1For we know that if the earthly house of our tent is dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens.
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.
2For most certainly in this we groan, longing to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven;
2Na sasa, katika hali hii, tunaugua, tukitazamia kwa hamu kubwa kuvikwa makao yetu yaliyo mbinguni.
3if so be that being clothed we will not be found naked.
3Naam, tunapaswa kuvikwa namna hiyo ili tusije tukasimama mbele ya Mungu bila vazi.
4For indeed we who are in this tent do groan, being burdened; not that we desire to be unclothed, but that we desire to be clothed, that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
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.
5Now he who made us for this very thing is God, who also gave to us the down payment of the Spirit.
5Mungu mwenyewe alitutayarishia mabadiliko hayo, naye ametupa Roho wake awe dhamana ya yote aliyotuwekea.
6Therefore we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord;
6Tuko imara daima. Tunajua kwamba kuishi katika mwili huu tu ni kukaa mbali na Bwana.
7for we walk by faith, not by sight.
7Maana tunaishi kwa imani, na si kwa kuona.
8We are courageous, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.
8Lakini tuko imara na tungependelea hata kuyahama makao haya, tukahamie kwa Bwana.
9Therefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well pleasing to him.
9Lakini jambo la maana zaidi, tunataka kumpendeza, iwe tunaishi hapa duniani au huko.
10For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
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.
11Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are revealed to God; and I hope that we are revealed also in your consciences.
11Basi, sisi tunajua umuhimu wa kumcha Bwana, na hivyo tunajitahidi kuwavuta watu. Mungu anatujua waziwazi, nami natumaini kwamba nanyi pia mnatujua kinaganaga.
12For we are not commending ourselves to you again, but speak as giving you occasion of boasting on our behalf, that you may have something to answer those who boast in appearance, and not in heart.
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.
13For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God. Or if we are of sober mind, it is for you.
13Ikiwa tumeonekana kuwa wendawazimu, hiyo ni kwa ajili ya Mungu; na ikiwa tunazo akili zetu timamu, hiyo ni kwa faida yenu.
14For the love of Christ constrains us; because we judge thus, that one died for all, therefore all died.
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.
15He died for all, that those who live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who for their sakes died and rose again.
15Alikufa kwa ajili ya watu wote, ili wanaoishi wasiishi kwa ajili yao wenyewe, bali kwa ajili yake yeye aliyekufa, akafufuliwa kwa ajili yao.
16Therefore we know no one after the flesh from now on. Even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more.
16Basi, tangu sasa, sisi hatumpimi mtu yeyote kibinadamu. Hata kama kwa wakati mmoja tulimpima Kristo kibinadamu, sasa si hivyo tena.
17Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.
17Mtu yeyote akiungana na Kristo huwa kiumbe kipya, mambo ya kale yamepita, hali mpya imefika.
18But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation;
18Yote ni kazi ya Mungu mwenye kutupatanisha sisi naye kwa njia ya Kristo, akatupa nasi jukumu la kuwapatanisha watu naye.
19namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word 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.
20We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
20Basi, sisi tunamwakilisha Kristo, naye Mungu mwenyewe anatutumia sisi kuwasihi ninyi. Tunawaombeni kwa niaba ya Kristo, mpatanishwe na Mungu.
21For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
21Kristo hakuwa na dhambi, lakini Mungu alimfanya ahusike na dhambi kwa ajili yetu, ili sisi kwa kuungana naye, tupate kuushiriki uadilifu wake Mungu.