2 Corinthians 10

1 Now by the mildness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am humble when face to face with you, but bold when away.

1 Basi, mimi Paulo ninawasihi kwa unyenyekevu na upole wa Kristo, mimi niliye “mwoga” ninapokuwa pamoja nanyi ana kwa ana, lakini mwenye ujasiri nikiwa mbali nanyi!

2 I beg you that when I come I may not need to be as bold as I expect toward those who presume that we live according to the flesh.

2 Nawaomba nitakapokuja kwenu nisiwe na ujasiri dhidi ya watu fulani, kama ninavyotazamia kwa wale wanaodhani kwamba tunaishi kwa kufuata namna ya ulimwengu huu.

3 For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh.

3 Ingawa tunaishi duniani, hatupigani vita kama ulimwengu ufanyavyo.

4 The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the flesh. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

4 Silaha za vita vyetu si za mwili, bali zina uwezo katika Mungu hata kuangusha ngome,

5 We demolish arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

5 tukiangusha mawazo na kila kitu kilichoinuka, kijiinuacho juu ya elimu ya Mungu, na tukiteka nyara kila fikira ipate kumtii Kristo,

6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, as soon as your obedience is complete.

6 tena tukiwa tayari kuadhibu kila tendo la kutotii, kutii kwenu kutakapokamilika.

7 You are looking at outward appearances. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should remind himself that we belong to Christ just as much as he does.

7 Angalieni yale yaliyo machoni penu. Kama mtu yeyote anaamini kuwa yeye ni mali ya Kristo, basi kumbuka kuwa kama ulivyo wa Kristo, vivyo hivyo na sisi ndivyo tulivyo.

8 For even if I boast somewhat excessively about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed.

8 Basi hata kama nikijisifu zaidi kidogo kuhusu mamlaka tuliyo nayo, ambayo Bwana alitupa ili kuwajenga wala si kuwabomoa, mimi sitaionea haya.

9 I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you by my letters.

9 Sitaki nionekane kama ninayejaribu kuwatisha kwa nyaraka zangu.

10 For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is unimpressive, and his speaking is of no account.”

10 Kwa maana wanasema, “Nyaraka zake ni nzito na zenye nguvu, lakini ana kwa ana ni dhaifu na kuzungumza kwake ni kwa kudharauliwa.”

11 Such people should consider that what we are in our letters when absent, we will be in our actions when present.

11 Watu kama hao wajue ya kuwa, yale tusemayo kwa barua tukiwa hatupo pamoja nanyi, ndivyo tulivyo na ndivyo tutakavyofanya tutakapokuwa pamoja nanyi.

12 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they show their ignorance.

12 Hatuthubutu kujiweka kwenye kundi moja au kujilinganisha na hao wanaojitukuza wenyewe kuwa wao ni wa maana sana. Wanapojipima na kujilinganisha wenyewe kwa wenyewe, wanaonyesha ya kuwa hawana busara.

13 We, however, will not boast beyond our limits, but only within the field of influence that God has assigned to us—a field that reaches even to you.

13 Lakini sisi hatujajivuna kupita kiasi, bali majivuno yetu yatakuwa katika mipaka ile Mungu aliyotuwekea, mipaka ambayo inawafikia hata ninyi.

14 We are not overstepping our bounds, as if we had not come to you. Indeed, we were the first to reach you with the gospel of Christ.

14 Kwa maana hatukuwa tunavuka mipaka katika kujisifu kwetu, kama vile ambavyo ingekuwa kama hatukuwa tumekuja kwenu. Kwa maana sisi ndio tuliokuwa wa kwanza kuja kwenu na Injili ya Kristo.

15 Neither do we boast beyond our limits in the labors of others. But we hope that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you will greatly increase as well,

15 Wala hatuvuki mipaka kwa kujisifu kwetu kwa ajili ya kazi iliyofanywa na watu wengine. Tumaini letu ni kwamba imani yenu inavyozidi kukua, eneo letu la utendaji miongoni mwenu litapanuka zaidi,

16 so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. Then we will not be boasting in the work already done in another man’s territory.

16 ili tuweze kuhubiri Injili sehemu zilizo mbali na maeneo yenu. Kwa maana hatutaki kujisifu kwa ajili ya kazi ambayo imekwisha kufanyika tayari katika eneo la mtu mwingine.

17 Rather, “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”

17 Lakini, “Yeye ajisifuye na ajisifu katika Bwana.”

18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

18 Kwa maana si yeye ajisifuye mwenyewe akubaliwaye, bali yeye ambaye Bwana humsifu.