1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
Sina budi kujisifu, ijapokuwa haipendezi; lakini nitafikilia maono na mafunuo ya Bwana.
2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
Namjua mtu mmoja katika Kristo, yapata sasa miaka kumi na minne, (kwamba alikuwa katika mwili sijui; kwamba alikuwa nje ya mwili sijui; Mungu ajua). Mtu huyo alinyakuliwa juu mpaka mbingu ya tatu.
3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
Nami namjua mtu huyo, (kwamba alikuwa katika mwili sijui; kwamba alikuwa nje ya mwili sijui; Mungu ajua);
4 how that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
ya kuwa alinyakuliwa mpaka Peponi, akasikia maneno yasiyotamkika, ambayo haijuzu mwanadamu ayanene.
5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
Kwa habari za mtu kama huyo nitajisifu; lakini kwa ajili ya nafsi yangu sitajisifu, isipokuwa katika habari ya udhaifu wangu.
6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be , or that he heareth of me.
Maana kama ningetaka kujisifu singekuwa mpumbavu, kwa sababu nitasema kweli. Lakini najizuia, ili mtu asinihesabie zaidi ya hayo ayaonayo kwangu au kuyasikia kwangu.
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
Na makusudi nisipate kujivuna kupita kiasi, kwa wingi wa mafunuo hayo nalipewa mwiba katika mwili, mjumbe wa Shetani ili anipige, nisije nikajivuna kupita kiasi.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
Kwa ajili ya kitu hicho nalimsihi Bwana mara tatu kwamba kinitoke.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Naye akaniambia, Neema yangu yakutosha; maana uweza wangu hutimilika katika udhaifu. Basi nitajisifia udhaifu wangu kwa furaha nyingi, ili uweza wa Kristo ukae juu yangu.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Kwa hiyo napendezwa na udhaifu, na ufidhuli, na misiba, na adha, na shida, kwa ajili ya Kristo. Maana niwapo dhaifu ndipo nilipo na nguvu.
11 I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.
Nimekuwa mpumbavu, ninyi mmenilazimisha. Maana ilinipasa nisifiwe na ninyi; kwa sababu sikuwa duni ya mitume walio wakuu kwa lo lote, nijapokuwa si kitu.
12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
Kweli ishara za mtume zilitendwa katikati yenu katika saburi yote, kwa ishara na maajabu na miujiza.
13 For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.
Maana ni kitu gani mlichopungukiwa kuliko makanisa mengine, ila kwa kuwa mimi sikuwalemea? Mnisamehe udhalimu huu.
14 Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not your's, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
Tazama, hii ni mara ya tatu ya mimi kuwa tayari kuja kwenu, wala sitawalemea. Maana sivitafuti vitu vyenu, bali nawatafuta ninyi; maana haiwapasi watoto kuweka akiba kwa wazazi, bali wazazi kwa watoto.
15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
Nami kwa furaha nyingi nitatapanya, tena nitatapanywa kwa ajili ya roho zenu. Je! Kadiri nizidivyo kuwapenda sana, ninapungukiwa kupendwa?
16 But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.
Lakini na iwe hivyo, mimi sikuwalemea; bali kwa kuwa mwerevu naliwapata kwa hila.
17 Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?
Je! Mtu ye yote niliyemtuma kwenu, kwa mtu huyo naliwatoza kitu?
18 I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?
Nalimwonya Tito, nikamtuma ndugu yule pamoja naye. Je! Tito aliwatoza kitu? Je! Hatukuenenda kwa Roho yeye yule na katika nyayo zile zile?
19 Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.
Mwadhani hata sasa ya kuwa najidhuru kwenu! Mbele za Mungu twanena katika Kristo. Na hayo yote, wapenzi, ni kwa ajili ya kuwajenga ninyi.
20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:
Maana nachelea, nisije nikawakuta si kama vile nitakavyo kuwakuta, nikaonekana kwenu si kama vile mtakavyo; nisije nikakuta labda fitina na wivu, na ghadhabu, na ugomvi, na masingizio, na manong'onezo, na majivuno, na ghasia;
21 and lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.
nami nitakapokuja tena, Mungu wangu asije akanidhili kwenu, nami nikawasikitikia wengi waliokosa tangu hapo, wasiutubie uchafu, na uasherati, na ufisadi walioufanya.
