Waefeso 2
1 Ninyi mlikuwa mmekufa kwa sababu ya makosa na dhambi zenu.
and you, being dead in your offences and sins —
2 Wakati ule mliishi kufuatana na mtindo mbaya wa ulimwengu huu, mkawa mnamtii mtawala wa pepo wenye nguvu wa anga, pepo ambao huwatawala sasa watu wasiomtii Mungu. (aiōn g165)
in which ye once walked according to the age of this world, according to the ruler of the authority of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience: (aiōn g165)
3 Na hata sisi sote tulikuwa kama wao; tuliishi kufuatana na tamaa zetu za kidunia na kufanya tu mambo yale yaliyoipendeza miili na akili zetu. Kidunia, sisi kama vile pia wao, tulistahili ghadhabu ya Mungu.
among whom we also all once had our conversation in the lusts of our flesh, doing what the flesh and the thoughts willed to do, and were children, by nature, of wrath, even as the rest:
4 Lakini Mungu ni mwenye huruma nyingi. Alitupenda kwa mapendo yasiyopimika,
but God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 hata, ingawa tulikuwa tumekufa kwa sababu ya dhambi, alitufanya hai pamoja na Kristo. Kwa neema ya Mungu ninyi mmeokolewa.
(we too being dead in offences, ) has quickened us with the Christ, (ye are saved by grace, )
6 Kwa kuungana na Kristo Yesu, Mungu alitufufua pamoja naye, tukatawale pamoja naye mbinguni.
and has raised [us] up together, and has made [us] sit down together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus,
7 Ndivyo alivyopenda kuonyesha kwa watu wa nyakati za baadaye, ukuu wa neema yake aliyotujalia kwa ukarimu katika kuungana kwetu na Kristo Yesu. (aiōn g165)
that he might display in the coming ages the surpassing riches of his grace in kindness towards us in Christ Jesus. (aiōn g165)
8 Maana, kwa neema ya Mungu mmekombolewa kwa njia ya imani. Jambo hili si matokeo ya juhudi zenu, bali ni zawadi ya Mungu.
For ye are saved by grace, through faith; and this not of yourselves; it is God's gift:
9 Wala halitokani na matendo yenu wenyewe, asije mtu akajivunia kitu.
not on the principle of works, that no one might boast.
10 Sisi ni viumbe vyake Mungu, na kwa kuungana na Kristo Yesu, alituumba kwa ajili ya kuishi maisha ya matendo mema aliyotutayarishia tuyatende.
For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God has before prepared that we should walk in them.
11 Ninyi mlio kwa asili watu wa mataifa mengine—mnaoitwa, “wasiotahiriwa” na Wayahudi ambao hujiita, “Waliotahiriwa,” (kwa sababu ya kile wanachoifanyia miili yao) —kumbukeni mlivyokuwa zamani.
Wherefore remember that ye, once nations in [the] flesh, who [are] called uncircumcision by that called circumcision in [the] flesh done with the hand;
12 Wakati ule ninyi mlikuwa bila Kristo; mlikuwa nje ya jamii ya Israeli; mlikuwa wageni na hamkuwa na sehemu yoyote katika lile agano la zile ahadi. Mlikuwa bila matumaini Mungu hapa duniani.
that ye were at that time without Christ, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
13 Lakini sasa, kwa kuungana na Kristo Yesu, ninyi ambao hapo awali mlikuwa mbali, mmekaribishwa kwa njia ya damu yake Kristo.
but now in Christ Jesus ye who once were afar off are become nigh by the blood of the Christ.
14 Maana Kristo mwenyewe ametuletea amani kwa kuwafanya Wayahudi na watu wa mataifa mengine kuwa jamii moja. Kwa mwili wake yeye mwenyewe aliubomoa ule ukuta uliowatenganisha na kuwafanya maadui.
For he is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of enclosure,
15 Aliiondoa ile Sheria ya Wayahudi pamoja na amri zake na kanuni zake, ili kutokana na jamii hizo mbili aumbe jamii moja mpya katika umoja naye na hivyo kuleta amani.
having annulled the enmity in his flesh, the law of commandments in ordinances, that he might form the two in himself into one new man, making peace;
16 Kwa mwili wake, Kristo aliuangamiza uadui wao; kwa msalaba wake aliziunganisha jamii hizo kuwa moja na kuzipatanisha na Mungu.
and might reconcile both in one body to God by the cross, having by it slain the enmity;
17 Basi, Kristo alikuja akahubiri Habari Njema ya amani kwenu ninyi watu wa mataifa mengine mliokuwa mbali na Mungu, na pia kwa Wayahudi ambao walikuwa karibu na Mungu.
and, coming, he has preached the glad tidings of peace to you who [were] afar off, and [the glad tidings of] peace to those [who were] nigh.
18 Hivyo, kwa njia yake, sisi sote, Wayahudi na watu wa mataifa mengine, tunaweza kumwendea Baba katika Roho mmoja.
For through him we have both access by one Spirit to the Father.
19 Basi, ninyi si wageni tena, wala si watu wa nje; ninyi ni raia pamoja na watu wa Mungu, na ni watu wa jamaa ya Mungu.
So then ye are no longer strangers and foreigners, but ye are fellow-citizens of the saints, and of the household of God,
20 Mmejengwa juu ya msingi uliowekwa na mitume na manabii, naye Kristo mwenyewe ndiye jiwe kuu la msingi.
being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the corner-stone,
21 Yeye ndiye mwenye kulitengeneza jengo lote na kulikuza hata liwe hekalu takatifu kwa ajili ya B wana.
in whom all [the] building fitted together increases to a holy temple in the Lord;
22 Katika kuungana naye, ninyi pia mnajengwa pamoja na wote wengine, muwe makao ya Mungu kwa njia ya Roho wake.
in whom ye also are built together for a habitation of God in [the] Spirit.
