1 Corinthians 8
1 Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
Sasa kuhusu vyakula vilivyotolewa sadaka kwa sanamu: tunajua ya kwamba “sisi sote tuna maarifa.” Maarifa huleta majivuno, bali upendo hujenga.
2 But if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he doesn’t yet know as he ought to know.
Ikiwa mtu yeyote anadhani kwamba anajua jambo fulani, mtu huyo bado hajui kama impasavyo kujua.
3 But anyone who loves God is known by him.
Lakini ikiwa mmoja wapo akimpenda Mungu, mtu huyo anajulikana naye.
4 Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that no idol is anything in the world, and that there is no other God but one.
Basi kuhusu kula vyakula vilivyotolewa sadaka kwa sanamu: twajua kuwa “sanamu si kitu katika dunia hii,” na ya kuwa hakuna Mungu ila mmoja tu.”
5 For though there are things that are called “gods”, whether in the heavens or on earth—as there are many “gods” and many “lords”—
Kwa maana kuna wengi waitwao miungu ikiwa ni mbinguni au duniani, kama vile walivyo “miungu na mabwana wengi.”
6 yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we live through him.
“Ijapokuwa kwetu kuna Mungu mmoja tu ambaye ni Baba, vitu vyote vimetoka kwake, nasi tunaishi kwake, na Bwana mmoja Yesu Kristo, ambaye kwake vitu vyote vimekuwapo, na kwa yeye sisi tupo.”
7 However, that knowledge isn’t in all men. But some, with consciousness of an idol until now, eat as of a thing sacrificed to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
Hata hivyo, ujuzi huu haupo ndani ya kila mmoja. Badala yake, wengine walishiriki ibada za sanamu hapo zamani, na hata sasa wanakula vyakula hivi kana kwamba ni kitu kilichotolewa sadaka kwa sanamu. Dhamiri zao zimepotoshwa kwa kuwa ni dhaifu.
8 But food will not commend us to God. For neither, if we don’t eat are we the worse, nor if we eat are we the better.
Lakini chakula hakitatuthibitisha sisi kwa Mungu. Sisi sio wabaya sana kama tusipo kula, wala wema sana ikiwa tutakula.
9 But be careful that by no means does this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to the weak.
Lakini iweni makini ya kwamba uhuru wenu usiwe sababu ya kumkwaza aliye dhaifu katika imani.
10 For if a man sees you who have knowledge sitting in an idol’s temple, won’t his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols?
Hebu fikiri kwamba mtu amekuona, wewe uliye na ujuzi, unakula chakula katika hekalu la sanamu. Dhamiri yake mtu huyo haitathibitika hata yeye naye ale vitu vilivyotolewa sadaka kwa sanamu?
11 And through your knowledge, he who is weak perishes, the brother for whose sake Christ died.
Kwa hiyo kwa sababu ya ufahamu wako wa ukweli juu ya asili ya sanamu, kaka au dada yako aliye dhaifu, ambaye pia Kristo alikufa kwa ajili yake, anaangamizwa.
12 Thus, sinning against the brothers, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.
Hivyo, unapofanya dhambi dhidi ya kaka na dada zako na kuzijeruhi dhamiri zao zilizo dhaifu, mnatenda dhambi dhidi ya Kristo.
