Romans 13

1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God.

1 Kila mtu na atii mamlaka inayotawala, kwa maana hakuna mamlaka isiyotoka kwa Mungu, nazo mamlaka zilizopo zimewekwa na Mungu.

2 Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

2 Kwa hiyo yeye anayeasi dhidi ya mamlaka inayotawala anaasi dhidi ya kile kilichowekwa na Mungu, nao wale wafanyao hivyo watajiletea hukumu juu yao wenyewe.

3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval.

3 Kwa kuwa watawala hawawatishi watu wale wanaotenda mema bali wale wanaotenda mabaya. Je, wataka usimwogope mwenye mamlaka? Basi tenda lile lililo jema naye atakusifu.

4 For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword in vain. He is God’s servant, an agent of retribution to the wrongdoer.

4 Kwa maana mwenye mamlaka ni mtumishi wa Mungu kwa ajili ya mema. Lakini kama ukitenda mabaya, basi ogopa, kwa kuwa hauinui upanga bila sababu. Yeye ni mtumishi wa Mungu, mjumbe wa Mungu wa kutekeleza adhabu juu ya watenda mabaya.

5 Therefore it is necessary to submit to authority, not only to avoid punishment, but also as a matter of conscience.

5 Kwa hiyo ni lazima kutii wenye mamlaka, si kwa sababu ya kuogopa adhabu iwezayo kutolewa, bali pia kwa ajili ya dhamiri.

6 This is also why you pay taxes. For the authorities are God’s servants, who devote themselves to their work.

6 Kwa sababu hii mnalipa kodi, kwa maana watawala ni watumishi wa Mungu, ambao hutumia muda wao wote kutawala.

7 Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.

7 Mlipeni kila mtu kile mnachodaiwa. Kama mnadaiwa kodi lipeni kodi, kama ni ushuru, lipeni ushuru, astahiliye hofu, mhofu, astahiliye heshima, mheshimu.

8 Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

8 Msidaiwe kitu na mtu yeyote, isipokuwa kupendana, kwa maana yeye ampendaye mwenzake, ameitimiza sheria.

9 The commandments “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and any other commandments, are summed up in this one decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

9 Kwa kuwa amri hizi zisemazo, “Usizini,” “Usiue,” “Usiibe,” “Usitamani,” na amri nyingine zote, zinajumlishwa katika amri hii moja: “Mpende jirani yako kama nafsi yako.”

10 Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

10 Upendo haumfanyii jirani jambo baya. Kwa hiyo upendo ndio utimilifu wa sheria.

11 And do this, understanding the occasion. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

11 Nanyi fanyeni hivi, mkiutambua wakati tulio nao. Saa ya kuamka kutoka usingizini imewadia, kwa maana sasa wokovu wetu umekaribia zaidi kuliko hapo kwanza tulipoamini.

12 The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

12 Usiku umeendelea sana, mapambazuko yamekaribia. Kwa hiyo tuyaweke kando matendo ya giza na tuvae silaha za nuru.

13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.

13 Basi na tuenende kwa adabu kama inavyopasa wakati wa mchana, si kwa kufanya karamu za ulafi na ulevi, si kwa ufisadi na uasherati, si kwa ugomvi na wivu.

14 Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.

14 Bali jivikeni Bwana Yesu Kristo, wala msifikiri jinsi mtakavyotimiza tamaa za miili yenu yenye asili ya dhambi.