A Change of Masters
1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
Ndugu zangu, hamjui (maana nasema na hao waijuao sheria) ya kuwa torati humtawala mtu wakati anapokuwa yu hai?
2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
Kwa maana mwanamke aliye na mume amefungwa na sheria kwa yule mume wakati anapokuwa yu hai; bali akifa yule mume, amefunguliwa ile sheria ya mume.
3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.
Basi wakati awapo hai mumewe, kama akiwa na mume mwingine huitwa mzinzi. Ila mumewe akifa, amekuwa huru, hafungwi na sheria hiyo, hata yeye si mzinzi, ajapoolewa na mume mwingine.
4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
Kadhalika, ndugu zangu, ninyi pia mmeifia torati, kwa njia ya mwili wa Kristo, mpate kuwa mali ya mwingine, yeye aliyefufuka katika wafu, kusudi tumzalie Mungu matunda.
5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
Kwa maana tulipokuwa katika hali ya mwili, tamaa za dhambi, zilizokuwako kwa sababu ya torati, zilitenda kazi katika viungo vyetu hata mkaizalia mauti mazao.
6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
Bali sasa tumefunguliwa katika torati, tumeifia hali ile iliyotupinga, ili sisi tupate kutumika katika hali mpya ya roho, si katika hali ya zamani, ya andiko.
7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
Tusemeje, basi? Torati ni dhambi? Hasha! Walakini singalitambua dhambi ila kwa sheria; kwa kuwa singalijua kutamani, kama torati isingalisema, Usitamani.
8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
Lakini dhambi ilipata nafasi kwa ile amri, ikafanya ndani yangu kila namna ya kutamani. Kwa maana dhambi bila sheria imekufa.
9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
Nami nalikuwa hai hapo kwanza bila sheria; ila ilipokuja ile amri, dhambi ilihuika, nami nikafa.
10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
Nikaona ile amri iletayo uzima ya kuwa kwangu mimi ilileta mauti.
11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me .
Kwa maana dhambi, kwa kupata nafasi kwa ile amri, ilinidanganya, na kwa hiyo ikaniua.
12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
Basi torati ni takatifu, na ile amri ni takatifu, na ya haki, na njema.
13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
Basi je! Ile iliyo njema ilikuwa mauti kwangu mimi? Hasha! Bali dhambi, ili ionekane kuwa ni dhambi hasa, ilifanya mauti ndani yangu kwa njia ya ile njema, kusudi kwa ile amri dhambi izidi kuwa mbaya mno.
14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
Kwa maana twajua ya kuwa torati asili yake ni ya rohoni; bali mimi ni mtu wa mwilini, nimeuzwa chini ya dhambi.
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
Maana sijui nifanyalo, kwa sababu lile nilipendalo, silitendi; bali lile nilichukialo ndilo ninalolitenda.
16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
Lakini kama nikilitenda lile nisilolipenda, naikiri ile sheria ya kuwa ni njema.
17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Basi sasa si mimi nafsi yangu ninayetenda hilo, bali ni ile dhambi ikaayo ndani yangu
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Kwa maana najua ya kuwa ndani yangu, yaani, ndani ya mwili wangu, halikai neno jema; kwa kuwa kutaka nataka, bali kutenda lililo jema sipati.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Kwa maana lile jema nilipendalo, silitendi; bali lile baya nisilolipenda ndilo nilitendalo.
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Basi kama lile nisilolipenda ndilo nilitendalo, si mimi nafsi yangu nilitendaye, bali ni ile dhambi ikaayo ndani yangu.
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Basi nimeona sheria hii, ya kuwa kwangu mimi nitakaye kutenda lililo jema, lipo lililo baya.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Kwa maana naifurahia sheria ya Mungu kwa utu wa ndani,
23 but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
lakini katika viungo vyangu naona sheria iliyo mbali, inapiga vita na ile sheria ya akili zangu, na kunifanya mateka ya ile sheria ya dhambi iliyo katika viungo vyangu.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Ole wangu, maskini mimi! Ni nani atakayeniokoa na mwili huu wa mauti?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Namshukuru Mungu, kwa Yesu Kristo Bwana wetu. Basi, kama ni hivyo, mimi mwenyewe kwa akili zangu naitumikia sheria ya Mungu, bali kwa mwili wangu sheria ya dhambi.
