1 We then, as workers together with him , beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
Nasi tukitenda kazi pamoja naye twawasihi msiipokee neema ya Mungu bure.
2 (For he saith,
I have heard thee in a time accepted,
And in the day of salvation have I succoured thee:
behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
(Kwa maana asema, Wakati uliokubalika nalikusikia, Siku ya wokovu nalikusaidia; tazama, wakati uliokubalika ndiyo sasa; tazama siku ya wokovu ni sasa)
3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
Tusiwe kwazo la namna yo yote katika jambo lo lote, ili utumishi wetu usilaumiwe;
4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
bali katika kila neno tujipatie sifa njema, kama watumishi wa Mungu; katika saburi nyingi, katika dhiki, katika misiba, katika shida;
5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
katika mapigo, katika vifungo, katika fitina, katika taabu, katika kukesha, katika kufunga;
6 by pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
katika kuwa safi, katika elimu, katika uvumilivu, katika utu wema, katika Roho Mtakatifu, katika upendo usio unafiki;
7 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
katika neno la kweli, katika nguvu ya Mungu; kwa silaha za haki za mkono wa kuume na za mkono wa kushoto;
8 by honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
kwa utukufu na aibu; kwa kunenwa vibaya na kunenwa vema; kama wadanganyao, bali tu watu wa kweli;
9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
kama wasiojulikana, bali wajulikanao sana; kama wanaokufa, kumbe tu hai; kama wanaorudiwa, bali wasiouawa;
10 as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
kama wenye huzuni, bali siku zote tu wenye furaha; kama maskini, bali tukitajirisha wengi; kama wasio na kitu, bali tu wenye vitu vyote.
11 O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.
Vinywa vyetu vimefumbuliwa kwenu, enyi Wakorintho; mioyo yetu imekunjuliwa.
12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.
Hamsongwi ndani yetu, bali mwasongwa katika mioyo yenu.
13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.
Basi, ili mlipe kadiri ile mliyopewa (nasema nanyi kama na watoto), nanyi pia mkunjuliwe mioyo.
Entanglements
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
Msifungiwe nira pamoja na wasioamini, kwa jinsi isivyo sawasawa; kwa maana pana urafiki gani kati ya haki na uasi? Tena pana shirika gani kati ya nuru na giza?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
Tena pana ulinganifu gani kati ya Kristo na Beliari? Au yeye aaminiye ana sehemu gani pamoja na yeye asiyeamini?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them ; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Tena pana mapatano gani kati ya hekalu la Mungu na sanamu? Kwa maana sisi tu hekalu la Mungu aliye hai; kama Mungu alivyosema, ya kwamba, Nitakaa ndani yao, na kati yao nitatembea, nami nitakuwa Mungu wao, nao watakuwa watu wangu.
17 Wherefore
Come out from among them, and be ye separate,
saith the Lord,
And touch not the unclean thing ;
And I will receive you,
Kwa hiyo, Tokeni kati yao, Mkatengwe nao, asema Bwana, Msiguse kitu kilicho kichafu, Nami nitawakaribisha.
18 And will be a Father unto you,
And ye shall be my sons and daughters,
saith the Lord Almighty.
Nitakuwa Baba kwenu, Nanyi mtakuwa kwangu wanangu wa kiume na wa kike,
