Treasure in Earthen Vessels
1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
Kwa sababu hiyo, kwa kuwa tuna huduma hii, kwa jinsi tulivyopata rehema, hatulegei;
2 but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
lakini tumekataa mambo ya aibu yaliyositirika, wala hatuenendi kwa hila, wala kulichanganya neno la Mungu na uongo; bali kwa kuidhihirisha iliyo kweli twajionyesha kuwa na haki, dhamiri za watu zikitushuhudia mbele za Mungu.
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
Lakini ikiwa injili yetu imesitirika, imesitirika kwa hao wanaopotea;
4 in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
ambao ndani yao mungu wa dunia hii amepofusha fikira zao wasioamini, isiwazukie nuru ya injili ya utukufu wake Kristo aliye sura yake Mungu.
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
Kwa maana hatujihubiri wenyewe, bali Kristo Yesu ya kuwa ni Bwana; na sisi wenyewe kuwa tu watumishi wenu kwa ajili ya Yesu.
6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Kwa kuwa Mungu, aliyesema, Nuru itang'aa toka gizani, ndiye aliyeng'aa mioyoni mwetu, atupe nuru ya elimu ya utukufu wa Mungu katika uso wa Yesu Kristo.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
Lakini tuna hazina hii katika vyombo vya udongo, ili adhama kuu ya uwezo iwe ya Mungu, wala si kutoka kwetu.
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
Pande zote twadhikika, bali hatusongwi; twaona shaka, bali hatukati tamaa;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
twaudhiwa, bali hatuachwi; twatupwa chini, bali hatuangamizwi;
10 always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
siku zote twachukua katika mwili kuuawa kwake Yesu, ili uzima wa Yesu nao udhihirishwe katika miili yetu.
11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
Kwa maana sisi tulio hai, siku zote twatolewa tufe kwa ajili ya Yesu, ili uzima wa Yesu nao udhihirishwe katika miili yetu ipatikanayo na mauti.
12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
Basi hapo mauti hufanya kazi ndani yetu, bali uzima ndani yenu.
13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
Lakini kwa kuwa tuna roho ile ile ya imani; kama ilivyoandikwa, Naliamini, na kwa sababu hiyo nalinena; sisi nasi twaamini, na kwa sababu hiyo twanena;
14 knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
tukijua ya kwamba yeye aliyemfufua Bwana Yesu atatufufua sisi nasi pamoja na Yesu, na kutuhudhurisha pamoja nanyi.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
Kwa maana mambo yote ni kwa ajili yenu, ili neema hiyo ikiongezwa sana, kwa hao walio wengi shukrani izidishwe, na Mungu atukuzwe.
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
Kwa hiyo hatulegei; bali ijapokuwa utu wetu wa nje unachakaa, lakini utu wetu wa ndani unafanywa upya siku kwa siku.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
Maana dhiki yetu nyepesi, iliyo ya muda wa kitambo tu, yatufanyia utukufu wa milele uzidio kuwa mwingi sana;
18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
tusiviangalie vinavyoonekana, bali visivyoonekana. Kwa maana vinavyoonekana ni vya muda tu; bali visivyoonekana ni vya milele.
