Ephesians 2
1 You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins,
Kama vile mlivyo kuwa mmekufa katika makosa na dhambi zenu.
2 in which you once walked according to the course of this age (aiōn g165), according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience.
Ilikuwa katika haya kwamba kwanza mlienenda kulingana na nyakati za ulimwengu huu. Mlikuwa mkienenda kwa kufuata mtawala wa mamlaka ya anga. Hii ndiyo roho yake yule afanyaye kazi katika wana wa kuasi. (aiōn g165)
3 We also all once lived among them in the lusts of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
Sisi wote hapo mwanzo tulikuwa miongoni mwa hawa wasioamini. Tulikuwa tukitenda kwa namna ya tamaa mbaya za miili yetu. Tulikuwa tukifanya mapenzi ya mwili na ufahamu wetu. Tulikuwa kwa asili wana wa ghadhabu kama wengine.
4 But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us,
Lakini Mungu ni mwingi wa rehema kwa sababu ya pendo lake kubwa alilotupenda sisi.
5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
Wakati tulipokuwa wafu katika makosa yetu, alituleta pamoja katika maisha mapya ndani ya Kristo. Ni kwa neema kwamba mmeokolewa.
6 and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
Mungu alitufufua pamoja na kutufanya kukaa pamoja katika mahali pa mbingu ndani ya Kristo Yesu.
7 that in the ages (aiōn g165) to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus;
Alifanya hivi ili katika nyakati zijazo aweze kutuonesha utajiri mkuu wa neema yake. Hutuonesha sisi hili kwa njia ya wema wake ndani ya Kristo Yesu. (aiōn g165)
8 for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
Kwa neema mmeokolewa kwa njia ya imani. Na hii haikutoka kwetu. Ni zawadi ya Mungu.
9 not of works, that no one would boast.
Haitokani na matendo. Matokeo yake, asiwepo mmoja wapo wa kujisifu.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.
Kwa sababu sisi tu kazi ya Mungu, tumeumbwa katika Kristo Yesu kutenda matendo mema. Ni matendo haya ambayo Mungu aliyapanga tangu zamani za kale kwa ajili yetu, ili tutembee katika hayo.
11 Therefore remember that once you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “uncircumcision” by that which is called “circumcision” (in the flesh, made by hands),
Kwa hiyo kumbukeni kwamba hapo zamani mlikuwa watu wa Mataifa kwa jinsi ya mwili. Mnaitwa “msio na tohara” kwa kile kinachoitwa tohara ya mwili inayofanywa kwa mikono ya binadamu.
12 that you were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
Kwa wakati huo mlikuwa mmetengwa na Kristo. Mlikuwa wageni kwa watu wa Israel. Mlikuwa wageni kwa agano la ahadi. Hamkuwa na uhakika wa wakati ujao. Mlikuwa bila Mungu katika ulimwengiu.
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off are made near in the blood of Christ.
Lakini sasa katika Kristo Yesu ninyi ambao hapo mwanzo mlikuwa mbali na Mungu mmeletwa karibu na Mungu kwa damu ya Kristo.
14 For he is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of separation,
Kwa maana yeye ndiye amani yetu. Alifanya wawili kuwa mmoja. Kwa mwili wake aliuharibu ukuta wa utengano ambao ulikuwa umetutenganisha, huo uadui.
15 having abolished in his flesh the hostility, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man of the two, making peace,
Kwamba alikomesha sheria ya amri na kanuni ili kwamba aumbe mtu mmoja mpya ndani yake. Akafanya amani.
16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, having killed the hostility through it.
Alifanya hivi ili kuwapatanisha makundi mawili ya watu kuwa mwili mmoja kwa Mungu kupitia msalaba. Kwa njia ya msalaba aliufisha uadui.
17 He came and preached peace to you who were far off and to those who were near.
Yesu alikuja na kutangaza amani kwenu ninyi mliokuwa mbali na amani kwao wale waliokuwa karibu.
18 For through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.
Kwa maana kwa njia ya Yesu sisi wote wawili tuna nafasi kwa yule Roho mmoja kuingia kwa Baba.
19 So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God,
Hivyo basi, ninyi watu wa mataifa si wasafiri na wageni tena. Bali ni wenyeji pamoja na wale waliotengwa kwa ajili ya Mungu na wajumbe katika nyumba ya Mungu.
20 being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone;
Mmejengwa juu ya msingi wa mitume na manabii. Kristo Yesu mwenyewe alikuwa jiwe kuu la pembeni.
21 in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord;
Katika yeye jengo lote limeungamanishwa pamoja na kukua kama hekalu ndani ya Bwana.
22 in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.
Ni ndani yake ninyi nanyi mnajengwa pamoja kama mahali pa kuishi pa Mungu katika Roho.
