Romans 7
1 Know you not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law, ) that the law hath dominion over a man, as long as it liveth?
Au hamjui, ndugu zangu (kwa kuwa naongea na watu wanaoijua sheria), kwamba sheria humtawala mtu anapokuwa hai?
2 For the woman that hath an husband, whilst her husband liveth is bound to the law. But if her husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
Kwa maana mwanamke aliyeolewa amefungwa na sheria kwa yule mme wake anapokuwa hai, lakini ikiwa mme wake atakufa, atakuwa amewekwa huru kutoka sheria ya ndoa.
3 Therefore, whilst her husband liveth, she shall be called an adulteress, if she be with another man: but if her husband be dead, she is delivered from the law of her husband; so that she is not an adulteress, if she be with another man.
Hivyo basi, wakati mme wake angali akiishi, ikiwa anaishi na mwanamme mwingine, ataitwa mzinzi. Lakini ikiwa mme wake akifa, yuko huru dhidi ya sheria, hivyo hatakuwa mzinzi ikiwa anaishi na mwanamme mwingine.
4 Therefore, my brethren, you also are become dead to the law, by the body of Christ; that you may belong to another, who is risen again from the dead, that we may bring forth fruit to God.
Kwa hiyo, ndugu zangu, ninyi pia mlifanywa wafu kwa sheria kwa njia ya mwili wa Kristo. Imekuwa hivi ili mpate kuunganishwa na mwingine, kwake yeye ambaye alifufuliwa kutoka wafu ili tuweze kumzalia Mungu matunda.
5 For when we were in the flesh, the passions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members, to bring forth fruit unto death.
Kwa maana tulipokuwa katika hali ya mwili, tamaa za dhambi ziliamshwa katika viungo vyetu kwa njia ya sheria na kuizalia mauti matunda.
6 But now we are loosed from the law of death, wherein we were detained; so that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
Lakini sasa tumefunguliwa kutoka katika sheria. Tumeifia ile hali iliyotupinga. Ili sisi tupate kutumika katika hali mpya ya Roho, na si katika hali ya zamani ya andiko.
7 What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? God forbid. But I do not know sin, but by the law; for I had not known concupiscence, if the law did not say: Thou shalt not covet.
Tusemeje basi? Sheria ni dhambi? La hasha. Hata hivyo, nisingelitambua dhambi, isingelikuwa kwa njia ya sheria. Kwa kuwa nisingelijua kutamani kama sheria isingelisema, “Usitamani.”
8 But sin taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
Lakini dhambi ilipata nafasi kwa ile amri na ikaleta ndani yangu kila aina ya kutamani. Kwa maana dhambi pasipo sheria imekufa.
9 And I lived some time without the law. But when the commandment came, sin revived,
Nami nilikuwa hai hapo kwanza bila sheria, lakini ilipokuja ile amri, dhambi ilipata uhai, nami nikafa.
10 And I died. And the commandment that was ordained to life, the same was found to be unto death to me.
Ile amri na ambayo ingelileta uzima iligeuka kuwa mauti kwangu.
11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, seduced me, and by it killed me.
Kwa maana dhambi ilipata nafasi kwa ile amri na ikanidanganya. Kupitia ile amri, iliniua.
12 Wherefore the law indeed is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
Hivyo sheria ni takatifu, na ile amri ni takatifu, ya yaki, na njema.
13 Was that then which is good, made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it may appear sin, by that which is good, wrought death in me; that sin, by the commandment, might become sinful above measure.
Hivyo basi ile iliyo njema ilikuwa mauti kwangu mimi? Isiwe hivyo kamwe. Lakini dhambi, ili ionekane kuwa ni dhambi hasa kupitia ile njema, ilileta mauti ndani yangu. Hii ilikuwa ili kwamba kupitia ile amri, dhambi izidi kuwa mbaya mno.
14 For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold under sin.
Kwa maana twajua ya kuwa sheria asili yake ni ya rohoni, lakini mimi ni mtu wa mwilini. Nimeuzwa chini ya utumwa wa dhambi.
15 For that which I work, I understand not. For I do not that good which I will; but the evil which I hate, that I do.
Maana nifanyalo, silielewi dhahiri. Kwa kuwa lile nilipendalo kutenda, silitendi, na lile nilichukialo, ndilo ninalolitenda.
16 If then I do that which I will not, I consent to the law, that it is good.
Lakini kama nikilitenda lile nisilolipenda, nakubaliana na sheria ya kuwa sheria ni njema.
17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Lakini sasa si mimi nafsi yangu ninayetenda hilo, bali ni ile dhambi ikaayo ndani yangu.
18 For I know that there dwelleth not in me, that is to say, in my flesh, that which is good. For to will, is present with me; but to accomplish that which is good, I find not.
Kwa maana najua ya kuwa ndani yangu, yaani ndani ya mwili wangu, halikai jambo jema. Kwa kuwa tamaa ya lililo jema imo ndani yangu, lakini silitendi.
19 For the good which I will, I do not; but the evil which I will not, that I do.
Kwa maana lile jema nilipendalo silitendi, bali lile ovu nisilolipenda ndilo nilitendalo.
20 Now if I do that which I will not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Sasa kama natenda lile nisilolipenda, si mimi binafsi nilitendaye, bali ni ile dhambi ikaayo ndani yangu.
21 I find then a law, that when I have a will to do good, evil is present with me.
Nimefahama, tena, imo kanuni ndani yangu ya kutaka kutenda lililo jema, lakini uovu hakika umo ndani yangu.
22 For I am delighted with the law of God, according to the inward man:
Kwa maana naifurahia sheria ya Mungu kwa utu wa ndani.
23 But I see another law in my members, fighting against the law of my mind, and captivating me in the law of sin, that is in my members.
Lakini naona kanuni iliyo tofauti katika viungo vya mwili wangu. Inapiga vita dhidi ya kanuni mpya katika akili zangu. Inanifanya mimi mateka kwa kanuni ya dhambi iliyo katika viungo vya mwili wangu.
24 Unhappy man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Mimi ni mtu wa huzuni! Ni nani atakayeniokoa na mwili huu wa mauti?
25 The grace of God, by Jesus Christ our Lord. Therefore, I myself, with the mind serve the law of God; but with the flesh, the law of sin.
Lakini shukrani kwa Mungu kwa Yesu Kristo Bwana wetu! Hivyo basi. Mimi mwenyewe kwa akili zangu naitumikia sheria ya Mungu. Bali, kwa mwili naitumikia kanuni ya dhambi.
