1But we make known to you, brethren, the grace of God bestowed in the assemblies of Macedonia;
1Ndugu, tunapenda kuwapa habari juu ya neema ambazo Mungu ameyajalia makanisa ya Makedonia.
2that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty has abounded to the riches of their [free-hearted] liberality.
2Waumini wa huko walijaribiwa sana kwa taabu; lakini furaha yao ilikuwa kubwa hivi hata wakawa wakarimu kupita kiasi, ingawaje walikuwa maskini sana.
3For according to [their] power, I bear witness, and beyond [their] power, [they were] willing of their own accord,
3Naweza kushuhudia kwamba walikuwa wakarimu kadiri ya nguvu zao na hata zaidi. Kwa hiari yao wenyewe,
4begging of us with much entreaty [to give effect to] the grace and fellowship of the service which [was to be rendered] to the saints.
4walitusihi sana wapewe nafasi ya kushiriki katika huduma hii ya kuwasaidia watu wa Mungu.
5And not according as we hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord, and to us by God's will.
5Hilo lilikuwa jambo ambalo hatukulitazamia kabisa! Kwanza walijitolea wao wenyewe kwa Bwana, kisha wakajitolea wenyewe kwetu pia, kufuatana na mapenzi ya Mungu.
6So that we begged Titus that, according as he had before begun, so he would also complete as to you this grace also;
6Kwa sababu hiyo, tulimsihi Tito aliyeianza kazi hiyo awasaidieni pia muitekeleze huduma hii ya upendo miongoni mwenu.
7but even as ye abound in every way, in faith, and word, and knowledge, and all diligence, and in love from you to us, that ye may abound in this grace also.
7Ninyi mna kila kitu: imani, uwezo wa kusema, elimu; bidii yote ya kutenda mema, na upendo wenu kwetu. Hivyo, tunatazamia muwe wakarimu katika huduma hii ya upendo.
8I do not speak as commanding [it], but through the zeal of others, and proving the genuineness of your love.
8Siwapi ninyi amri, lakini nataka tu kuonyesha jinsi wengine walivyo na bidii ya kusaidia ili nipate kujua jinsi upendo wenu ulivyo wa kweli.
9For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sakes he, being rich, became poor, in order that *ye* by *his* poverty might be enriched.
9Maana, ninyi mnajua neema ya Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo: yeye, ingawa alikuwa na kila kitu, alijifanya maskini kwa ajili yenu, ili kutokana na umaskini wake, awatajirishe.
10And I give [my] opinion in this, for this is profitable for you who began before, not only to do, but also to be willing, a year ago.
10Kuhusu jambo hili, basi, nawapeni shauri hili: inafaa kwenu kutekeleza sasa yale mliyoanza mwaka jana. Ninyi mlikuwa wa kwanza kuchukua hatua na kuamua kufanya hivyo.
11But now also complete the doing of it; so that as [there was] the readiness to be willing, so also to complete out of what ye have.
11Basi, kamilisheni shughuli hiyo; na kama vile mlivyokuwa na hamu kubwa ya kusaidia, basi, fanyeni bidii vivyo hivyo, kadiri ya uwezo wenu, kuikamilisha.
12For if the readiness be there, [a man is] accepted according to what he may have, not according to what he has not.
12Maana ikiwa mtu ana moyo wa kusaidia, Mungu hupokea kila anachoweza kutoa: hadai zaidi.
13For [it is] not in order that there may be ease for others, and for you distress,
13Ninyi hampaswi kuongezewa taabu kusudi wengine wapunguziwe mzigo wao; sivyo, ila ni lazima tujali usawa na haki.
14but [on the principle] of equality; in the present time your abundance for their lack, that their abundance may be for your lack, so that there should be equality.
14Kila mlicho nacho sasa cha ziada kiwasaidie wale wanaohitaji, ili nao wakati watakapokuwa na ziada, wawasaidie ninyi katika mahitaji yenu, na hivyo kuwe na usawa.
15According as it is written, He who [gathered] much had no excess, and he who [gathered] little was nothing short.
15Kama Maandiko yasemavyo: "Aliyekusanya kwa wingi hakuwa na ziada, na yule aliyekusanya kidogo hakupungukiwa."
16But thanks [be] to God, who gives the same diligent zeal for you in the heart of Titus.
16Namshukuru Mungu aliyeweka ndani ya moyo wa Tito hamu hiyo niliyo nayo mimi ya kuwasaidia.
17For he received indeed the entreaty, but, being full of zeal, he went of his own accord to you;
17Si tu kwamba alikubali ombi letu, ila pia alikuwa na hamu kubwa ya kusaidia, hata akaamua kwa hiari yake mwenyewe kuja kwenu.
18but we have sent with him the brother whose praise [is] in the glad tidings through all the assemblies;
18Pamoja naye, tunamtuma ndugu mmoja ambaye sifa zake katika kueneza Habari Njema zimeenea katika makanisa yote.
19and not only [so], but [is] also chosen by the assemblies as our fellow-traveller with this grace, ministered by us to the glory of the Lord himself, and [a witness of] our readiness;
19Zaidi ya hayo, yeye amechaguliwa na makanisa awe mwenzetu safarini wakati tunapopeleka huduma hii yetu ya upendo, huduma tunayoifanya kwa ajili ya utukufu wa Bwana na uthibitisho wa nia yetu njema.
20avoiding this, that any one should blame us in this abundance [which is] administered by us;
20Tunataka kuepa lawama zinazoweza kutokea kuhusu usimamizi wetu juu ya zawadi hii karimu.
21for we provide for things honest, not only before [the] Lord, but also before men.
21Nia yetu ni kufanya vema, si tu mbele ya Bwana, lakini pia mbele ya watu.
22And we have sent with them our brother whom we have often proved to be of diligent zeal in many things, and now more diligently zealous through the great confidence [he has] as to you.
22Basi, pamoja na ndugu hao, tumemtuma ndugu yetu mwingine ambaye mara nyingi tumempa majaribio mbalimbali, tukamwona kuwa ni mwenye hamu kubwa ya kusaidia; hata sasa amekuwa na moyo zaidi kwa sababu ana imani sana nanyi.
23Whether as regards Titus, [he is] my companion and fellow-labourer in your behalf; or our brethren, [they are] deputed messengers of assemblies, Christ's glory.
23Tito ni mwenzangu; tunafanya kazi pamoja kwa ajili yenu; lakini kuhusu hawa ndugu zetu wengine, wanaokuja pamoja nao, hao ni wajumbe wa makanisa, na utukufu kwa Kristo.
24Shew therefore to them, before the assemblies, the proof of your love, and of our boasting about you.
24Basi, waonyesheni uthabiti wa upendo wenu, makanisa yapate kuona kweli kwamba fahari ninayoona juu yenu ni ya halali.