The Good Minister
1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Basi Roho anena waziwazi ya kwamba nyakati za mwisho wengine watajitenga na imani, wakisikiliza roho zidanganyazo, na mafundisho ya mashetani;
2 speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
kwa unafiki wa watu wasemao uongo, wakichomwa moto dhamiri zao wenyewe;
3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
wakiwazuia watu wasioe, na kuwaamuru wajiepushe na vyakula, ambavyo Mungu aliviumba vipokewe kwa shukrani na walio na imani wenye kuijua hiyo kweli.
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
Kwa maana kila kiumbe cha Mungu ni kizuri, wala hakuna cha kukataliwa, kama kikipokewa kwa shukrani;
5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
kwa kuwa kimetakaswa kwa neno la Mungu na kwa kuomba.
6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
Uwakumbushe ndugu mambo hayo, nawe utakuwa mtumishi mwema wa Kristo Yesu, na mzoevu wa maneno ya imani, na mafundisho mazuri yale uliyoyafuata.
7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
Bali hadithi za kizee, zisizokuwa za dini, uzikatae; nawe ujizoeze kupata utauwa.
8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
Kwa maana kujizoeza kupata nguvu za mwili kwafaa kidogo, lakini utauwa hufaa kwa mambo yote; yaani, unayo ahadi ya uzima wa sasa, na ya ule utakaokuwapo baadaye.
9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
Ni neno la kuaminiwa, tena lastahili kukubalika kabisa;
10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
kwa maana twajitaabisha na kujitahidi kwa kusudi hili, kwa sababu tunamtumaini Mungu aliye hai, aliye Mwokozi wa watu wote, hasa wa waaminio.
11 These things command and teach.
Mambo hayo uyaagize na kuyafundisha.
12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
Mtu awaye yote asiudharau ujana wako, bali uwe kielelezo kwao waaminio, katika usemi na mwenendo, na katika upendo na imani na usafi.
13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
Hata nitakapokuja, ufanye bidii katika kusoma na kuonya na kufundisha.
14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
Usiache kuitumia karama ile iliyomo ndani yako, uliyopewa kwa unabii na kwa kuwekewa mikono ya wazee.
15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
Uyatafakari hayo; ukae katika hayo; ili kuendelea kwako kuwe dhahiri kwa watu wote.
16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Jitunze nafsi yako, na mafundisho yako. Dumu katika mambo hayo; maana kwa kufanya hivyo utajiokoa nafsi yako na wale wakusikiao pia.
