God Loves a Cheerful Giver
1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
Tena ndugu zetu, twawaarifu habari ya neema ya Mungu, waliyopewa makanisa ya Makedonia;
2 how that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
maana walipokuwa wakijaribiwa kwa dhiki nyingi, wingi wa furaha yao na umaskini wao uliokuwa mwingi uliwaongezea utajiri wa ukarimu wao.
3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
Maana nawashuhudia kwamba, kwa uwezo wao, na zaidi ya uwezo wao, kwa hiari yao wenyewe walitoa vitu vyao;
4 praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
wakituomba sana pamoja na kutusihi kwa habari ya neema hii, na shirika hili la kuwahudumia watakatifu.
5 And this they did , not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
Tena walitenda hivi si kama tulivyotumaini tu, bali kwanza walijitoa nafsi zao kwa Bwana; na kwetu pia, kwa mapenzi ya Mungu.
6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.
Hata tukamwonya Tito kuwatimilizia neema hii kwenu kama vile yeye alivyotangulia kuianzisha.
7 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
Lakini kama mlivyo na wingi wa mambo yote; imani, na usemi, na elimu, na bidii yote, na upendo wenu kwetu sisi; basi vivyo hivyo mpate wingi wa neema hii pia.
8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
Sineni ili kuwaamuru, bali kwa bidii ya watu wengine nijaribu unyofu wa upendo wenu.
9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
Maana mmejua neema ya Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo, jinsi alivyokuwa maskini kwa ajili yenu, ingawa alikuwa tajiri, ili kwamba ninyi mpate kuwa matajiri kwa umaskini wake.
10 And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.
Nami katika neno hili natoa shauri langu; maana neno hili lawafaa ninyi mliotangulia, yapata mwaka, licha ya kutenda hata na kutaka pia.
11 Now therefore perform the doing of it ; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.
Lakini sasa timizeni kule kutenda nako, ili kama vile mlivyokuwa tayari kutaka, vivyo hivyo mkawe tayari na kutimiza, kwa kadiri ya mlivyo navyo.
12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
Maana, kama nia ipo, hukubaliwa kwa kadiri ya alivyo navyo mtu, si kwa kadiri ya asivyo navyo.
13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
Maana sisemi hayo, ili wengine wapate raha nanyi mpate dhiki;
14 but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:
bali mambo yawe sawasawa; wakati huu wa sasa wingi wenu uwafae upungufu wao, ili na wingi wao uwafae ninyi mtakapopungukiwa; ili mambo yawe sawasawa.
15 as it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
Kama ilivyoandikwa, Aliyekusanya vingi, hakuzidi, wala yeye aliyekusanya vichache hakupungukiwa.
16 But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.
Lakini ahimidiwe Mungu atiaye bidii ile ile kwa ajili yenu katika moyo wa Tito.
17 For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.
Maana aliyapokea kweli yale maonyo; tena, huku akizidi kuwa na bidii, alisafiri kwenda kwenu kwa hiari yake mwenyewe.
18 And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;
Na pamoja naye tukamtuma ndugu yule ambaye sifa zake katika Injili zimeenea makanisani mwote.
19 and not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:
Wala si hivyo tu, bali alichaguliwa na makanisa asafiri pamoja nasi katika jambo la neema hii, tunayoitumikia, ili Bwana atukuzwe, ukadhihirike utayari wetu.
20 avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:
Tukijiepusha na neno hili, mtu asije akatulaumu kwa habari ya karama hii tunayoitumikia;
21 providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
tukitangulia kufikiri yaliyo mema, si mbele za Bwana tu, ila na mbele ya wanadamu.
22 And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.
Nasi pamoja nao tumemtuma ndugu yetu tuliyemwona mara nyingi katika mambo mengi kuwa ana bidii, na sasa ana bidii zaidi sana kwa sababu ya tumaini kuu alilo nalo kwenu.
23 Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.
Basi mtu akitaka habari za Tito, yeye ni mshirika wangu, na mtenda kazi pamoja nami kwa ajili yenu; tena akitaka habari za ndugu zetu, wao ni mitume wa makanisa, na utukufu wa Kristo.
24 Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.
Basi waonyesheni mbele ya makanisa hakika ya upendo wenu, na ya kujisifu kwetu kwa ajili yenu.
