1Basi nimeamua nisiwatembelee tena kuwatia huzuni.
1But I determined this for myself, that I would not come to you again in sorrow.
2Maana nikiwahuzunisha ninyi, basi, ni nani atakayenifariji? Ni walewale niliowahuzunisha!
2For if I make you sorry, then who will make me glad but he who is made sorry by me?
3Ndiyo maana niliwaandikia--sikutaka kuja kwenu na kuhuzunishwa na ninyi ambao ndio mngepaswa kuwa furaha yangu. Nina hakika kwamba, mimi nikifurahi, ninyi nyote pia mnafurahi.
3And I wrote this very thing to you, so that, when I came, I wouldn’t have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy would be shared by all of you.
4Nilipowaandikia hapo awali katika hali ya huzuni na sikitiko moyoni na kwa machozi mengi, haikuwa kwa ajili ya kuwahuzunisha ninyi, bali kwa ajili ya kuwaonyesheni kwamba nawapenda mno.
4For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not that you should be made sorry, but that you might know the love that I have so abundantly for you.
5Ikiwa kuna mtu aliyemhuzunisha mwingine, hakunihuzunisha mimi--ila amewahuzunisha ninyi nyote, na sipendi kuwa mkali zaidi.
5But if any has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow, not to me, but in part (that I not press too heavily) to you all.
6Adhabu aliyokwisha pata kutoka kwa wengi wenu inamtosha.
6Sufficient to such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the many;
7Iliyobakia ni afadhali kwenu kumsamehe mtu huyo na kumpa moyo ili asije akahuzunika mno na kukata tamaa kabisa.
7so that on the contrary you should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest by any means such a one should be swallowed up with his excessive sorrow.
8Kwa hiyo nawasihi: mwonyesheni kwamba mnampenda.
8Therefore I beg you to confirm your love toward him.
9Madhumuni yangu kuandika ile barua yalikuwa kutaka kujua kama mko tayari kutii katika kila jambo.
9For to this end I also wrote, that I might know the proof of you, whether you are obedient in all things.
10Mkimsamehe mtu, nami pia ninamsamehe. Maana ninaposamehe--kama kweli ninacho cha kusamehe--nasamehe mbele ya Kristo kwa ajili yenu,
10Now I also forgive whomever you forgive anything. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ,
11ili tusimpe nafasi Shetani atudanganye; maana twaijua mipango yake ilivyo.
11that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes.
12Nilipofika Troa kuhubiri Habari Njema ya Kristo, nilikuta mlango u wazi kwa ajili ya kazi ya Bwana.
12Now when I came to Troas for the Good News of Christ, and when a door was opened to me in the Lord,
13Lakini nilifadhaika sana kwa kutomkuta ndugu yetu Tito. Ndiyo maana niliwaaga wote pale nikaenda Makedonia.
13I had no relief for my spirit, because I didn’t find Titus, my brother, but taking my leave of them, I went out into Macedonia.
14Lakini, shukrani kwa Mungu anayetuongoza daima katika msafara wa ushindi wa Kristo. Yeye hutufanya tuueneze ukweli wa Kristo kama harufu nzuri, kila mahali.
14Now thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and reveals through us the sweet aroma of his knowledge in every place.
15Maana sisi ni kama harufu nzuri ya ubani ambayo Kristo anamtolea Mungu, harufu nzuri inayofikia wote wanaookolewa na wanaopotea.
15For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God, in those who are saved, and in those who perish;
16Kwa wale wanaopotea, harufu hiyo ni kifo; lakini kwa wale wanaookolewa, harufu hiyo ni uhai. Nani basi, awezaye kushiriki katika kazi ya namna hiyo?
16to the one a stench from death to death; to the other a sweet aroma from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?
17Sisi si kama wengine ambao hufanya biashara na ujumbe wa Mungu; sisi tunahubiri kwa unyofu mbele ya Mungu, kama watu tuliotumwa na Mungu, tukiwa tumeungana na Kristo.
17For we are not as so many, peddling the word of God. But as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, we speak in Christ.