1 For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:
Kwa habari za kuwahudumia watakatifu sina haja ya kuwaandikia.
2 for I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.
Maana najua utayari wenu, ninaojisifia kwa ajili yenu kwa Wamakedonia, kwamba Akaya ilikuwa tayari tangu mwaka mzima; na bidii yenu imewatia moyo wengi wao.
3 Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:
Lakini naliwatuma hao ndugu, ili kujisifu kwetu kwa ajili yenu kusibatilike katika jambo hili; mpate kuwa tayari, kama nilivyosema;
4 lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.
kusudi, wakija Wamakedonia pamoja nami, na kuwakuta hamjawa tayari, tusije tukatahayarika sisi, (tusiseme ninyi), katika hali hiyo ya kutumaini.
5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.
Basi naliona ya kuwa ni lazima niwaonye ndugu hawa watangulie kufika kwenu, na kutengeneza mapema karama yenu mliyoahidi tangu zamani, ili iwe tayari, na hivi iwe kama kipawa, wala si kama kitu kitolewacho kwa unyimivu.
6 But this I say , He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
Lakini nasema neno hili, Apandaye haba atavuna haba; apandaye kwa ukarimu atavuna kwa ukarimu.
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give ; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
Kila mtu na atende kama alivyokusudia moyoni mwake, si kwa huzuni, wala si kwa lazima; maana Mungu humpenda yeye atoaye kwa moyo wa ukunjufu.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things , may abound to every good work:
Na Mungu aweza kuwajaza kila neema kwa wingi, ili ninyi, mkiwa na riziki za kila namna siku zote, mpate kuzidi sana katika kila tendo jema;
9 (As it is written,
He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor:
His righteousness remaineth for ever.
kama ilivyoandikwa, Ametapanya, amewapa maskini, Haki yake yakaa milele.
10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
Na yeye ampaye mbegu mwenye kupanda, na mkate uwe chakula, atawapa mbegu za kupanda na kuzizidisha, naye atayaongeza mazao ya haki yenu;
11 being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
mkitajirishwa katika vitu vyote mpate kuwa na ukarimu wote, umpatiao Mungu shukrani kwa kazi yetu.
12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
Maana utumishi wa huduma hii hauwatimizii watakatifu riziki walizopungukiwa tu, bali huzidi sana kuwa na faida kwa shukrani nyingi apewazo Mungu;
13 whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men ;
kwa kuwa mkijaribiwa kwa utumishi huo, wanamtukuza Mungu kwa ajili ya utii wenu katika kuikiri Injili ya Kristo, na kwa ajili ya ukarimu wenu mliowashirikisha wao na watu wote.
14 and by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
Nao wenyewe, wakiomba dua kwa ajili yenu, wawaonea shauku kwa sababu ya neema ya Mungu iliyozidi sana ndani yenu.
15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
Mungu ashukuriwe kwa sababu ya kipawa chake, tusichoweza kukisifu kama ipasavyo.
