1 Corinthians 8

1 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

1 Sasa kuhusu chakula kilichotolewa sadaka kwa sanamu, tunajua kwamba “sisi sote tuna ujuzi.” Lakini ujuzi hujivuna, bali upendo hujenga.

2 The one who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.

2 Mtu yeyote anayedhani kwamba anajua kitu, bado hajui kama impasavyo kujua.

3 But the one who loves God is known by God.

3 Lakini mtu ampendaye Mungu, hujulikana naye Mungu.

4 So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one.

4 Hivyo basi, kuhusu kula chakula kilichotolewa sadaka kwa sanamu: Tunajua kwamba “Sanamu si kitu chochote kabisa duniani,” na kwamba “Kuna Mungu mmoja tu.”

5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords),

5 Kwa kuwa hata kama wapo hao wanaoitwa miungu, kama wakiwa mbinguni au duniani (kama ilivyo kweli wapo “miungu” wengi na “mabwana” wengi),

6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist.

6 kwetu sisi yuko Mungu mmoja, aliye Baba, ambaye vitu vyote vyatoka kwake na kwa ajili yake sisi twaishi; na kuna Bwana mmoja tu, Yesu Kristo, ambaye kwa yeye vitu vyote vimekuwepo na kwa yeye tunaishi.

7 But not everyone has this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that they eat such food as if it were sacrificed to an idol. And since their conscience is weak, it is defiled.

7 Lakini si wote wanaojua jambo hili. Baadhi ya watu bado wamezoea sanamu kuwa halisi hivi kwamba wanapokula chakula kama hicho wanadhani kimetolewa sadaka kwa sanamu na kwa kuwa dhamiri zao ni dhaifu, dhamiri yao inanajisika.

8 But food does not bring us closer to God: We are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

8 Lakini chakula hakituleti karibu na Mungu, wala hatupotezi chochote tusipokula, wala hatuongezi chochote kama tukila.

9 Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.

9 Lakini angalieni jinsi mnavyotumia uhuru wenu usije ukawa kikwazo kwao walio dhaifu.

10 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you who are well informed eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged to eat food sacrificed to idols?

10 Kwa maana kama mtu yeyote mwenye dhamiri dhaifu akiwaona ninyi wenye ujuzi huu mkila katika hekalu la sanamu, je, si atatiwa moyo kula chakula kilichotolewa sadaka kwa sanamu?

11 So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.

11 Kwa njia hiyo, huyo ndugu mwenye dhamiri dhaifu, ambaye Kristo alikufa kwa ajili yake, ataangamia kwa sababu ya ujuzi wenu.

12 By sinning against your brothers in this way and wounding their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.

12 Mnapotenda dhambi dhidi ya ndugu zenu kwa njia hii na kujeruhi dhamiri zao zilizo dhaifu, mnamkosea Kristo.

13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to stumble.

13 Kwa hiyo, kama kile ninachokula kitamfanya ndugu yangu aanguke katika dhambi, sitakula nyama kamwe, nisije nikamfanya ndugu yangu aanguke.