2 Corinthians 12

1 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to gain, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.

1 Yanipasa nijisifu, ingawa haifaidi kitu. Nitaenda kwenye maono na ufunuo kutoka kwa Bwana.

2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows.

2 Namjua mtu mmoja katika Kristo ambaye miaka kumi na minne iliyopita alichukuliwa juu hadi mbingu ya tatu. Kama ni katika mwili au nje ya mwili, sijui, Mungu ajua.

3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows—

3 Nami najua ya kwamba mtu huyu, kwamba ni katika mwili au nje ya mwili mimi sijui, lakini Mungu ajua,

4 was caught up to Paradise. The things he heard were inexpressible, things that man is not permitted to tell.

4 alinyakuliwa hadi Paradiso. Huko alisikia mambo yasiyoelezeka, mambo ambayo binadamu hana ruhusa ya kuyasimulia.

5 I will boast about such a man, but I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses.

5 Nitajisifu kwa ajili ya mtu kama huyo, lakini sitajisifu kuhusu mimi mwenyewe ila mimi nitajisifia udhaifu wangu.

6 Even if I wanted to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me,

6 Hata kama ningependa kujisifu, sitakuwa mjinga, kwa maana nitakuwa nasema kweli. Lakini najizuia, ili mtu yeyote asije akaniona mimi kuwa bora zaidi kuliko ninavyoonekana katika yale ninayotenda na kusema.

7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.

7 Ili kunizuia nisijivune kwa sababu ya ufunuo huu mkuu, nilipewa mwiba katika mwili wangu, mjumbe wa Shetani, ili anitese.

8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.

8 Kwa habari ya jambo hili nilimsihi Bwana mara tatu aniondolee mwiba huu.

9 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.

9 Lakini aliniambia, “Neema yangu inakutosha, kwa kuwa uweza wangu hukamilika katika udhaifu.” Kwa hiyo nitajisifu kwa furaha zaidi kuhusu udhaifu wangu, ili uweza wa Kristo ukae juu yangu.

10 That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

10 Hii ndiyo sababu, kwa ajili ya Kristo, nafurahia udhaifu, katika kutukanwa, katika taabu, katika mateso na katika shida, kwa maana ninapokuwa dhaifu, ndipo nina nguvu.

11 I have become a fool, but you drove me to it. In fact, you should have commended me, since I am in no way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.

11 Nimekuwa mjinga, lakini ninyi mmenilazimisha niwe hivyo. Kwa kuwa ilinipasa kusifiwa na ninyi, kwa sababu mimi si dhalili kuliko wale “mitume walio bora,” ingawa mimi si kitu.

12 The marks of a true apostle—signs, wonders, and miracles—were performed among you with great perseverance.

12 Mambo yanayomtambulisha mtume wa kweli, yaani, ishara, miujiza na maajabu, yalifanywa miongoni mwenu kwa saburi nyingi.

13 In what way were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!

13 Je, ninyi ni kitu gani mlichopungukiwa kuliko makanisa mengine, ila tu kwamba mimi sikuwa mzigo kwenu? Nisameheni kwa kosa hili!

14 See, I am ready to come to you a third time, and I will not be a burden, because I am not seeking your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

14 Sasa niko tayari kuja kwenu kwa mara hii ya tatu, nami sitawalemea, kwa sababu sitahitaji chochote chenu, ila ninawahitaji ninyi, kwa kuwa hata hivyo watoto hawaweki akiba kwa ajili ya wazazi wao, bali wazazi huweka akiba kwa ajili ya watoto wao.

15 And for the sake of your souls, I will most gladly spend my money and myself. If I love you more, will you love me less?

15 Hivyo nitafurahi kutumia kila kitu nilicho nacho kwa ajili yenu, hata mwili wangu pia. Hata ingawa inaonekana ninavyozidi kuwapenda, ndivyo upendo wenu kwangu unavyopungua.

16 Be that as it may, I was not a burden to you; but crafty as I am, I caught you by trickery.

16 Iwe iwavyo, kwa vyovyote vile mimi sikuwalemea. Lakini kwa mimi kuwa mwerevu naliwapata.

17 Did I exploit you by anyone I sent you?

17 Je, nilijipatia faida kwa kumtumia mtu yeyote niliyemtuma kwenu?

18 I urged Titus to visit you, and I sent our brother with him. Did Titus exploit you in any way? Did we not walk in the same Spirit and follow in the same footsteps?

18 Nilimshawishi Tito aje kwenu, nami nilimtuma pamoja na ndugu yetu. Je, Tito aliwatumia ninyi ili kujipatia faida? Je, hatuenendi kwa roho moja, na hatuchukui hatua zile zile?

19 Have you been thinking all along that we were making a defense to you? We speak before God in Christ, and all of this, beloved, is to build you up.

19 Je, mmekuwa mkifikiri kwamba sisi tunajaribu kujitetea mbele yenu? Sisi tumekuwa tukinena mbele za Mungu kama wale walio katika Kristo. Na chochote tufanyacho, ndugu wapendwa, ni kwa ajili ya kuwatia nguvu.

20 For I am afraid that when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, rage, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.

20 Kwa kuwa nina hofu ya kwamba nitakapokuja naweza kuwakuta nisivyotaka, nanyi mkanikuta msivyotaka. Nina hofu kwamba panaweza kuwa na ugomvi, wivu, ghadhabu, fitina, masingizio, masengenyo, majivuno na machafuko.

21 I am afraid that when I come again, my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of their acts of impurity, sexual immorality, and debauchery.

21 Nina hofu kwamba nitakapokuja tena kwenu, Mungu wangu atanidhili mbele yenu, nami nitasikitishwa na wengi waliotenda dhambi mbeleni, na wala hawajatubu kwa uchafu wao, uasherati, na ufisadi walioushiriki.