God's Soldier and Workman
1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
Basi wewe, mwanangu, uwe hodari katika neema iliyo katika Kristo Yesu.
2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
Na mambo yale uliyoyasikia kwangu mbele ya mashahidi wengi, hayo uwakabidhi watu waaminifu watakaofaa kuwafundisha na wengine.
3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
Ushiriki taabu pamoja nami, kama askari mwema wa Kristo Yesu.
4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
Hakuna apigaye vita ajitiaye katika shughuli za dunia, ili ampendeze yeye aliyemwandika awe askari.
5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
Hata mtu akishindana katika machezo hapewi taji, asiposhindana kwa halali.
6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
Yampasa mkulima mwenye taabu ya kazi kuwa wa kwanza wa kupata fungu la matunda.
7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
Yafahamu sana hayo nisemayo, kwa maana Bwana atakupa akili katika mambo yote.
8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
Mkumbuke Yesu Kristo, aliyefufuka katika wafu, wa uzao wa Daudi kama inenavyo injili yangu.
9 wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
Nami katika hiyo nimeteswa hata kufungwa kama mtenda mabaya; lakini neno la Mungu halifungwi.
10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
Kwa ajili ya hilo nastahimili mambo yote, kwa ajili ya wateule, ili wao nao waupate wokovu ule ulio katika Kristo Yesu, pamoja na utukufu wa milele.
11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him , we shall also live with him :
Ni neno la kuaminiwa. Kwa maana, Kama tukifa pamoja naye, tutaishi pamoja naye pia;
12 if we suffer, we shall also reign with him : if we deny him , he also will deny us:
Kama tukistahimili, tutamiliki pamoja naye; Kama tukimkana yeye, yeye naye atatukana sisi;
13 if we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
Kama sisi hatuamini, yeye hudumu wa kuaminiwa. Kwa maana hawezi kujikana mwenyewe.
14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
Uwakumbushe mambo hayo, ukiwaonya machoni pa Mungu, wasiwe na mashindano ya maneno, ambayo hayana faida, bali huwaharibu wasikiao.
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Jitahidi kujionyesha kuwa umekubaliwa na Mungu, mtenda kazi asiye na sababu ya kutahayari, ukitumia kwa halali neno la kweli.
16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
Jiepushe na maneno yasiyo na maana, ambayo si ya dini; kwa kuwa wataendelea zaidi katika maovu,
17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenæus and Philetus;
na neno lao litaenea kama donda-ndugu. Miongoni mwa hao wamo Himenayo na Fileto,
18 who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
walioikosa ile kweli, wakisema ya kwamba kiyama imekwisha kuwapo, hata kuipindua imani ya watu kadha wa kadha.
19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
Lakini msingi wa Mungu ulio imara umesimama, wenye muhuri hii, Bwana awajua walio wake. Na tena, Kila alitajaye jina la Bwana na auache uovu.
20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
Basi katika nyumba kubwa havimo vyombo vya dhahabu na fedha tu, bali na vya mti, na vya udongo; vingine vina heshima, vingine havina.
21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
Basi ikiwa mtu amejitakasa kwa kujitenga na hao, atakuwa chombo cha kupata heshima, kilichosafishwa, kimfaacho Bwana, kimetengenezwa kwa kila kazi iliyo njema.
22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Lakini zikimbie tamaa za ujanani; ukafuate haki, na imani, na upendo, na amani, pamoja na wale wamwitao Bwana kwa moyo safi.
23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
Walakini uyakatae maswali ya upumbavu yasiyo na elimu, ukijua ya kuwa huzaa magomvi.
24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men , apt to teach, patient,
Tena haimpasi mtumwa wa Bwana kuwa mgomvi; bali kuwa mwanana kwa watu wote, awezaye kufundisha, mvumilivu;
25 in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
akiwaonya kwa upole wao washindanao naye, ili kama ikiwezekana, Mungu awape kutubu na kuijua kweli;
26 and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
wapate tena fahamu zao, na kutoka katika mtego wa Ibilisi, ambao hao wametegwa naye, hata kuyafanya mapenzi yake.
