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

¹It is indeed unnecessary for me to write to you concerning the service to the saints,

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.

²for I know your readiness, of which I boast on your behalf to them of Macedonia, that Achaia has been prepared for a year past. Your zeal has stirred up very many of them.

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.

³But I have sent the brothers that our boasting on your behalf may not be in vain in this respect, that, just as I said, you may be prepared,

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.

⁴so that I won’t by any means, if there come with me any of Macedonia and find you unprepared, we (to say nothing of you) should be disappointed in this confident boasting.

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.

⁵I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brothers that they would go before to you, and arrange ahead of time the generous gift that you promised before, that the same might be ready as a matter of generosity, and not of greediness.

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

⁶Remember this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

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.

⁷Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart; not grudgingly, or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver.

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

⁸And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that you, always having all sufficiency in everything, may abound to every good work.

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

⁹As it is written, “He has scattered abroad, he has given to the poor. His righteousness remains forever.” Psalm 112:9

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.

¹⁰Now may he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;

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

¹¹you being enriched in everything to all liberality, which works through us thanksgiving to God.

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

¹²For this service of giving that you perform not only makes up for lack among the saints, but abounds also through many givings of thanks to God;

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.

¹³seeing that through the proof given by this service, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the Good News of Christ, and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all;

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

¹⁴while they themselves also, with supplication on your behalf, yearn for you by reason of the exceeding grace of God in you.

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

¹⁵Now thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift!