1Basi, tusonge mbele kwa yale yaliyokomaa na kuyaacha nyuma yale mafundisho ya mwanzo ya Kikristo. Hatuhitaji kuweka msingi tena kwa kurudia yale mafundisho ya mwanzo kama vile kuachana na matendo ya kifo, kumwamini Mungu;
1Wherefore leaving the doctrine of the first principles of Christ, let us press on unto perfection; not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
2mafundisho juu ya ubatizo na kuwekewa mikono; ufufuo wa wafu na hukumu ya milele.
2of the teaching of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3tusonge mbele! Hayo tutayafanya, Mungu akitujalia.
3And this will we do, if God permit.
4Maana watu wanaoiasi imani yao inawezekanaje kuwarudisha watubu tena? Watu hao walikwisha kuwa katika mwanga wa Mungu, walikwisha onja zawadi ya mbinguni na kushirikishwa Roho Mtakatifu;
4For as touching those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit,
5walikwisha onja wema wa neno la Mungu na nguvu za ulimwengu ujao,
5and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come,
6kisha wakaiasi imani yao! Haiwezekani kuwarudisha watubu tena, kwa sababu wanamsulubisha tena Mwana wa Mungu na kumwaibisha hadharani.
6and [then] fell away, it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
7Mungu huibariki ardhi ambayo huipokea mvua inayoinyeshea mara kwa mara, na kuotesha mimea ya faida kwa mkulima.
7For the land which hath drunk the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them for whose sake it is also tilled, receiveth blessing from God:
8Lakini kama ardhi hiyo ikiota miti ya miiba na magugu, haina faida; karibu italaaniwa na Mungu na mwisho wake ni kuchomwa moto.
8but if it beareth thorns and thistles, it is rejected and nigh unto a curse; whose end is to be burned.
9Lakini, ingawa twasema namna hii, wapenzi wetu, tunalo tumaini kubwa juu ya hali yenu. Tunajua kwamba mmepokea baraka zile bora za wokovu wenu.
9But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak:
10Mungu hakosi haki; yeye hataisahau kazi mliyoifanya au upendo mlioonyesha kwa ajili ya jina lake katika huduma mliyowapa na mnayowapa sasa watu wake.
10for God is not unrighteous to forget your work and the love which ye showed toward his name, in that ye ministered unto the saints, and still do minister.
11Hamu yetu ni kwamba kila mmoja wenu aonyeshe bidii hiyohiyo mpaka mwisho, ili yale mnayotumainia yapate kutimia.
11And we desire that each one of you may show the same diligence unto the fulness of hope even to the end:
12Msiwe wavivu, bali muwe kama wale wanaoamini na wenye uvumilivu na hivyo wanapokea yake aliyoahidi Mungu.
12that ye be not sluggish, but imitators of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
13Mungu alipompa Abrahamu ahadi, aliapa kwa jina lake mwenyewe, maana hakuna aliye mkuu kuliko Mungu ambaye kwa huyo angeweza kuapa.
13For when God made promise to Abraham, since he could swear by none greater, he sware by himself,
14Mungu alisema: "Hakika nitakubariki na nitakupa wazawa wengi."
14saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
15Abrahamu alisubiri kwa uvumilivu na hivyo alipokea kile alichoahidiwa na Mungu.
15And thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
16Watu wanapoapa, huapa kwa mmoja aliye mkuu zaidi kuliko wao, na kiapo hicho husuluhisha ubishi wote.
16For men swear by the greater: and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation.
17Naye Mungu aliimarisha ahadi yake kwa kiapo; na kwa namna hiyo akawaonyesha wazi wale aliowaahidia kwamba hatabadili nia yake.
17Wherein God, being minded to show more abundantly unto the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath;
18Basi, kuna vitu hivi viwili: ahadi na kiapo, ambavyo haviwezi kubadilika na wala juu ya hivyo Mungu hawezi kusema uongo. Kwa hiyo sisi tuliokimbilia usalama kwake, tunapewa moyo wa kushikilia imara tumaini lililowekwa mbele yetu.
18that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us:
19Tunalo tumaini hilo kama nanga ya maisha yetu. Tumaini hilo ni imara na thabiti, nalo lapenya lile pazia la hekalu la mbinguni mpaka patakatifu ndani.
19which we have as an anchor of the soul, [a hope] both sure and stedfast and entering into that which is within the veil;
20Yesu ametangulia kuingia humo kwa niaba yetu, na amekuwa kuhani mkuu milele, kufuatana na utaratibu wa ukuhani wa Melkisedeki.
20whither as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.