1 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?
Je! Mimi si huru? Mimi si mtume? Mimi sikumwona Yesu Bwana wetu? Ninyi si kazi yangu katika Bwana?
2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.
Kwa maana ikiwa mimi si mtume kwa wengine, lakini ni mtume kwenu ninyi; kwa maana ninyi ndinyi muhuri ya utume wangu katika Bwana.
3 Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,
Hilo ndilo jawabu langu kwa wale wanaoniuliza.
4 Have we not power to eat and to drink?
Je! Hatuna uwezo wa kula na kunywa?
5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
Hatuna uwezo kuchukua pamoja nasi mke aliye ndugu, kama wao mitume wengine, na ndugu wa Bwana, na Kefa?
6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
Au je! Ni mimi peke yangu na Barnaba tusio na uwezo wa kutokufanya kazi?
7 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
Ni askari gani aendaye vitani wakati wo wote kwa gharama zake mwenyewe? Ni nani apandaye mizabibu asiyekula katika matunda yake? Au ni nani achungaye kundi, asiyekunywa katika maziwa ya kundi?
8 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
Je! Ninanena hayo kwa kibinadamu? Au torati nayo haisemi yayo hayo?
9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
Kwa maana katika torati ya Musa imeandikwa, Usimfunge kinywa ng'ombe apurapo nafaka. Je! Hapo Mungu aangalia mambo ya ng'ombe?
10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
Au yamkini anena hayo kwa ajili yetu? Naam, yaliandikwa kwa ajili yetu; kwa kuwa alimaye nafaka ni haki yake kulima kwa matumaini, naye apuraye nafaka ni haki yake kutumaini kupata sehemu yake.
11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
Ikiwa sisi tuliwapandia ninyi vitu vya rohoni, je! Ni neno kubwa tukivuna vitu vyenu vya mwilini?
12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
Ikiwa wengine wanashiriki uwezo huu juu yenu, sisi si zaidi? Lakini hatukuutumia uwezo huo; bali twayavumilia mambo yote tusije tukaizuia Habari Njema ya Kristo.
13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
Hamjui ya kuwa wale wazifanyao kazi za hekaluni hula katika vitu vya hekalu, na wale waihudumiao madhabahu huwa na fungu lao katika vitu vya madhabahu?
14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
Na Bwana vivyo hivyo ameamuru kwamba wale waihubirio Injili wapate riziki kwa hiyo Injili.
15 But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.
Lakini mimi sikutumia mambo hayo hata moja. Wala siyaandiki hayo ili iwe hivyo kwangu mimi; maana ni heri nife kuliko mtu awaye yote abatilishe huku kujisifu kwangu.
16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
Maana, ijapokuwa naihubiri Injili, sina la kujisifia; maana nimewekewa sharti; tena ole wangu nisipoihubiri Injili!
17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.
Maana nikiitenda kazi hii kwa hiari yangu nina thawabu; ila ikiwa si kwa hiari yangu, nimeaminiwa uwakili.
18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
Basi thawabu yangu ni nini? Ni hii, ya kuwa nihubiripo, nitaitoa Injili bila gharama, bila kutumia kwa utimilifu uwezo wangu nilio nao katika Injili.
19 For though I be free from all men , yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
Maana, ingawa nimekuwa huru kwa watu wote, nalijifanya mtumwa wa wote, ili nipate watu wengi zaidi.
20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
Nalikuwa kama Myahudi kwa Wayahudi, ili niwapate Wayahudi; kwa wale walio chini ya sheria, nalikuwa kama chini ya sheria, (ingawa mimi mwenyewe si chini ya sheria), ili niwapate walio chini ya sheria.
21 to them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
Kwa wale wasio na sheria nalikuwa kama sina sheria, (si kwamba sina sheria mbele za Mungu, bali mwenye sheria mbele za Kristo), ili niwapate hao wasio na sheria.
22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men , that I might by all means save some.
Kwa wanyonge nalikuwa mnyonge, ili niwapate wanyonge. Nimekuwa hali zote kwa watu wote, ili kwa njia zote nipate kuwaokoa watu.
23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you .
Nami nafanya mambo yote kwa ajili ya Injili ili kuishiriki pamoja na wengine.
24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
Je! Hamjui, ya kuwa wale washindanao kwa kupiga mbio, hupiga mbio wote, lakini apokeaye tuzo ni mmoja? Pigeni mbio namna hiyo, ili mpate.
25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
Na kila ashindanaye katika michezo hujizuia katika yote; basi hao hufanya hivyo kusudi wapokee taji iharibikayo; bali sisi tupokee taji isiyoharibika.
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
Hata mimi napiga mbio vivyo hivyo, si kama asitaye; napigana ngumi vivyo hivyo, si kama apigaye hewa;
27 but I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
bali nautesa mwili wangu na kuutumikisha; isiwe, nikiisha kuwahubiri wengine, mwenyewe niwe mtu wa kukataliwa.
