1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
Maana nataka ninyi mjue jinsi ilivyo kuu juhudi yangu niliyo nayo kwa ajili yenu, na kwa ajili ya wale wa Laodikia, na wale wasioniona uso wangu katika mwili;
2 that their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
ili wafarijiwe mioyo yao, wakiunganishwa katika upendo, wakapate utajiri wote wa kufahamu kwa hakika, wapate kujua kabisa siri ya Mungu, yaani, Kristo;
3 in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
ambaye ndani yake yeye hazina zote za hekima na maarifa zimesitirika.
4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
Nasema neno hili, mtu asije akawadanganya kwa maneno ya kuwashawishi.
5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
Maana nijapokuwa sipo kwa mwili, lakini nipo pamoja nanyi kwa roho, nikifurahi na kuuona utaratibu wenu na uthabiti wa imani yenu katika Kristo.
The All-sufficiency of Christ
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
Basi kama mlivyompokea Kristo Yesu, Bwana, enendeni vivyo hivyo katika yeye;
7 rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
wenye shina na wenye kujengwa katika yeye; mmefanywa imara kwa imani, kama mlivyofundishwa; mkizidi kutoa shukrani.
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Angalieni mtu asiwafanye mateka kwa elimu yake ya bure na madanganyo matupu, kwa jinsi ya mapokeo ya wanadamu, kwa jinsi ya mafundisho ya awali ya ulimwengu, wala si kwa jinsi ya Kristo.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
Maana katika yeye unakaa utimilifu wote wa Mungu, kwa jinsi ya kimwili.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
Na ninyi mmetimilika katika yeye aliye kichwa cha enzi yote na mamlaka.
11 in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
Katika yeye mmetahiriwa kwa tohara isiyofanyika kwa mikono, kwa kuuvua mwili wa nyama, kwa tohara ya Kristo.
12 buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Mkazikwa pamoja naye katika ubatizo; na katika huo mkafufuliwa pamoja naye, kwa kuziamini nguvu za Mungu aliyemfufua katika wafu.
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Na ninyi mlipokuwa mmekufa kwa sababu ya makosa yenu na kutokutahiriwa kwa mwili wenu, aliwafanya hai pamoja naye, akiisha kutusamehe makosa yote;
14 blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
akiisha kuifuta ile hati iliyoandikwa ya kutushitaki kwa hukumu zake, iliyokuwa na uadui kwetu; akaiondoa isiwepo tena, akaigongomea msalabani;
15 and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
akiisha kuzivua enzi na mamlaka, na kuzifanya kuwa mkogo kwa ujasiri, akizishangilia katika msalaba huo.
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days :
Basi, mtu asiwahukumu ninyi katika vyakula au vinywaji, au kwa sababu ya sikukuu au mwandamo wa mwezi, au sabato;
17 which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
mambo hayo ni kivuli cha mambo yajayo; bali mwili ni wa Kristo.
18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
Mtu asiwanyang'anye thawabu yenu, kwa kunyenyekea kwa mapenzi yake mwenyewe tu, na kuabudu malaika, akijitia katika maono yake na kujivuna bure, kwa akili zake za kimwili;
19 and not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
wala hakishiki Kichwa, ambacho kwa yeye mwili wote ukiruzukiwa na kuungamanishwa kwa viungo na mishipa, hukua kwa maongeo yatokayo kwa Mungu.
20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
Basi ikiwa mlikufa pamoja na Kristo mkayaacha yale mafundisho ya awali ya ulimwengu, kwa nini kujitia chini ya amri, kama wenye kuishi duniani,
21 (touch not; taste not; handle not;
Msishike, msionje, msiguse;
22 which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
(mambo hayo yote huharibika wakati wa kutumiwa); hali mkifuata maagizo na mafundisho ya wanadamu?
23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
Mambo hayo yanaonekana kana kwamba yana hekima, katika namna ya ibada mliyojitungia wenyewe, na katika kunyenyekea, na katika kuutawala mwili kwa ukali; lakini hayafai kitu kwa kuzizuia tamaa za mwili.
