2 Corinthians 8
1 Moreover, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the assemblies of Macedonia,
Ndugu, tunapenda kuwapa habari juu ya neema ambazo Mungu ameyajalia makanisa ya Makedonia.
2 how in a severe ordeal of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their generosity.
Waumini wa huko walijaribiwa sana kwa taabu; lakini furaha yao ilikuwa kubwa hivi hata wakawa wakarimu kupita kiasi, ingawaje walikuwa maskini sana.
3 For according to their power, I testify, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,
Naweza kushuhudia kwamba walikuwa wakarimu kadiri ya nguvu zao na hata zaidi. Kwa hiari yao wenyewe,
4 begging us with much entreaty to receive this grace and the fellowship in the service to the saints.
walitusihi sana wapewe nafasi ya kushiriki katika huduma hii ya kuwasaidia watu wa Mungu.
5 This was not as we had expected, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.
Hilo lilikuwa jambo ambalo hatukulitazamia kabisa! Kwanza walijitolea wao wenyewe kwa Bwana, kisha wakajitolea wenyewe kwetu pia, kufuatana na mapenzi ya Mungu.
6 So we urged Titus, that as he had made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace.
Kwa sababu hiyo, tulimsihi Tito aliyeianza kazi hiyo awasaidieni pia muitekeleze huduma hii ya upendo miongoni mwenu.
7 But as you abound in everything—in faith, utterance, knowledge, all earnestness, and in your love to us—see that you also abound in this grace.
Ninyi mna kila kitu: imani, uwezo wa kusema, elimu; bidii yote ya kutenda mema, na upendo wenu kwetu. Hivyo, tunatazamia muwe wakarimu katika huduma hii ya upendo.
8 I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love.
Siwapi ninyi amri, lakini nataka tu kuonyesha jinsi wengine walivyo na bidii ya kusaidia ili nipate kujua jinsi upendo wenu ulivyo wa kweli.
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.
Maana, ninyi mnajua neema ya Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo: yeye, ingawa alikuwa na kila kitu, alijifanya maskini kwa ajili yenu, ili kutokana na umaskini wake, awatajirishe.
10 I give advice in this: it is expedient for you who were the first to start a year ago, not only to do, but also to be willing.
Kuhusu jambo hili, basi, nawapeni shauri hili: inafaa kwenu kutekeleza sasa yale mliyoanza mwaka jana. Ninyi mlikuwa wa kwanza kuchukua hatua na kuamua kufanya hivyo.
11 But now complete the doing also, that as there was the readiness to be willing, so there may be the completion also out of your ability.
Basi, kamilisheni shughuli hiyo; na kama vile mlivyokuwa na hamu kubwa ya kusaidia, basi, fanyeni bidii vivyo hivyo, kadiri ya uwezo wenu, kuikamilisha.
12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you don’t have.
Maana ikiwa mtu ana moyo wa kusaidia, Mungu hupokea kila anachoweza kutoa: hadai zaidi.
13 For this is not that others may be eased and you distressed,
Ninyi hampaswi kuongezewa taabu kusudi wengine wapunguziwe mzigo wao; sivyo, ila ni lazima tujali usawa na haki.
14 but for equality. Your abundance at this present time supplies their lack, that their abundance also may become a supply for your lack, that there may be equality.
Kila mlicho nacho sasa cha ziada kiwasaidie wale wanaohitaji, ili nao wakati watakapokuwa na ziada, wawasaidie ninyi katika mahitaji yenu, na hivyo kuwe na usawa.
15 As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”
Kama Maandiko yasemavyo: “Aliyekusanya kwa wingi hakuwa na ziada, na yule aliyekusanya kidogo hakupungukiwa.”
16 But thanks be to God, who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.
Namshukuru Mungu aliyeweka ndani ya moyo wa Tito hamu hiyo niliyo nayo mimi ya kuwasaidia.
17 For he indeed accepted our exhortation, but being himself very earnest, he went out to you of his own accord.
Si tu kwamba alikubali ombi letu, ila pia alikuwa na hamu kubwa ya kusaidia, hata akaamua kwa hiari yake mwenyewe kuja kwenu.
18 We have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the Good News is known throughout all the assemblies.
Pamoja naye, tunamtuma ndugu mmoja ambaye sifa zake katika kueneza Habari Njema zimeenea katika makanisa yote.
19 Not only so, but he was also appointed by the assemblies to travel with us in this grace, which is served by us to the glory of the Lord himself, and to show our readiness.
Zaidi ya hayo, yeye amechaguliwa na makanisa awe mwenzetu safarini wakati tunapopeleka huduma hii yetu ya upendo, huduma tunayoifanya kwa ajili ya utukufu wa Bwana na uthibitisho wa nia yetu njema.
20 We are avoiding this, that any man should blame us concerning this abundance which is administered by us.
Tunataka kuepa lawama zinazoweza kutokea kuhusu usimamizi wetu juu ya zawadi hii karimu.
21 Having regard for honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
Nia yetu ni kufanya vema, si tu mbele ya Bwana, lakini pia mbele ya watu.
22 We have sent with them our brother whom we have many times proved earnest in many things, but now much more earnest, by reason of the great confidence which he has in you.
Basi, pamoja na ndugu hao, tumemtuma ndugu yetu mwingine ambaye mara nyingi tumempa majaribio mbalimbali, tukamwona kuwa ni mwenye hamu kubwa ya kusaidia; hata sasa amekuwa na moyo zaidi kwa sababu ana imani sana nanyi.
23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for you. As for our brothers, they are the apostles of the assemblies, the glory of Christ.
Tito ni mwenzangu; tunafanya kazi pamoja kwa ajili yenu; lakini kuhusu hawa ndugu zetu wengine, wanaokuja pamoja nao, hao ni wajumbe wa makanisa, na utukufu kwa Kristo.
24 Therefore show the proof of your love to them before the assemblies, and of our boasting on your behalf.
Basi, waonyesheni uthabiti wa upendo wenu, makanisa yapate kuona kweli kwamba fahari ninayoona juu yenu ni ya halali.
