Luka 18
1 Basi, Yesu aliwasimulia mfano kuonyesha kwamba ni lazima kusali daima bila kukata tamaa.
Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and never despair.
2 Alisema: “Katika mji mmoja kulikuwa na hakimu ambaye hakuwa anamcha Mungu wala kumjali binadamu.
“There was,” he said, “in a certain town a judge, who had no fear of God nor regard for people.
3 Katika mji huohuo, kulikuwa pia na mama mmoja mjane, ambaye alimwendea huyo hakimu mara nyingi akimwomba amtetee apate haki yake kutoka kwa adui yake.
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 huyo hakimu hakupenda kumtetea huyo mjane; lakini, mwishowe akajisemea: Ingawa mimi simchi Mungu wala simjali binadamu,
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 vile huyu mjane ananisumbua, nitamtetea; la sivyo ataendelea kufika hapa, na mwisho atanichosha kabisa!”
yet, as this widow is so troublesome, I will grant her justice, to stop her from plaguing me with her endless visits.’”
6 Basi, Bwana akaendelea kusema, “Sikieni jinsi alivyosema huyo hakimu mbaya.
Then the Master added, “Listen to what this iniquitous judge says!
7 Je, ndio kusema Mungu hatawatetea wale aliowachagua, ambao wanamlilia mchana na usiku? Je, atakawia kuwasikiliza?
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 Nawaambieni atawatetea upesi. Hata hivyo, je, kutakuwako na imani duniani wakati Mwana wa Mtu atakapokuja?”
He will, I tell you, give them justice soon enough! Yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
9 Halafu Yesu aliwaambia pia mfano wa wale ambao walijiona kuwa wema 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 walipanda kwenda Hekaluni kusali: mmoja Mfarisayo, na mwingine mtoza ushuru.
“Two men went up into the Temple Courts to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax-gatherer.
11 Huyo Mfarisayo akasimama, akasali kimoyomoyo: Ee Mungu, nakushukuru kwa vile mimi si kama watu wengine: walafi, wadanganyifu au wazinzi. Nakushukuru kwamba mimi si 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 Nafunga mara mbili kwa juma, natoa zaka sehemu ya kumi ya pato langu.
I fast twice a week, and give a tenth of everything I get to God.’
13 Lakini yule mtoza ushuru, akiwa amesimama kwa mbali bila hata kuinua macho yake mbinguni, ila tu akijipiga kifua kwa huzuni, alisema: Ee Mungu, unionee huruma 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 Nawaambieni, huyu mtoza ushuru alirudi nyumbani akiwa amesamehewa. Lakini yule mwingine, sivyo. Kwa maana kila anayejikweza atashushwa, na kila anayejishusha 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 Watu walimletea Yesu watoto wadogo ili awawekee mikono yake. Wanafunzi walipowaona, wakawazuia kwa maneno makali.
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 kwake akisema: “Waacheni hao watoto waje kwangu, wala msiwazuie, kwa maana Ufalme wa Mungu ni kwa ajili ya watu 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 Nawaambieni kweli, mtu yeyote asiyeupokea Ufalme wa Mungu kama mtoto mdogo, hataingia katika Ufalme huo.”
I tell you, unless a man receives the kingdom of God like a child, he will not enter it at all.”
18 Kiongozi mmoja, Myahudi, alimwuliza Yesu, “Mwalimu mwema, nifanye nini ili niweze kuupata 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 akamwambia, “Mbona waniita mwema? Hakuna 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; usitoe ushahidi wa 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 Yeye akasema, “Hayo yote nimeyazingatia tangu ujana wangu.”
“I have observed all these,” he replied, “from childhood.”
22 Yesu aliposikia hayo akamwambia, “Unatakiwa bado kufanya kitu kimoja: uza kila ulicho nacho, wagawie maskini, na hivyo utakuwa na hazina yako mbinguni; halafu 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 Lakini huyo mtu aliposikia hayo, alihuzunika sana kwa sababu alikuwa tajiri sana.
But the man became greatly distressed on hearing this, for he was extremely rich.
24 Yesu alipoona akihuzunika hivyo, akasema, “Jinsi gani ilivyo vigumu kwa matajiri 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 Naam, ni rahisi zaidi kwa ngamia kupita katika tundu la sindano, kuliko 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 watu waliposikia hayo, wakasema, “Nani basi, atakayeokolewa?”
“Then who can be saved?” asked those who heard this.
27 Yesu akajibu, “Yasiyowezekana kwa binadamu, yanawezekana kwa Mungu.”
But Jesus said, “What is impossible with people is possible with God.”
28 Naye Petro akamwuliza, “Na sisi je? Tumeacha vitu vyote tukakufuata!”
“But we,” said Peter, “we left what belonged to us and followed you.”
29 Yesu akawaambia, “Kweli nawaambieni, mtu yeyote aliyeacha nyumba au mke au kaka 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 aliwachukua kando wale kumi na wawili, akawaambia, “Sikilizeni! Tunakwenda Yerusalemu na huko kila kitu kilichoandikwa na manabii kuhusu Mwana wa Mtu kitakamilishwa.
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 maana atakabidhiwa kwa watu wa mataifa nao watamtendea vibaya na kumtemea mate.
For he will be given up to the Gentiles, mocked, insulted and spat on;
33 Watampiga mijeledi, watamuua; lakini siku ya tatu atafufuka.”
they will scourge him, and then put him to death; and on the third day he will rise again.”
34 Lakini wao hawakuelewa hata kidogo jambo hilo; walikuwa wamefichwa maana ya maneno hayo, na hawakutambua yaliyosemwa.
The apostles did not comprehend any of this. His meaning was unintelligible to them and they did not understand what he was saying.
35 Wakati Yesu alipokaribia Yeriko, kulikuwa na mtu mmoja kipofu ameketi njiani akiomba.
As Jesus was getting near Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside, begging.
36 Aliposikia umati wa watu ukipita aliuliza, “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 Naye akapaza sauti akisema, “Yesu, Mwana wa Daudi, nihurumie!”
he shouted out, “Jesus, Son of David, take pity on me!”
39 Wale watu waliotangulia wakamkemea wakimwambia anyamaze; lakini yeye akazidi kupaza sauti: “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 alisimama, akaamuru wamlete mbele yake. Yule kipofu alipofika karibu, Yesu akamwuliza,
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?” Naye akamjibu, “Bwana, naomba nipate kuona tena.”
“What do you want me to do for you?” “Master,” he said, “I want to recover my sight.”
42 Yesu akamwambia, “Ona! Imani yako imekuponya.”
And Jesus said, “Recover your sight, your faith has delivered you.”
43 Na mara yule aliyekuwa kipofu akapata kuona, akamfuata Yesu akimtukuza Mungu. Watu wote walipoona hayo, 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.
