1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Basi imani ni kuwa na hakika ya mambo yatarajiwayo, ni bayana ya mambo yasiyoonekana.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
Maana kwa hiyo wazee wetu walishuhudiwa.
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Kwa imani twafahamu ya kuwa ulimwengu uliumbwa kwa neno la Mungu, hata vitu vinavyoonekana havikufanywa kwa vitu vilivyo dhahiri.
4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
Kwa imani Habili alimtolea Mungu dhabihu iliyo bora kuliko Kaini; kwa hiyo alishuhudiwa kuwa ana haki; Mungu akazishuhudia sadaka zake, na kwa hiyo, ijapokuwa amekufa, angali akinena.
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Kwa imani Henoko alihamishwa, asije akaona mauti, wala hakuonekana, kwa sababu Mungu alimhamisha; maana kabla ya kuhamishwa alikuwa ameshuhudiwa kwamba amempendeza Mungu.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him : for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Lakini pasipo imani haiwezekani kumpendeza; kwa maana mtu amwendeaye Mungu lazima aamini kwamba yeye yuko, na kwamba huwapa thawabu wale wamtafutao.
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Kwa imani Nuhu akiisha kuonywa na Mungu katika habari za mambo yasiyoonekana bado, kwa jinsi alivyomcha Mungu, aliunda safina, apate kuokoa nyumba yake. Na hivyo akauhukumu makosa ulimwengu, akawa mrithi wa haki ipatikanayo kwa imani.
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Kwa imani Ibrahimu alipoitwa aliitika, atoke aende mahali pale atakapopapata kuwa urithi; akatoka asijue aendako.
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
Kwa imani alikaa ugenini katika ile nchi ya ahadi, kama katika nchi isiyo yake, akikaa katika hema pamoja na Isaka na Yakobo, warithi pamoja naye wa ahadi ile ile.
10 for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Maana alikuwa akiutazamia mji wenye misingi, ambao mwenye kuubuni na kuujenga ni Mungu.
11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
Kwa imani hata Sara mwenyewe alipokea uwezo wa kuwa na mimba; alipokuwa amepita wakati wake; kwa kuwa alimhesabu yeye aliyeahidi kuwa mwaminifu.
12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
Na kwa ajili ya hayo wakazaliwa na mtu mmoja, naye alikuwa kama mfu, watu wengi kama nyota za mbinguni wingi wao, na kama mchanga ulio ufuoni, usioweza kuhesabika.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them , and embraced them , and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Hawa wote wakafa katika imani, wasijazipokea zile ahadi, bali wakaziona tokea mbali na kuzishangilia, na kukiri kwamba walikuwa wageni, na wasafiri juu ya nchi.
14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
Maana hao wasemao maneno kama hayo waonyesha wazi kwamba wanatafuta nchi yao wenyewe.
15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
Na kama wangaliikumbuka nchi ile waliyotoka, wangalipata nafasi ya kurejea.
16 But now they desire a better country , that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
Lakini sasa waitamani nchi iliyo bora, yaani, ya mbinguni. Kwa hiyo Mungu haoni haya kuitwa Mungu wao; maana amewatengenezea mji.
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son ,
Kwa imani Ibrahimu alipojaribiwa, akamtoa Isaka awe dhabihu; na yeye aliyezipokea hizo ahadi alikuwa akimtoa mwanawe, mzaliwa pekee;
18 of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
naam, yeye aliyeambiwa, Katika Isaka uzao wako utaitwa,
19 accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
akihesabu ya kuwa Mungu aweza kumfufua hata kutoka kuzimu; akampata tena toka huko kwa mfano.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
Kwa imani Isaka akawabariki Yakobo na Esau, hata katika habari ya mambo yatakayokuwa baadaye.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
Kwa imani Yakobo, alipokuwa katika kufa, akambariki kila mmoja wa wana wa Yusufu, akaabudu akiegemea kichwa cha fimbo yake.
22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
Kwa imani Yusufu, alipokuwa amekaribia mwisho wake, alitaja habari za kutoka kwao wana wa Israeli, akaagiza kwa habari ya mifupa yake.
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
Kwa imani Musa, alipozaliwa, akafichwa miezi mitatu na wazazi wake, kwa sababu waliona kwamba ni mtoto mzuri; wala hawakuiogopa amri ya mfalme.
24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
Kwa imani Musa alipokuwa mtu mzima, akakataa kuitwa mwana wa binti Farao;
25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
akaona ni afadhali kupata mateso pamoja na watu wa Mungu kuliko kujifurahisha katika dhambi kwa kitambo;
26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
akihesabu ya kuwa kushutumiwa kwake Kristo ni utajiri mkuu kuliko hazina za Misri; kwa kuwa aliyatazamia hayo malipo.
27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
Kwa imani akatoka Misri, asiogope ghadhabu ya mfalme; maana alistahimili kama amwonaye yeye asiyeonekana.
28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
Kwa imani akaifanya Pasaka, na kule kunyunyiza damu, ili yule mwenye kuwaangamiza wazaliwa wa kwanza asiwaguse wao.
29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land : which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
Kwa imani wakapita kati ya Bahari ya Shamu, kama katika nchi kavu; Wamisri walipojaribu kufanya vivyo wakatoswa.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
Kwa imani kuta za Yeriko zikaanguka, zilipokwisha kuzungukwa siku saba.
31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
Kwa imani Rahabu, yule kahaba, hakuangamia pamoja na hao walioasi; kwa kuwa aliwakaribisha wale wapelelezi kwa amani.
32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
Nami niseme nini tena? Maana wakati usingenitosha kuleta habari za Gideoni na Baraka na Samsoni na Yeftha na Daudi na Samweli na za manabii;
33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
ambao kwa imani walishinda milki za wafalme, walitenda haki, walipata ahadi, walifunga vinywa vya simba,
34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
walizima nguvu za moto, waliokoka na makali ya upanga. Walitiwa nguvu baada ya kuwa dhaifu, walikuwa hodari katika vita, walikimbiza majeshi ya wageni.
35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
Wanawake walipokea wafu wao waliofufuliwa. Lakini wengine waliumizwa vibaya hata kuuawa, wasikubali ukombozi, ili wapate ufufuo ulio bora;
36 and others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
wengine walijaribiwa kwa dhihaka na mapigo, naam, kwa mafungo, na kwa kutiwa gerezani;
37 they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
walipigwa kwa mawe, walikatwa kwa misumeno, walijaribiwa, waliuawa kwa upanga; walizunguka-zunguka wakivaa ngozi za kondoo na ngozi za mbuzi; walikuwa wahitaji, wakiteswa, wakitendwa mabaya;
38 (of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
(watu ambao ulimwengu haukustahili kuwa nao), walikuwa wakizunguka-zunguka katika nyika na katika milima na katika mapango na katika mashimo ya nchi.
39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
Na watu hao wote wakiisha kushuhudiwa kwa sababu ya imani yao, hawakuipokea ahadi;
40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
kwa kuwa Mungu alikuwa ametangulia kutuwekea sisi kitu kilicho bora, ili wao wasikamilishwe pasipo sisi.
