Luke 18

1 Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart:

1 Kisha Yesu akawapa wanafunzi wake mfano ili kuwaonyesha kuwa yawapasa kuomba pasipo kukata tamaa.

2 “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected men.

2 Akawaambia, “Katika mji mmoja alikuwepo hakimu ambaye hakumwogopa Mungu wala kumjali mtu.

3 And there was a widow in that town who kept appealing to him, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’

3 Katika mji huo alikuwako mjane mmoja ambaye alikuwa akija kwake mara kwa mara akimwomba, ‘Tafadhali nipatie haki kati yangu na adui yangu.’

4 For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect men,

4 “Kwa muda mrefu yule hakimu alikataa. Lakini hatimaye akasema moyoni mwake, ‘Ijapokuwa simwogopi Mungu wala simjali mwanadamu,

5 yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice. Otherwise, she will wear me out with her perpetual requests.’”

5 lakini kwa kuwa huyu mjane ananisumbuasumbua, nitahakikisha amepata haki yake ili asiendelee kunichosha kwa kunijia mara kwa mara!’”

6 And the Lord said, “Listen to the words of the unjust judge.

6 Bwana akasema, “Sikilizeni asemavyo huyu hakimu dhalimu.

7 Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay in helping them?

7 Je, Mungu hatawatendea haki wateule wake wanaomlilia usiku na mchana? Je, atakawia kuwasaidia?

8 I tell you, He will promptly carry out justice on their behalf. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”

8 Ninawaambia, atawapatia haki upesi. Lakini je, Mwana wa Adamu atakapokuja ataikuta imani duniani?”

9 To some who trusted in their own righteousness and viewed others with contempt, He also told this parable:

9 Yesu akatoa mfano huu kwa wale waliojiamini kuwa wao ni wenye haki na kuwadharau wengine:

10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

10 “Watu wawili walikwenda Hekaluni kusali, mmoja wao alikuwa Farisayo na mwingine alikuwa mtoza ushuru.

11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.

11 Yule Farisayo, akasimama, akasali hivi na kuomba kwake mwenyewe: ‘Mungu, nakushukuru kwa sababu mimi si kama watu wengine ambao ni wanyangʼanyi, wadhalimu, na wazinzi, wala kama huyu mtoza ushuru.

12 I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire.’

12 Mimi nafunga mara mbili kwa juma, na natoa sehemu ya kumi ya mapato yangu.’

13 But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’

13 “Lakini yule mtoza ushuru akasimama mbali, wala hakuthubutu hata kuinua uso wake kutazama mbinguni, bali alijipigapiga kifuani na kusema: ‘Mungu, nihurumie, mimi mwenye dhambi.’

14 I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

14 “Nawaambia, huyu mtoza ushuru alirudi nyumbani akiwa amehesabiwa haki mbele za Mungu zaidi ya yule Farisayo. Kwa maana yeyote ajikwezaye atashushwa, na yeyote ajishushaye atakwezwa.”

15 Now people were even bringing their babies to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them. And when the disciples saw this, they rebuked those who brought them.

15 Pia, watu walikuwa wakimletea Yesu watoto wachanga ili awaguse. Wanafunzi wake walipoona hivyo, wakawakemea.

16 But Jesus called the children to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

16 Lakini Yesu akawaita wale watoto waje kwake, akasema, “Waacheni watoto wadogo waje kwangu, wala msiwazuie, kwa maana Ufalme wa Mungu ni wa wale walio kama hawa.

17 Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

17 Amin, nawaambia, mtu yeyote asiyeupokea Ufalme wa Mungu kama mtoto mdogo, hatauingia kamwe.”

18 Then a certain ruler asked Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

18 Mtawala mmoja akamuuliza Yesu, “Mwalimu mwema, nifanye nini ili niurithi uzima wa milele?”

19 “Why do you call Me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good except God alone.

19 Yesu akamjibu, “Mbona unaniita mwema? Hakuna yeyote aliye mwema ila Mungu peke yake.

20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother.’”

20 Unazijua amri: ‘Usizini, usiue, usiibe, usishuhudie uongo, waheshimu baba yako na mama yako.’”

21 “All these I have kept from my youth,” he said.

