1Maana tunajua kwamba hema hii ambayo ndani yake tunaishi sasa hapa duniani, yaani mwili wetu, itakapong'olewa, Mungu atatupa makao mengine mbinguni, nyumba ya milele isiyotengenezwa kwa mikono.
1For we know that if the earthly house of our tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens.
2Na sasa, katika hali hii, tunaugua, tukitazamia kwa hamu kubwa kuvikwa makao yetu yaliyo mbinguni.
2For verily in this we groan, longing to be clothed upon with our habitation which is from heaven:
3Naam, tunapaswa kuvikwa namna hiyo ili tusije tukasimama mbele ya Mungu bila vazi.
3if so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
4Tukiwa bado katika hema hii ya duniani, tunalia kwa kukandamizwa; si kwamba tunataka kuuvua mwili huu wa kufa, ila tuna hamu ya kuvalishwa ule usiokufa, ili kile chenye kufa kimezwe kabisa na uhai.
4For indeed we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened; not for that we would be unclothed, but that we would be clothed upon, that what is mortal may be swallowed up of life.
5Mungu mwenyewe alitutayarishia mabadiliko hayo, naye ametupa Roho wake awe dhamana ya yote aliyotuwekea.
5Now he that wrought us for this very thing is God, who gave unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
6Tuko imara daima. Tunajua kwamba kuishi katika mwili huu tu ni kukaa mbali na Bwana.
6Being therefore always of good courage, and knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord
7Maana tunaishi kwa imani, na si kwa kuona.
7(for we walk by faith, not by sight);
8Lakini tuko imara na tungependelea hata kuyahama makao haya, tukahamie kwa Bwana.
8we are of good courage, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.
9Lakini jambo la maana zaidi, tunataka kumpendeza, iwe tunaishi hapa duniani au huko.
9Wherefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well-pleasing unto him.
10Maana sote ni lazima tusimame mbele ya kiti cha hukumu cha Kristo, ili kila mmoja apokee anayostahili kwa matendo aliyoyafanya wakati alipokuwa anaishi duniani, mema au mabaya.
10For we must all be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things [done] in the body, according to what he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad.
11Basi, sisi tunajua umuhimu wa kumcha Bwana, na hivyo tunajitahidi kuwavuta watu. Mungu anatujua waziwazi, nami natumaini kwamba nanyi pia mnatujua kinaganaga.
11Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest unto God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.
12Si kwamba tunajaribu tena kujipendekeza kwenu, ila tunataka kuwapa ninyi sababu zetu za kuona fahari juu yenu, ili mpate kuwajibu wale wanaojivunia hali yao ya nje zaidi kuliko jinsi walivyo moyoni.
12We are not again commending ourselves unto you, but [speak] as giving you occasion of glorying on our behalf, that ye may have wherewith to answer them that glory in appearance, and not in heart.
13Ikiwa tumeonekana kuwa wendawazimu, hiyo ni kwa ajili ya Mungu; na ikiwa tunazo akili zetu timamu, hiyo ni kwa faida yenu.
13For whether we are beside ourselves, it is unto God; or whether we are of sober mind, it is unto you.
14Maana mapendo ya Kristo yanatumiliki sisi ambao tunatambua ya kwamba mtu mmoja tu amekufa kwa ajili ya wote, na hiyo ina maana kwamba wote wanashiriki kifo chake.
14For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that one died for all, therefore all died;
15Alikufa kwa ajili ya watu wote, ili wanaoishi wasiishi kwa ajili yao wenyewe, bali kwa ajili yake yeye aliyekufa, akafufuliwa kwa ajili yao.
15and he died for all, that they that live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto him who for their sakes died and rose again.
16Basi, tangu sasa, sisi hatumpimi mtu yeyote kibinadamu. Hata kama kwa wakati mmoja tulimpima Kristo kibinadamu, sasa si hivyo tena.
16Wherefore we henceforth know no man after the flesh: even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know [him so] no more.
17Mtu yeyote akiungana na Kristo huwa kiumbe kipya, mambo ya kale yamepita, hali mpya imefika.
17Wherefore if any man is in Christ, [he is] a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new.
18Yote ni kazi ya Mungu mwenye kutupatanisha sisi naye kwa njia ya Kristo, akatupa nasi jukumu la kuwapatanisha watu naye.
18But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation;
19Ndiyo kusema: Mungu, amekuwa akiupatanisha ulimwengu naye kwa njia ya Kristo, bila kutia maanani dhambi zao binadamu. Yeye ametupa ujumbe kuhusu kuwapatanisha watu naye.
19to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not reckoning unto them their trespasses, and having committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20Basi, sisi tunamwakilisha Kristo, naye Mungu mwenyewe anatutumia sisi kuwasihi ninyi. Tunawaombeni kwa niaba ya Kristo, mpatanishwe na Mungu.
20We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beseech [you] on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God.
21Kristo hakuwa na dhambi, lakini Mungu alimfanya ahusike na dhambi kwa ajili yetu, ili sisi kwa kuungana naye, tupate kuushiriki uadilifu wake Mungu.
21Him who knew no sin he made [to be] sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him.