¹Working together, we entreat also that you not receive the grace of God in vain,

¹Basi, tukiwa wafanyakazi pamoja na Mungu, tunawasihi msikubali ile neema mliyopokea kutoka kwa Mungu ipotee bure.

²for he says, “At an acceptable time I listened to you, in a day of salvation I helped you.” Isaiah 49:8 Behold, now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation.

²Mungu asema hivi: "Wakati wa kufaa nimekusikiliza, wakati wa wokovu nikakusaidia." Basi, sasa ndio wakati wa kufaa, sasa ndiyo siku ya wokovu!

³We give no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our service may not be blamed,

³Kusudi tusiwe na lawama yoyote katika utumishi wetu, hatupendi kumwekea mtu yeyote kizuio chochote.

⁴but in everything commending ourselves, as servants of God, in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,

⁴Badala yake, tunajionyesha kuwa kweli watumishi wa Mungu kwa kila kitu: kwa uvumilivu mwingi wakati wa mateso, shida na taabu.

⁵in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in watchings, in fastings;

⁵Tumepigwa, tumetiwa gerezani na kuzomewa hadharani; tumefanya kazi tukachoka; tumekesha na kukaa bila kula.

⁶in pureness, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love,

⁶Tunajionyesha kuwa watumishi wa Mungu kwa usafi wa moyo, elimu, uvumilivu na wema; kwa Roho Mtakatifu, kwa upendo usio na unafiki,

⁷in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

⁷kwa ujumbe wa kweli na kwa nguvu ya Mungu. Uadilifu ndiyo silaha yetu upande wa kulia na upande wa kushoto.

⁸by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true;

⁸Tuko tayari kupata heshima na kudharauliwa, kulaumiwa na kusifiwa. Twadhaniwa kuwa waongo, kumbe twasema kweli;

⁹as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and not killed;

⁹kama wasiojulikana, kumbe twajulikana kwa wote, kama waliokufa, lakini mwonavyo, sisi ni wazima kabisa.

¹⁰as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

¹⁰Ingawa tumeadhibiwa, hatukuuawa; ingawa tunayo huzuni, twafurahi daima; ingawa tu maskini hohehahe, lakini twatajirisha watu wengi; twaonekana kuwa watu tusio na chochote, kumbe tuna kila kitu.

¹¹Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians. Our heart is enlarged.

¹¹Ndugu Wakorintho, tumezungumza nanyi kwa unyofu; mioyo yetu iko wazi kabisa.

¹²You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections.

¹²Kama mnaona kuna kizuizi chochote kile, kizuizi hicho kiko kwenu ninyi wenyewe, na si kwa upande wetu.

¹³Now in return, I speak as to my children, you also be open wide.

¹³Sasa nasema nanyi kama watoto wangu, wekeni mioyo yenu wazi kama nasi tulivyofanya.

¹⁴Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

¹⁴Msiambatane na watu wasioamini. Je, wema na uovu vyapatana kweli? Mwanga na giza vyawezaje kukaa pamoja?

¹⁵What agreement has Christ with Belial? Or what portion has a believer with an unbeliever?

¹⁵Kristo anawezaje kupatana na Shetani? Muumini ana uhusiano gani na asiyeamini?

¹⁶What agreement has a temple of God with idols? For you are a temple of the living God. Even as God said, “I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” Leviticus 26:12; Jeremiah 32:38; Ezekiel 37:27

¹⁶Hekalu la Mungu lina uhusiano gani na sanamu za uongo? Maana sisi ni hekalu la Mungu aliye hai. Kama Mungu mwenyewe alivyosema: "Nitafanya makao yangu kwao, na kuishi kati yao; Nitakuwa Mungu wao, nao watakuwa watu wangu."

¹⁷Therefore “‘Come out from among them, and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you. Isaiah 52:11; Ezekiel 20:34,41

¹⁷Kwa hiyo Bwana asema pia: "Ondokeni kati yao, mkajitenge nao, msiguse kitu najisi, nami nitawapokea.

¹⁸I will be to you a Father. You will be to me sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Samuel 7:14; 7:8

¹⁸Mimi nitakuwa Baba yenu, nanyi mtakuwa watoto wangu, waume kwa wake, asema Bwana Mwenye Uwezo."