¹For concerning the ministration which [is] for the saints, it is superfluous my writing to you.

¹Si lazima kuandika zaidi kuhusu huduma hiyo yenu kwa ajili ya watu wa Mungu.

²For I know your readiness, which I boast of as respects you to Macedonians, that Achaia is prepared since a year ago, and the zeal [reported] of you has stimulated the mass [of the brethren].

²Ninajua jinsi mlivyo na moyo wa kusaidia, na nilijivuna juu yenu kuhusu jambo hilo mbele ya watu wa Makedonia. Niliwaambia: "Ndugu zetu wa Akaya wako tayari tangu mwaka jana." Hivyo, moto wenu umekwisha wahimiza watu wengi zaidi.

³But I have sent the brethren, in order that our boasting about you may not be made void in this respect, in order that, as I have said, ye may be prepared;

³Basi, nimewatuma ndugu zetu hao, ili fahari yetu juu yenu ionekane kwamba si maneno matupu, na kwamba mko tayari kabisa na msaada wenu kama nilivyosema.

⁴lest haply, if Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, *we*, that we say not *ye*, may be put to shame in this confidence.

⁴Isije ikawa kwamba watu wa Makedonia watakapokuja pamoja nami tukawakuta hamko tayari, hapo sisi tutaaibika--bila kutaja aibu mtakayopata ninyi wenyewe--kwa sababu tutakuwa tumewatumainia kupita kiasi.

⁵I thought it necessary therefore to beg the brethren that they would come to you, and complete beforehand your fore-announced blessing, that this may be ready thus as blessing, and not as got out of you.

⁵Kwa hiyo, nimeona ni lazima kuwaomba hawa ndugu watutangulie kuja kwenu, wapate kuweka tayari zawadi yenu kubwa mliyoahidi; nayo ionyeshe kweli kwamba ni zawadi iliyotolewa kwa hiari na si kwa kulazimishwa.

⁶But this [is true], he that sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that sows in [the spirit of] blessing shall reap also in blessing:

⁶Kumbukeni: "Apandaye kidogo huvuna kidogo; apandaye kwa wingi huvuna kwa wingi."

⁷each according as he is purposed in his heart; not grievingly, or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

⁷Kila mmoja, basi, na atoe kadiri alivyoamua, kwa moyo na wala si kwa huzuni au kwa kulazimishwa, maana Mungu humpenda yule mwenye kutoa kwa furaha.

⁸But God is able to make every gracious gift abound towards you, that, having in every way always all-sufficiency, ye may abound to every good work:

⁸Mungu anaweza kuwapeni ninyi zaidi ya yale mnayoyahitaji, mpate daima kuwa na kila kitu mnachohitaji, na hivyo mzidi kusaidia katika kila kazi njema.

⁹according as it is written, He has scattered abroad, he has given to the poor, his righteousness remains for ever.

⁹Kama yasemavyo Maandiko Matakatifu: "Yeye hutoa kwa ukarimu, huwapa maskini, wema wahudumu milele."

¹⁰Now he that supplies seed to the sower and bread for eating shall supply and make abundant your sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness:

¹⁰Na Mungu ampaye mkulima mbegu na mkate kwa chakula, atawapa ninyi pia mbegu mnazohitaji, na atazifanya ziote, ziwe na kuwapa mavuno mengi ya ukarimu wenu.

¹¹enriched in every way unto all free-hearted liberality, which works through us thanksgiving to God.

¹¹Yeye atawatajirisha ninyi daima kwa kila kitu, ili watu wapate kumshukuru Mungu kwa ajili ya zawadi zenu wanazozipokea kwa mikono yetu.

¹²Because the ministration of this service is not only filling up the measure of what is lacking to the saints, but also abounding by many thanksgivings to God;

¹²Maana huduma hii takatifu mnayoifanya si tu kwamba itasaidia mahitaji ya watu wa Mungu, bali pia itasababisha watu wengi wamshukuru Mungu.

¹³they glorifying God through the proof of this ministration, by reason of your subjection, by profession, to the glad tidings of the Christ, and your free-hearted liberality in communicating towards them and towards all;

¹³Kutokana na uthibitisho unaoonyeshwa kwa huduma hii yetu, watu watamtukuza Mungu kwa sababu ya uaminifu wenu kwa Habari Njema ya Kristo mnayoiungama, na pia kwa sababu ya ukarimu mnaowapa wao na watu wote.

¹⁴and in their supplication for you, full of ardent desire for you, on account of the exceeding grace of God [which is] upon you.

¹⁴Kwa hiyo watawaombea ninyi kwa moyo kwa sababu ya neema ya pekee aliyowajalieni Mungu.

¹⁵Thanks [be] to God for his unspeakable free gift.

¹⁵Tumshukuru Mungu kwa ajili ya zawadi yake isiyo na kifani!