1
Na kwa habari ya vitu vilivyotolewa sadaka kwa sanamu; Twajua ya kuwa sisi sote tuna ujuzi. Ujuzi huleta majivuno, bali upendo hujenga.
Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
2
Mtu akidhani ya kuwa anajua neno, hajui neno lo lote bado, kama impasavyo kujua.
The one who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.
3
Lakini mtu akimpenda Mungu, huyo amejulikana naye.
But the one who loves God is known by God.
4
Basi kwa habari ya kuvila vitu vilivyotolewa sadaka kwa sanamu; twajua ya kuwa sanamu si kitu katika ulimwengu, na ya kuwa hakuna Mungu ila mmoja tu.
So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one.
5
Kwa maana ijapokuwa wako waitwao miungu, ama mbinguni ama duniani, kama vile walivyoko miungu mingi na mabwana wengi;
For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords),
6
lakini kwetu sisi Mungu ni mmoja tu, aliye Baba, ambaye vitu vyote vimetoka kwake, nasi tunaishi kwake; yuko na Bwana mmoja Yesu Kristo, ambaye kwake vitu vyote vimekuwapo, na sisi kwa yeye huyo.
yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist.
7
Bali ujuzi huu haumo ndani ya watu wote; ila wengine kwa kuizoelea ile sanamu hata sasa hula kana kwamba ni kitu kilichotolewa sadaka kwa sanamu; na dhamiri zao, kwa kuwa dhaifu, hunajisika.
But not everyone has this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that they eat such food as if it were sacrificed to an idol. And since their conscience is weak, it is defiled.
8
Lakini chakula hakituhudhurishi mbele za Mungu; maana, tusipokula hatupunguziwi kitu, wala tukila, hatuongezewi kitu.
But food does not bring us closer to God: We are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.
9
Lakini angalieni huu uwezo wenu usije ukawakwaza wale walio dhaifu.
Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
10
Kwa maana, mtu akikuona wewe uliye na ujuzi, umeketi chakulani ndani ya hekalu la sanamu, je! Dhamiri yake mtu huyo, kwa kuwa yu dhaifu, haitathibitika hata yeye naye ale vitu vilivyotolewa sadaka kwa sanamu?
For if someone with a weak conscience sees you who are well informed eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged to eat food sacrificed to idols?
11
Na yule aliye dhaifu aangamizwa kwa ujuzi wako, naye ni ndugu ambaye Kristo alikufa kwa ajili yake.
So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.
12
Hivyo, mkiwatenda dhambi ndugu zenu na kuitia jeraha dhamiri iliyo dhaifu, mnamtenda dhambi Kristo.
By sinning against your brothers in this way and wounding their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
13
Kwa hiyo, chakula kikimkwaza ndugu yangu, hakika sitakula nyama hata milele, nisije nikamkwaza ndugu yangu.
Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to stumble.