Luka 18
1 Kisha Yesu akawapa wanafunzi wake mfano ili kuwaonyesha kuwa yawapasa kuomba pasipo kukata tamaa.
Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and never despair.
2 Akawaambia, “Katika mji mmoja alikuwepo hakimu ambaye hakumwogopa Mungu wala kumjali mtu.
“There was,” he said, “in a certain town a judge, who had no fear of God nor regard for people.
3 Katika mji huo alikuwako mjane mmoja ambaye alikuwa akija kwake mara kwa mara akimwomba, ‘Tafadhali nipatie haki kati yangu na adui yangu.’
In the same town there was a widow who went to him again and again, and said ‘Grant me justice against my opponent.’
4 “Kwa muda mrefu yule hakimu alikataa. Lakini hatimaye akasema moyoni mwake, ‘Ijapokuwa simwogopi Mungu wala simjali mwanadamu,
For a time the judge refused, but afterward he said to himself ‘Although I am without fear of God or regard for people,
5 lakini kwa kuwa huyu mjane ananisumbuasumbua, nitahakikisha amepata haki yake ili asiendelee kunichosha kwa kunijia mara kwa mara!’”
yet, as this widow is so troublesome, I will grant her justice, to stop her from plaguing me with her endless visits.’”
6 Bwana akasema, “Sikilizeni asemavyo huyu hakimu dhalimu.
Then the Master added, “Listen to what this iniquitous judge says!
7 Je, Mungu hatawatendea haki wateule wake wanaomlilia usiku na mchana? Je, atakawia kuwasaidia?
And God – won’t he see that his own people, who cry to him night and day, have justice done them – though he holds his hand?
8 Ninawaambia, atawapatia haki upesi. Lakini je, Mwana wa Adamu atakapokuja ataikuta imani duniani?”
He will, I tell you, give them justice soon enough! Yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
9 Yesu akatoa mfano huu kwa wale waliojiamini kuwa wao ni wenye haki na kuwadharau wengine:
Another time, speaking to people who were satisfied that they were religious, and who regarded everyone else with scorn, Jesus told this parable –
10 “Watu wawili walikwenda Hekaluni kusali, mmoja wao alikuwa Farisayo na mwingine alikuwa mtoza ushuru.
“Two men went up into the Temple Courts to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax-gatherer.
11 Yule Farisayo, akasimama, akasali hivi na kuomba kwake mwenyewe: ‘Mungu, nakushukuru kwa sababu mimi si kama watu wengine ambao ni wanyangʼanyi, wadhalimu, na wazinzi, wala kama huyu mtoza ushuru.
The Pharisee stood forward and began praying to himself in this way – ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men – thieves, rogues, adulterers – or even like this tax-gatherer.
12 Mimi nafunga mara mbili kwa juma, na natoa sehemu ya kumi ya mapato yangu.’
I fast twice a week, and give a tenth of everything I get to God.’
13 “Lakini yule mtoza ushuru akasimama mbali, wala hakuthubutu hata kuinua uso wake kutazama mbinguni, bali alijipigapiga kifuani na kusema: ‘Mungu, nihurumie, mimi mwenye dhambi.’
Meanwhile the tax-gatherer stood at a distance, not venturing even to raise his eyes to heaven, but he kept striking his breast and saying ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
14 “Nawaambia, huyu mtoza ushuru alirudi nyumbani akiwa amehesabiwa haki mbele za Mungu zaidi ya yule Farisayo. Kwa maana yeyote ajikwezaye atashushwa, na yeyote ajishushaye atakwezwa.”
This man, I tell you, went home pardoned, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, while everyone who humbles himself will be exalted.”
15 Pia, watu walikuwa wakimletea Yesu watoto wachanga ili awaguse. Wanafunzi wake walipoona hivyo, wakawakemea.
Some of the people were bringing even their babies to Jesus, for him to touch them; but, when the disciples saw it, they began to find fault with those who had brought them.
16 Lakini Yesu akawaita wale watoto waje kwake, akasema, “Waacheni watoto wadogo waje kwangu, wala msiwazuie, kwa maana Ufalme wa Mungu ni wa wale walio kama hawa.
Jesus, however, called the little children to him. “Let the little children come to me,” he said, “and do not hinder them, for it is to the childlike that the kingdom of God belongs.
17 Amin, nawaambia, mtu yeyote asiyeupokea Ufalme wa Mungu kama mtoto mdogo, hatauingia kamwe.”
I tell you, unless a man receives the kingdom of God like a child, he will not enter it at all.”
18 Mtawala mmoja akamuuliza Yesu, “Mwalimu mwema, nifanye nini ili niurithi uzima wa milele?” (aiōnios g166)
And one of the leaders asked Jesus this question – “Good teacher, what must I do if I am to gain eternal life?” (aiōnios g166)
19 Yesu akamjibu, “Mbona unaniita mwema? Hakuna yeyote aliye mwema ila Mungu peke yake.
“Why do you call me good?” answered Jesus. “No one is good but God.
