A House Not Made With Hands
1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
Kwa maana twajua ya kuwa nyumba ya maskani yetu iliyo ya dunia hii ikiharibiwa, tunalo jengo litokalo kwa Mungu, nyumba isiyofanywa kwa mikono, iliyo ya milele mbinguni.
2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
Maana katika nyumba hii twaugua, tukitamani sana kuvikwa kao letu litokalo mbinguni;
3 if so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
ikiwa tukiisha kuvikwa hatutaonekana tu uchi.
4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
Kwa sababu sisi tulio katika maskani hii twaugua, tukilemewa; si kwamba twataka kuvuliwa, bali kuvikwa, ili kitu kile kipatikanacho na mauti kimezwe na uzima.
5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
Basi yeye aliyetufanya kwa ajili ya neno lilo hilo ni Mungu, aliyetupa arabuni ya Roho.
6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
Basi siku zote tuna moyo mkuu; tena twajua ya kuwa, wakati tuwapo hapa katika mwili, tunakaa mbali na Bwana.
7 (for we walk by faith, not by sight:)
(Maana twaenenda kwa imani, si kwa kuona.)
8 we are confident, I say , and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Lakini tuna moyo mkuu; nasi tunaona ni afadhali kutokuwamo katika mwili na kukaa pamoja na Bwana.
9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
Kwa hiyo, tena, ikiwa tupo hapa, au ikiwa hatupo hapa, twajitahidi kumpendeza yeye.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Kwa maana imetupasa sisi sote kudhihirishwa mbele ya kiti cha hukumu cha Kristo, ili kila mtu apokee ijara ya mambo aliyotenda kwa mwili, kadiri alivyotenda, kwamba ni mema au mabaya.
For the Glory of God
11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
Basi tukiijua hofu ya Bwana, twawavuta wanadamu; lakini tumedhihirishwa mbele za Mungu. Nami natumaini ya kuwa tumedhihirishwa katika dhamiri zenu pia.
12 For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.
Maana hatujisifu wenyewe mbele yenu tena, bali tunawapa sababu ya kujisifu kwa ajili yetu, ili mpate kuwa nayo mbele yao wanaojisifu kwa mambo ya nje tu, wala si kwa mambo ya moyoni.
13 For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.
Maana ikiwa tumerukwa na akili zetu, ni kwa ajili ya Mungu; au ikiwa tunazo akili zetu timamu, ni kwa ajili yenu.
14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
Maana, upendo wa Kristo watubidisha; maana tumehukumu hivi, ya kwamba mmoja alikufa kwa ajili ya wote, basi walikufa wote;
15 and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
tena alikufa kwa ajili ya wote, ili walio hai wasiwe hai tena kwa ajili ya nafsi zao wenyewe, bali kwa ajili yake yeye aliyekufa akafufuka kwa ajili yao.
A New Creature
16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
Hata imekuwa, sisi tangu sasa hatumjui mtu awaye yote kwa jinsi ya mwili. Ingawa sisi tumemtambua Kristo kwa jinsi ya mwili, lakini sasa hatumtambui hivi tena.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Hata imekuwa, mtu akiwa ndani ya Kristo amekuwa kiumbe kipya; ya kale yamepita tazama! Yamekuwa mapya.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
Lakini vyote pia vyatokana na Mungu, aliyetupatanisha sisi na nafsi yake kwa Kristo, naye alitupa huduma ya upatanisho;
19 to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
yaani, Mungu alikuwa ndani ya Kristo, akiupatanisha ulimwengu na nafsi yake, asiwahesabie makosa yao; naye ametia ndani yetu neno la upatanisho.
Ambassadors for Christ
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
Basi tu wajumbe kwa ajili ya Kristo, kana kwamba Mungu anasihi kwa vinywa vyetu; twawaomba ninyi kwa ajili ya Kristo mpatanishwe na Mungu.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Yeye asiyejua dhambi alimfanya kuwa dhambi kwa ajili yetu, ili sisi tupate kuwa haki ya Mungu katika Yeye.
