1
Sina budi kujisifu, ijapokuwa haipendezi; lakini nitafikilia maono na mafunuo ya Bwana.
I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to gain, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.
2
Namjua mtu mmoja katika Kristo, yapata sasa miaka kumi na minne, (kwamba alikuwa katika mwili sijui; kwamba alikuwa nje ya mwili sijui; Mungu ajua). Mtu huyo alinyakuliwa juu mpaka mbingu ya tatu.
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows.
3
Nami namjua mtu huyo, (kwamba alikuwa katika mwili sijui; kwamba alikuwa nje ya mwili sijui; Mungu ajua);
And I know that this man—whether in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows—
4
ya kuwa alinyakuliwa mpaka Peponi, akasikia maneno yasiyotamkika, ambayo haijuzu mwanadamu ayanene.
was caught up to Paradise. The things he heard were inexpressible, things that man is not permitted to tell.
5
Kwa habari za mtu kama huyo nitajisifu; lakini kwa ajili ya nafsi yangu sitajisifu, isipokuwa katika habari ya udhaifu wangu.
I will boast about such a man, but I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses.
6
Maana kama ningetaka kujisifu singekuwa mpumbavu, kwa sababu nitasema kweli. Lakini najizuia, ili mtu asinihesabie zaidi ya hayo ayaonayo kwangu au kuyasikia kwangu.
Even if I wanted to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me,
7
Na makusudi nisipate kujivuna kupita kiasi, kwa wingi wa mafunuo hayo nalipewa mwiba katika mwili, mjumbe wa Shetani ili anipige, nisije nikajivuna kupita kiasi.
or because of these surpassingly great revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
8
Kwa ajili ya kitu hicho nalimsihi Bwana mara tatu kwamba kinitoke.
Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
9
Naye akaniambia, Neema yangu yakutosha; maana uweza wangu hutimilika katika udhaifu. Basi nitajisifia udhaifu wangu kwa furaha nyingi, ili uweza wa Kristo ukae juu yangu.
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.
10
Kwa hiyo napendezwa na udhaifu, na ufidhuli, na misiba, na adha, na shida, kwa ajili ya Kristo. Maana niwapo dhaifu ndipo nilipo na nguvu.
That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
11
Nimekuwa mpumbavu, ninyi mmenilazimisha. Maana ilinipasa nisifiwe na ninyi; kwa sababu sikuwa duni ya mitume walio wakuu kwa lo lote, nijapokuwa si kitu.
I have become a fool, but you drove me to it. In fact, you should have commended me, since I am in no way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.
12
Kweli ishara za mtume zilitendwa katikati yenu katika saburi yote, kwa ishara na maajabu na miujiza.
The marks of a true apostle—signs, wonders, and miracles—were performed among you with great perseverance.
13
Maana ni kitu gani mlichopungukiwa kuliko makanisa mengine, ila kwa kuwa mimi sikuwalemea? Mnisamehe udhalimu huu.
In what way were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
14
Tazama, hii ni mara ya tatu ya mimi kuwa tayari kuja kwenu, wala sitawalemea. Maana sivitafuti vitu vyenu, bali nawatafuta ninyi; maana haiwapasi watoto kuweka akiba kwa wazazi, bali wazazi kwa watoto.
See, I am ready to come to you a third time, and I will not be a burden, because I am not seeking your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
15
Nami kwa furaha nyingi nitatapanya, tena nitatapanywa kwa ajili ya roho zenu. Je! Kadiri nizidivyo kuwapenda sana, ninapungukiwa kupendwa?
And for the sake of your souls, I will most gladly spend my money and myself. If I love you more, will you love me less?
16
Lakini na iwe hivyo, mimi sikuwalemea; bali kwa kuwa mwerevu naliwapata kwa hila.
Be that as it may, I was not a burden to you; but crafty as I am, I caught you by trickery.
17
Je! Mtu ye yote niliyemtuma kwenu, kwa mtu huyo naliwatoza kitu?
Did I exploit you by anyone I sent you?
18
Nalimwonya Tito, nikamtuma ndugu yule pamoja naye. Je! Tito aliwatoza kitu? Je! Hatukuenenda kwa Roho yeye yule na katika nyayo zile zile?
I urged Titus to visit you, and I sent our brother with him. Did Titus exploit you in any way? Did we not walk in the same Spirit and follow in the same footsteps?
19
Mwadhani hata sasa ya kuwa najidhuru kwenu! Mbele za Mungu twanena katika Kristo. Na hayo yote, wapenzi, ni kwa ajili ya kuwajenga ninyi.
Have you been thinking all along that we were making a defense to you? We speak before God in Christ, and all of this, beloved, is to build you up.
20
Maana nachelea, nisije nikawakuta si kama vile nitakavyo kuwakuta, nikaonekana kwenu si kama vile mtakavyo; nisije nikakuta labda fitina na wivu, na ghadhabu, na ugomvi, na masingizio, na manong'onezo, na majivuno, na ghasia;
For I am afraid that when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, rage, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.
21
nami nitakapokuja tena, Mungu wangu asije akanidhili kwenu, nami nikawasikitikia wengi waliokosa tangu hapo, wasiutubie uchafu, na uasherati, na ufisadi walioufanya.
I am afraid that when I come again, my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of their acts of impurity, sexual immorality, and debauchery.