20 Unazijua amri: ‘Usizini, usiue, usiibe, usishuhudie uongo, waheshimu baba yako na mama yako.’”
You know the commandments – Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not say what is false about others, Honor your father and your mother.”
21 Akajibu, “Amri hizi zote nimezishika tangu nikiwa mtoto.”
“I have observed all these,” he replied, “from childhood.”
22 Yesu aliposikia haya, akamwambia, “Bado kuna jambo moja ulilopungukiwa. Nenda ukauze kila kitu ulicho nacho, uwape maskini, nawe utakuwa na hazina mbinguni. Kisha njoo, unifuate.”
Hearing this, Jesus said to him, “There is one thing still lacking in you; sell everything that you have, and distribute to the poor, and you will have wealth in heaven; then come and follow me.”
23 Aliposikia jambo hili, alisikitika sana kwa maana alikuwa mtu mwenye mali nyingi.
But the man became greatly distressed on hearing this, for he was extremely rich.
24 Yesu akamtazama, akasema, “Tazama jinsi ilivyo vigumu kwa tajiri kuingia katika Ufalme wa Mungu!
Seeing this, Jesus said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!
25 Hakika ni rahisi zaidi kwa ngamia kupita kwenye tundu la sindano kuliko mtu tajiri kuingia katika Ufalme wa Mungu.”
It is easier, indeed, for a camel to get through a needle’s eye than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God!”
26 Wale waliosikia haya wakauliza, “Ni nani basi awezaye kuokoka?”
“Then who can be saved?” asked those who heard this.
27 Yesu akajibu, “Yasiyowezekana kwa wanadamu yanawezekana kwa Mungu.”
But Jesus said, “What is impossible with people is possible with God.”
28 Ndipo Petro akamjibu, “Tazama, tumeacha vyote tulivyokuwa navyo tukakufuata!”
“But we,” said Peter, “we left what belonged to us and followed you.”
29 Yesu akajibu, “Amin, nawaambia, hakuna hata mtu aliyeacha nyumba yake, au mke, au ndugu, au wazazi au watoto kwa ajili ya Ufalme wa Mungu
“I tell you,” he answered, “that there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,
31 Yesu akawachukua wale wanafunzi wake kumi na wawili kando na kuwaambia, “Tunapanda kwenda Yerusalemu, na kila kitu kilichoandikwa na manabii kumhusu Mwana wa Adamu kitatimizwa.
Gathering the Twelve around him, Jesus said to them, “Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem; and there everything that is written in the prophets will be done to the Son of Man.
32 Kwa kuwa atatiwa mikononi mwa watu wasiomjua Mungu, nao watamdhihaki, watamtukana na kumtemea mate, watampiga mijeledi na kumuua.
For he will be given up to the Gentiles, mocked, insulted and spat on;
33 Naye siku ya tatu atafufuka.”
they will scourge him, and then put him to death; and on the third day he will rise again.”
34 Wanafunzi wake hawakuelewa mambo haya, kwa kuwa maana yake ilikuwa imefichika kwao, nao hawakujua Yesu alikuwa anazungumzia nini.
The apostles did not comprehend any of this. His meaning was unintelligible to them and they did not understand what he was saying.
35 Yesu alipokuwa anakaribia Yeriko, kipofu mmoja alikuwa ameketi kando ya njia akiomba msaada.
As Jesus was getting near Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside, begging.
36 Kipofu huyo aliposikia umati wa watu ukipita, akauliza, “Kuna nini?”
Hearing a crowd going by, the man asked what was the matter;
37 Wakamwambia, “Yesu wa Nazareti anapita.”
and, when people told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing,
38 Akapaza sauti, akasema, “Yesu, Mwana wa Daudi, nihurumie!”
he shouted out, “Jesus, Son of David, take pity on me!”
39 Wale waliokuwa wametangulia mbele wakamkemea, wakamwambia akae kimya. Lakini yeye akapaza sauti zaidi, “Mwana wa Daudi, nihurumie!”
Those who were in front kept telling him to be quiet, but he continued to call out the louder, “Son of David, take pity on me!”
40 Yesu akasimama, akawaamuru wamlete huyo mtu kwake. Alipokaribia, Yesu akamuuliza,
Then Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. And, when he had come close up to him, Jesus asked him,
41 “Unataka nikufanyie nini?” Akajibu, “Bwana, nataka kuona.”
“What do you want me to do for you?” “Master,” he said, “I want to recover my sight.”
42 Yesu akamwambia, “Basi upate kuona. Imani yako imekuponya.”
And Jesus said, “Recover your sight, your faith has delivered you.”
43 Akapata kuona saa ile ile, akamfuata Yesu, huku akimsifu Mungu. Watu wote walipoona mambo hayo, nao wakamsifu Mungu.
Instantly he recovered his sight, and began to follow Jesus, praising God. And all the people, on seeing it, gave glory to God.
