhaifu wangu ili uwezo wake Kristo ukae juu yangu.
He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me.
10 Kwa hiyo nakubali kwa radhi udhaifu, madharau, taabu, udhalimu na mateso, kwa ajili ya Kristo; maana ninapokuwa dhaifu, ndipo ninapokuwa na nguvu.
Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.
11 Nimekuwa kama mpumbavu, lakini, ninyi mmenilazimisha kuwa hivyo. Ninyi ndio mngalipaswa kunisifu. Maana, ingawa mimi si kitu, kwa vyovyote, mimi si mdogo zaidi kuliko hao “mitume wakuu.”
I have become foolish. You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for in nothing was I inferior to the very best apostles, though I am nothing.
12 Miujiza na maajabu yaonyeshayo wazi kwamba mimi ni mtume yalifanyika miongoni mwenu kwa uvumilivu wote.
Truly the signs of an apostle were worked among you in all patience, in signs and wonders and mighty works.
13 Je, mlipungukiwa nini zaidi kuliko makanisa mengine, isipokuwa tu kwamba mimi kwa upande wangu sikuwasumbueni kupata msaada wenu? Samahani kwa kuwakoseeni haki hiyo!
For what is there in which you were made inferior to the rest of the churches, unless it is that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong.
14 Sasa niko tayari kabisa kuja kwenu mara ya tatu, na sitawasumbua. Maana ninachotafuta si mali zenu, bali ni ninyi wenyewe. Ni kawaida ya wazazi kuwawekea watoto wao akiba, na si watoto kuwawekea wazazi wao.
Look, for the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I seek not what is yours, but you. For the children ought not to save up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
15 Mimi ni radhi kabisa kutumia nilicho nacho, na hata kujitolea mimi mwenyewe kabisa, kwa faida ya roho zenu. Je, mtanipenda kidogo ati kwa kuwa mimi nawapenda ninyi mno?
I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less?
16 Basi, mtakubali kwamba sikuwa mzigo kwenu. Lakini labda mtu mwingine atasema: “Kwa vile Paulo ni mwerevu, amewafanyieni ulaghai.”
But be it so, I did not myself burden you. But, being crafty, I caught you with deception.
17 Je, mimi niliwanyonyeni kwa njia ya mjumbe yeyote niliyemtuma kwenu?
Did I take advantage of you by anyone of them whom I have sent to you?
18 Mimi nilimwita Tito, nikamtuma kwenu na ndugu yetu mwingine. Je, Tito aliwanyonyeni? Je, hamjui kwamba sisi tumekuwa tukiongozwa na roho yuleyule, na mwenendo wetu ni mmoja?
I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Did not we walk in the same spirit? Did not we walk in the same steps?
19 Labda mnafikiri kwamba mpaka sasa tumekuwa tukijitetea wenyewe mbele yenu! Lakini, tunasema mambo haya mbele ya Mungu, tukiwa tumeungana na Kristo. Mambo hayo, yote, wapenzi wangu, ni kwa ajili ya kuwajenga ninyi.
Have you been thinking all this time that we have been defending ourselves before you? In the sight of God we speak in Christ; and all things, beloved, are for your edifying.
20 Naogopa, huenda nitakapokuja kwenu nitawakuta katika hali nisiyopenda, nami itanilazimu kuwa katika hali msiyoipenda. Naogopa huenda kukawa na ugomvi, wivu, uhasama, ubishi, masengenyano, kunong'ona, majivuno na fujo kati yenu.
For I am afraid that by any means, when I come, I might find you not the way I want to, and that I might be found by you as you do not desire; that by any means there would be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, whisperings, proud thoughts, riots;
21 Naogopa huenda hapo nitakapokuja safari ijayo Mungu wangu atanifanya niaibike mbele yenu, nami nitaomboleza kwa ajili ya wengi wa wale waliotenda dhambi lakini hawakujutia huo uchafu, tamaa zao mbaya na uzinzi waliokuwa wamefanya.
that again when I come my God would humble me before you, and I would mourn for many of those who have sinned before now, and not repented of the uncleanness and sexual immorality and lustfulness which they committed.
