Prisoner of the Lord
1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
Kwa hiyo nawasihi, mimi niliye mfungwa katika Bwana, mwenende kama inavyoustahili wito wenu mlioitiwa;
2 with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
kwa unyenyekevu wote na upole, kwa uvumilivu, mkichukuliana katika upendo;
3 endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
na kujitahidi kuuhifadhi umoja wa Roho katika kifungo cha amani.
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
Mwili mmoja, na Roho mmoja, kama na mlivyoitwa katika tumaini moja la wito wenu.
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Bwana mmoja, imani moja, ubatizo mmoja.
6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Mungu mmoja, naye ni Baba wa wote, aliye juu ya yote na katika yote na ndani ya yote.
7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Lakini kila mmoja wetu alipewa neema kwa kadiri ya kipimo cha kipawa chake Kristo.
8 Wherefore he saith,
When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive,
And gave gifts unto men.
Hivyo husema, Alipopaa juu aliteka mateka, Akawapa wanadamu vipawa.
9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Basi neno hilo, Alipaa, maana yake nini kama siyo kusema kwamba yeye naye alishuka mpaka pande zilizo chini za nchi?
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
Naye aliyeshuka ndiye yeye aliyepaa juu sana kupita mbingu zote, ili avijaze vitu vyote.
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Naye alitoa wengine kuwa mitume, na wengine kuwa manabii; na wengine kuwa wainjilisti na wengine kuwa wachungaji na waalimu;
12 for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
kwa kusudi la kuwakamilisha watakatifu, hata kazi ya huduma itendeke, hata mwili wa Kristo ujengwe;
13 till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
hata na sisi sote tutakapoufikia umoja wa imani na kumfahamu sana Mwana wa Mungu, hata kuwa mtu mkamilifu, hata kufika kwenye cheo cha kimo cha utimilifu wa Kristo;
14 that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
ili tusiwe tena watoto wachanga, tukitupwa huku na huku, na kuchukuliwa na kila upepo wa elimu, kwa hila ya watu, kwa ujanja, tukizifuata njia za udanganyifu.
15 but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Lakini tuishike kweli katika upendo na kukua hata tumfikie yeye katika yote, yeye aliye kichwa, Kristo.
16 from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Katika yeye mwili wote ukiungamanishwa na kushikanishwa kwa msaada wa kila kiungo, kwa kadiri ya utendaji wa kila sehemu moja moja, huukuza mwili upate kujijenga wenyewe katika upendo.
Christian Living
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
Basi nasema neno hili, tena nashuhudia katika Bwana, tangu sasa msienende kama Mataifa waenendavyo, katika ubatili wa nia zao;
18 having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
ambao; akili zao zimetiwa giza, nao wamefarikishwa na uzima wa Mungu, kwa sababu ya ujinga uliomo ndani yao, kwa sababu ya ugumu wa mioyo yao;
19 who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
ambao wakiisha kufa ganzi wanajitia katika mambo ya ufisadi wapate kufanyiza kila namna ya uchafu kwa kutamani.
20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
Bali ninyi, sivyo mlivyojifunza Kristo;
21 if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
ikiwa mlimsikia mkafundishwa katika yeye, kama kweli ilivyo katika Yesu,
22 that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
mvue kwa habari ya mwenendo wa kwanza utu wa zamani, unaoharibika kwa kuzifuata tamaa zenye kudanganya;
23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
na mfanywe wapya katika roho ya nia zenu;
24 and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
mkavae utu mpya, ulioumbwa kwa namna ya Mungu katika haki na utakatifu wa kweli.
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
Basi uvueni uongo, mkaseme kweli kila mtu na jirani yake; kwa maana tu viungo, kila mmoja kiungo cha wenzake.
26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
Mwe na hasira, ila msitende dhambi; jua lisichwe na uchungu wenu bado haujawatoka;
27 neither give place to the devil.
wala msimpe Ibilisi nafasi.
28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
Mwibaji asiibe tena; bali afadhali afanye juhudi, akitenda kazi iliyo nzuri kwa mikono yake mwenyewe, apate kuwa na kitu cha kumgawia mhitaji.
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Neno lo lote lililo ovu lisitoke vinywani mwenu, bali lililo jema la kumfaa mwenye kuhitaji, ili liwape neema wanaosikia.
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Wala msimhuzunishe yule Roho Mtakatifu wa Mungu; ambaye kwa yeye mlitiwa muhuri hata siku ya ukombozi.
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Uchungu wote na ghadhabu na hasira na kelele na matukano yaondoke kwenu, pamoja na kila namna ya ubaya;
32 and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
tena iweni wafadhili ninyi kwa ninyi, wenye huruma, mkasameheane kama na Mungu katika Kristo alivyowasamehe ninyi.
