Colossians 2
1 For I desire to have you know how greatly I struggle for you and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
Nataka mjue jinsi ninavyojitaabisha kwa ajili yenu na kwa ajili ya wale walioko Laodikia, na pia kwa ajili ya wote ambao hawajapata kuniona mimi binafsi.
2 that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and gaining all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,
Kusudi langu ni watiwe moyo na kuunganishwa katika upendo, ili wapate ule utajiri wa ufahamu mkamilifu, ili waijue siri ya Mungu, yaani, Kristo mwenyewe,
3 in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden.
ambaye ndani yake kumefichwa hazina zote za hekima na maarifa.
4 Now I say this that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech.
Nawaambia mambo haya ili mtu yeyote asiwadanganye kwa maneno ya kuwashawishi.
5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
Kwa kuwa ingawa mimi siko pamoja nanyi kimwili, lakini niko pamoja nanyi kiroho, nami nafurahi kuuona utaratibu wenu na jinsi uthabiti wa imani yenu katika Kristo ulivyo.
6 As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him,
Hivyo basi, kama vile mlivyompokea Kristo Yesu kuwa Bwana, endeleeni kukaa ndani yake,
7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, even as you were taught, abounding in it in thanksgiving.
mkiwa na mizizi, na mmejengwa ndani yake, mkiimarishwa katika imani kama mlivyofundishwa, na kufurika kwa wingi wa shukrani.
8 Be careful that you do not let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elemental spirits of the world, and not after Christ.
Angalieni mtu yeyote asiwafanye ninyi mateka kwa elimu batili na madanganyo matupu yanayotegemea mapokeo ya wanadamu na mafundisho ya ulimwengu badala ya Kristo.
9 For in him all the fullness of the Deity dwells bodily,
Maana ukamilifu wote wa Uungu umo ndani ya Kristo katika umbile la mwili wa kibinadamu,
10 and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power.
nanyi mmepewa ukamilifu ndani ya Kristo, ambaye ndiye mkuu juu ya kila enzi na kila mamlaka.
11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ,
Katika Kristo pia mlitahiriwa kwa kutengwa mbali na asili ya dhambi, si kwa tohara inayofanywa kwa mikono ya wanadamu, bali kwa ile tohara iliyofanywa na Kristo,
12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
mkiwa mmezikwa pamoja naye katika ubatizo, na kufufuliwa pamoja naye kwa njia ya imani yenu katika uweza wa Mungu, aliyemfufua kutoka kwa wafu.
13 You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,
Mlipokuwa wafu katika dhambi zenu na kutokutahiriwa katika asili yenu ya dhambi, Mungu aliwafanya mwe hai pamoja na Kristo. Alitusamehe dhambi zetu zote,
14 wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us. He has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross.
akiisha kuifuta ile hati yenye mashtaka yaliyokuwa yanatukabili, pamoja na maagizo yake. Aliiondoa isiwepo tena, akiigongomea kwenye msalaba wake.
15 Having stripped the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Mungu akiisha kuzivua enzi na mamlaka, alizifanya kuwa kitu cha fedheha hadharani kwa kuziburura kwa ujasiri, akizishinda katika msalaba wa Kristo.
16 Let no one therefore judge you in eating or drinking, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day,
Kwa hiyo mtu asiwahukumu ninyi kuhusu vyakula au vinywaji, au kuhusu kuadhimisha sikukuu za dini, au Sikukuu za Mwezi Mwandamo au siku ya Sabato.
17 which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ’s.
Hizi zilikuwa kivuli cha mambo ambayo yangekuja, lakini ile iliyo halisi imo ndani ya Kristo.
18 Let no one rob you of your prize by self-abasement and worshiping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
Mtu yeyote asiwaondolee thawabu yenu kwa kusisitiza kunyenyekea kwake na kuabudu malaika. Mtu kama huyo hudumu katika maono yake, akijivuna bila sababu katika mawazo ya kibinadamu.
19 and not holding firmly to the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and ligaments, grows with God’s growth.
Yeye amepoteza ushirikiano na Kichwa, ambaye kutoka kwake mwili wote unalishwa na kushikamanishwa pamoja kwa viungo na mishipa, nao hukua kwa ukuaji utokao kwa Mungu.
20 If you died with Christ from the elemental spirits of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances,
Kwa kuwa mlikufa pamoja na Kristo, mkayaacha yale mafundisho ya msingi ya ulimwengu huu, kwa nini bado mnaishi kama ninyi ni wa ulimwengu? Kwa nini mnajitia chini ya amri:
21 “Do not handle, nor taste, nor touch”
“Msishike! Msionje! Msiguse!”?
22 (all of which perish with use), according to the precepts and doctrines of men?
Haya yote mwisho wake ni kuharibika yanapotumiwa, kwa sababu msingi wake ni katika maagizo na mafundisho ya wanadamu.
23 These things indeed appear like wisdom in self-imposed worship, humility, and severity to the body, but are not of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.
Kwa kweli amri kama hizo huonekana kama zina hekima, katika namna za ibada walizojitungia wenyewe, na unyenyekevu wa uongo na kuutawala mwili kwa ukali, lakini hayafai kitu katika kuzuia tamaa za mwili.
