¹Ndugu, tunapenda kuwapa habari juu ya neema ambazo Mungu ameyajalia makanisa ya Makedonia.

¹And we make known to you, brethren, the grace of God, that hath been given in the assemblies of Macedonia,

²Waumini wa huko walijaribiwa sana kwa taabu; lakini furaha yao ilikuwa kubwa hivi hata wakawa wakarimu kupita kiasi, ingawaje walikuwa maskini sana.

²because in much trial of tribulation the abundance of their joy, and their deep poverty, did abound to the riches of their liberality;

³Naweza kushuhudia kwamba walikuwa wakarimu kadiri ya nguvu zao na hata zaidi. Kwa hiari yao wenyewe,

³because, according to [their] power, I testify, and above [their] power, they were willing of themselves,

⁴walitusihi sana wapewe nafasi ya kushiriki katika huduma hii ya kuwasaidia watu wa Mungu.

⁴with much entreaty calling on us to receive the favour and the fellowship of the ministration to the saints,

⁵Hilo lilikuwa jambo ambalo hatukulitazamia kabisa! Kwanza walijitolea wao wenyewe kwa Bwana, kisha wakajitolea wenyewe kwetu pia, kufuatana na mapenzi ya Mungu.

⁵and not according as we expected, but themselves they did give first to the Lord, and to us, through the will of God,

⁶Kwa sababu hiyo, tulimsihi Tito aliyeianza kazi hiyo awasaidieni pia muitekeleze huduma hii ya upendo miongoni mwenu.

⁶so that we exhorted Titus, that, according as he did begin before, so also he may finish to you also this favour,

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.

⁷but even as in every thing ye do abound, in faith, and word, and knowledge, and all diligence, and in your love to us, that also in this grace ye may abound;

⁸Siwapi ninyi amri, lakini nataka tu kuonyesha jinsi wengine walivyo na bidii ya kusaidia ili nipate kujua jinsi upendo wenu ulivyo wa kweli.

⁸not according to command do I speak, but because of the diligence of others, and of your love proving the genuineness,

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.

⁹for ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that because of you he became poor — being rich, that ye by that poverty may become rich.

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.

¹⁰and an opinion in this do I give: for this to you [is] expedient, who not only to do, but also to will, did begin before — a year ago,

¹¹Basi, kamilisheni shughuli hiyo; na kama vile mlivyokuwa na hamu kubwa ya kusaidia, basi, fanyeni bidii vivyo hivyo, kadiri ya uwezo wenu, kuikamilisha.

¹¹and now also finish doing [it], that even as [there is] the readiness of the will, so also the finishing, out of that which ye have,

¹²Maana ikiwa mtu ana moyo wa kusaidia, Mungu hupokea kila anachoweza kutoa: hadai zaidi.

¹²for if the willing mind is present, according to that which any one may have it is well-accepted, not according to that which he hath not;

¹³Ninyi hampaswi kuongezewa taabu kusudi wengine wapunguziwe mzigo wao; sivyo, ila ni lazima tujali usawa na haki.

¹³for not that for others release, and ye pressured, [do I speak,]

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.

¹⁴but by equality, at the present time your abundance — for their want, that also their abundance may be for your want, that there may be equality,

¹⁵Kama Maandiko yasemavyo: "Aliyekusanya kwa wingi hakuwa na ziada, na yule aliyekusanya kidogo hakupungukiwa."

¹⁵according as it hath been written, `He who [did gather] much, had nothing over; and he who [did gather] little, had no lack.`

¹⁶Namshukuru Mungu aliyeweka ndani ya moyo wa Tito hamu hiyo niliyo nayo mimi ya kuwasaidia.

¹⁶And thanks to God, who is putting the same diligence for you in the heart of Titus,

¹⁷Si tu kwamba alikubali ombi letu, ila pia alikuwa na hamu kubwa ya kusaidia, hata akaamua kwa hiari yake mwenyewe kuja kwenu.

¹⁷because indeed the exhortation he accepted, and being more diligent, of his own accord he went forth unto you,

¹⁸Pamoja naye, tunamtuma ndugu mmoja ambaye sifa zake katika kueneza Habari Njema zimeenea katika makanisa yote.

¹⁸and we sent with him the brother, whose praise in the good news [is] through all the assemblies,

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.

¹⁹and not only so, but who was also appointed by vote by the assemblies, our fellow-traveller, with this favour that is ministered by us, unto the glory of the same Lord, and your willing mind;

²⁰Tunataka kuepa lawama zinazoweza kutokea kuhusu usimamizi wetu juu ya zawadi hii karimu.

²⁰avoiding this, lest any one may blame us in this abundance that is ministered by us,

²¹Nia yetu ni kufanya vema, si tu mbele ya Bwana, lakini pia mbele ya watu.

²¹providing right things, not only before the Lord, but also before men;

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.

²²and we sent with them our brother, whom we proved in many things many times being diligent, and now much more diligent, by the great confidence that is toward you,

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.

²³whether — about Titus — my partner and towards you fellow-worker, whether — our brethren, apostles of assemblies — glory of Christ;

²⁴Basi, waonyesheni uthabiti wa upendo wenu, makanisa yapate kuona kweli kwamba fahari ninayoona juu yenu ni ya halali.

²⁴the shewing therefore of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf, to them shew ye, even in the face of the assemblies.