21 Akajibu, “Amri hizi zote nimezishika tangu nikiwa mtoto.”

22 On hearing this, Jesus told him, “You still lack one thing: Sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”

22 Yesu aliposikia haya, akamwambia, “Bado kuna jambo moja ulilopungukiwa. Nenda ukauze kila kitu ulicho nacho, uwape maskini, nawe utakuwa na hazina mbinguni. Kisha njoo, unifuate.”

23 But when the ruler heard this, he became very sad, because he was extremely wealthy.

23 Aliposikia jambo hili, alisikitika sana kwa maana alikuwa mtu mwenye mali nyingi.

24 Seeing the man’s sadness, Jesus said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!

24 Yesu akamtazama, akasema, “Tazama jinsi ilivyo vigumu kwa tajiri kuingia katika Ufalme wa Mungu!

25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

25 Hakika ni rahisi zaidi kwa ngamia kupita kwenye tundu la sindano kuliko mtu tajiri kuingia katika Ufalme wa Mungu.”

26 Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?”

26 Wale waliosikia haya wakauliza, “Ni nani basi awezaye kuokoka?”

27 But Jesus said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”

27 Yesu akajibu, “Yasiyowezekana kwa wanadamu yanawezekana kwa Mungu.”

28 “Look,” said Peter, “we have left all we had to follow You.”

28 Ndipo Petro akamjibu, “Tazama, tumeacha vyote tulivyokuwa navyo tukakufuata!”

29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God

29 Yesu akajibu, “Amin, nawaambia, hakuna hata mtu aliyeacha nyumba yake, au mke, au ndugu, au wazazi au watoto kwa ajili ya Ufalme wa Mungu

30 will fail to receive many times more in this age—and in the age to come, eternal life.”

30 ambaye hatapewa mara nyingi zaidi ya hivyo katika maisha haya, na hatimaye kupata uzima wa milele ujao.”

31 Then Jesus took the Twelve aside and said to them, “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything the prophets have written about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.

31 Yesu akawachukua wale wanafunzi wake kumi na wawili kando na kuwaambia, “Tunapanda kwenda Yerusalemu, na kila kitu kilichoandikwa na manabii kumhusu Mwana wa Adamu kitatimizwa.

32 He will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon.

32 Kwa kuwa atatiwa mikononi mwa watu wasiomjua Mungu, nao watamdhihaki, watamtukana na kumtemea mate, watampiga mijeledi na kumuua.

33 They will flog Him and kill Him, and on the third day He will rise again.”

33 Naye siku ya tatu atafufuka.”

34 But the disciples did not understand any of these things. The meaning was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend what He was saying.

34 Wanafunzi wake hawakuelewa mambo haya, kwa kuwa maana yake ilikuwa imefichika kwao, nao hawakujua Yesu alikuwa anazungumzia nini.

35 As Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting beside the road, begging.

35 Yesu alipokuwa anakaribia Yeriko, kipofu mmoja alikuwa ameketi kando ya njia akiomba msaada.

36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening.

36 Kipofu huyo aliposikia umati wa watu ukipita, akauliza, “Kuna nini?”

37 “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by,” they told him.

37 Wakamwambia, “Yesu wa Nazareti anapita.”

38 So he called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

38 Akapaza sauti, akasema, “Yesu, Mwana wa Daudi, nihurumie!”

39 Those who led the way admonished him to be silent, but he cried out all the louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

39 Wale waliokuwa wametangulia mbele wakamkemea, wakamwambia akae kimya. Lakini yeye akapaza sauti zaidi, “Mwana wa Daudi, nihurumie!”

40 Jesus stopped and directed that the man be brought to Him. When he had come near, Jesus asked him,

40 Yesu akasimama, akawaamuru wamlete huyo mtu kwake. Alipokaribia, Yesu akamuuliza,

41 “What do you want Me to do for you?” “Lord,” he said, “let me see again.”

41 “Unataka nikufanyie nini?” Akajibu, “Bwana, nataka kuona.”

42 “Receive your sight!” Jesus replied. “Your faith has healed you.”

42 Yesu akamwambia, “Basi upate kuona. Imani yako imekuponya.”

43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

43 Akapata kuona saa ile ile, akamfuata Yesu, huku akimsifu Mungu. Watu wote walipoona mambo hayo, nao wakamsifu Mungu.