Philippians 1
1 This letter comes from Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all God's people in Christ Jesus living in Philippi, and to the church leaders and assistants.
Paulo na Timotheo, watumishi wa Kristo Yesu, Kwa wale walitengwa katika Kristo wanaoishi Filipi, pamoja na waangalizi na mashemasi.
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Neema na iwe kwenu na amani itokayo kwa Mungu Baba yetu na Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo.
3 When I think of you I'm so thankful to my God,
Namshukuru Mungu wangu kila ninapowakumbuka ninyi nyote.
4 and I'm always glad to remember all of you in my prayers,
Mara zote katika kila ombi langu kwa ajili yenu ninyi nyote, huwa na furahi ninapowaombea.
5 because you've been partners with me in spreading the good news right from the beginning up till now.
Nina shukrani nyingi kwa sababu ya ushirika wenu katika injili tangu siku ya kwanza mpaka leo.
6 I'm absolutely sure that God who began this good work in you will continue working and bring it to a successful conclusion when Jesus Christ returns.
Nina hakika kuwa yeye aliyeanzisha kazi njema ndani yenu ataendelea kuikamilisha mpaka siku ya Bwana Yesu Kristo.
7 It's appropriate for me to be thinking this way about all of you because you mean so much to me. Whether I'm in prison or out there making the good news clear, all of you share God's grace together with me.
Ni sawa kwangu kujisikia hivi juu yenu ninyi nyote kwa sababu nimewaweka moyoni wangu. Maana ninyi mmekuwa washirika wenza katika neema katika kifungo changu na katika utetezi na uthibitishaji wangu wa injili.
8 God is my witness as to my great affection for every one of you in the caring love of Christ Jesus.
Mungu ni shahidi wangu, jinsi nilivyo na shauku juu ya yenu nyote katika undani wa pendo la Kristo Yesu.
9 My prayer is that your love may grow more and more in knowledge and understanding,
Na ninaomba kwamba: upendo wenu uongezeke zaidi na zaidi katika maarifa na ufahamu wote.
10 so that you can work out what's really important. That way you can be genuine and blameless when Christ returns,
Ninaomba kwa ajili ya hili ili muwe na uwezo wa kupima na kuchagua mambo yaliyo bora sana. Pia ninawaombea ili muwe safi pasipokuwa na hatia yoyote katika siku ya Kristo.
11 filled with the fruits of living right that come through Jesus Christ and give glory and praise to God.
Na pia ili mjazwe na tunda la haki lipatikanalo katika Yesu Kristo, kwa utukufu na sifa ya Mungu.
12 I want you to know, my brothers and sisters, that all I've experienced has worked out to move the good news forward!
Sasa ndugu zangu, nataka mjue kuwa, mambo yaliyotokea kwangu yameifanya injili iendelee sana.
13 For everyone—including the whole praetorian guard—now knows that I'm in chains for Christ;
Ndiyo maana vifungo vyangu katika Kristo, vimejulikana kwa walinzi wa ikulu yote na kwa kila mtu pia.
14 and because of my chains most of the Christians here have been encouraged to speak God's word boldly and fearlessly!
Na ndugu wengi katika Bwana, kwa sababu ya vifungo vyangu, wameshawishika na kuthubutu kulihubiri Neno pasipo hofu.
15 Yes, some speak out of jealousy and rivalry. However, there are those who speak from good motives.
Baadhi kweli hata humtangaza Kristo kwa fitina na ugomvi, na pia wengine kwa nia njema.
16 They act out of love, because they know that I'm meant to be here to defend the good news.
Wale wanaomtangaza Kristo kwa upendo wanajua kuwa nimewekwa hapa kwa ajili ya utetezi wa injili.
17 Those others present Christ deceptively because of their selfish ambitions, trying to cause me problems in my imprisonment.
Bali wengine wanamtangaza Kristo kwa ubinafsi na nia mbaya. Hudhani kuwa wanasababisha matatizo kwangu katika minyororo yangu.
18 But so what? All I care about is that Christ is presented every which way, whether just pretending or whether from true convictions. That's what makes me happy—and I will go on being happy!
Kwa hiyo? Sijali, aidha njia ikiwa ni kwa hila au kwa kweli, Kristo anatangazwa, na katika hili ninafurahia! Ndiyo, nitafurahia.
19 Why? Because I'm convinced that through your prayers for me, and through the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, this will turn out to be my salvation.
kwa kuwa ninajua ya kuwa hili litaleta kufunguliwa kwangu. Jambo hili litatokea kwa sababu ya maombi yenu na kwa msaada wa Roho wa Yesu Kristo.
20 For it's my strongest hope and expectation not to do anything of which I would be ashamed. Instead it's my bold hope, as always, that even now Christ will be greatly honored through me, whether I live or die.
Kulingana na matarajio yangu ya uhakika na kweli ni kwamba, sitaona aibu. Badala yake, kwa ujasiri wote, kama ambavyo siku zote na sasa, natarajia kuwa Kristo atainuliwa katika mwili wangu, ikiwa katika uzima au katika kifo.
21 As far as I'm concerned, living is for Christ, and dying brings gain.
Kwa maana kwangu mimi, kuishi ni Kristo na kufa ni faida.
22 But if I'm to go on living here and this would be productive work, then I really don't know what's best to choose!
Lakini, kama kuishi katika mwili huzaa tunda katika kazi yangu, kwa hiyo sijui ni lipi la kuchagua.
23 For I'm in a dilemma—I really want to leave and be with Christ, which would be far better,
Maana ninasukumwa sana na mawazo haya mawili. Nina hamu ya kuuacha mwili na kuwa pamoja na Kristo, kitu ambacho ni cha thamani sana sana.
24 and yet to remain physically here is more important as far you're concerned.
Ingawa, kubaki katika mwili huu ni jambo la muhimu sana kwa ajili yenu.
25 Since I'm absolutely sure of this, I know that I'll stay here, remaining with you all to help you as your trust and delight in God grows,
Kwa kuwa nina uhakika juu ya hili, ninajua nitabaki na kuendelea kuwa pamoja nanyi nyote, kwa ajili ya maendeleo na furaha ya imani yenu.
26 so that when I see you again your praise to Christ Jesus may be even greater because of me.
Na hii italeta furaha yenu kubwa katika Kristo Yesu, kwasababu yangu itaongezeka, kwa sababu ya uwepo wangu tena pamoja nanyi.
27 Just be sure that the way you live your lives corresponds to the good news of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or not I can get to hear how you're doing—that you stand firm in full agreement with one another, spiritually united as you work together for the trusting faith of the good news.
Mnatakiwa kuishi maisha yenu katika mwenendo mzuri uipasayo injili ya Kristo. fanyeni hivyo ili nikija kuwaona au nisipokuja, nisikie kuwa mmesimama imara katika roho moja. natamani kusikia kuwa mna roho moja, mkiishindania imani ya injili kwa pamoja.
28 Don't let your enemies scare you. By being brave you will demonstrate to them that they will be lost, but that God himself will save you.
na msitishwe na kitu chochote kinachofanywa na maadui zenu. Hii kwao ni ishara ya uharibifu. Bali kwenu ni ishara ya wokovu kutoka kwa Mungu.
29 For you have been given the privilege not only of trusting in Jesus, but suffering for him as well.
kwa maana ninyi mmepewa kwa ajili ya Kristo, si kumwamini tu, bali na kuteswa pia katika Yeye.
30 You're experiencing the same struggle you saw me having—a struggle I still have, as you now know.
kwa maana mna mgogoro uleule kama mliouona kwangu na mnasikia kwamba ninao hata sasa.
