1
Kwa sababu hiyo, kwa kuwa tuna huduma hii, kwa jinsi tulivyopata rehema, hatulegei;
Therefore, since God in His mercy has given us this ministry, we do not lose heart.
2
lakini tumekataa mambo ya aibu yaliyositirika, wala hatuenendi kwa hila, wala kulichanganya neno la Mungu na uongo; bali kwa kuidhihirisha iliyo kweli twajionyesha kuwa na haki, dhamiri za watu zikitushuhudia mbele za Mungu.
Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
3
Lakini ikiwa injili yetu imesitirika, imesitirika kwa hao wanaopotea;
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.
4
ambao ndani yao mungu wa dunia hii amepofusha fikira zao wasioamini, isiwazukie nuru ya injili ya utukufu wake Kristo aliye sura yake Mungu.
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
5
Kwa maana hatujihubiri wenyewe, bali Kristo Yesu ya kuwa ni Bwana; na sisi wenyewe kuwa tu watumishi wenu kwa ajili ya Yesu.
For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.
6
Kwa kuwa Mungu, aliyesema, Nuru itang'aa toka gizani, ndiye aliyeng'aa mioyoni mwetu, atupe nuru ya elimu ya utukufu wa Mungu katika uso wa Yesu Kristo.
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7
Lakini tuna hazina hii katika vyombo vya udongo, ili adhama kuu ya uwezo iwe ya Mungu, wala si kutoka kwetu.
Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us.
8
Pande zote twadhikika, bali hatusongwi; twaona shaka, bali hatukati tamaa;
We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
9
twaudhiwa, bali hatuachwi; twatupwa chini, bali hatuangamizwi;
persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.
10
siku zote twachukua katika mwili kuuawa kwake Yesu, ili uzima wa Yesu nao udhihirishwe katika miili yetu.
We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
11
Kwa maana sisi tulio hai, siku zote twatolewa tufe kwa ajili ya Yesu, ili uzima wa Yesu nao udhihirishwe katika miili yetu ipatikanayo na mauti.
For we who are alive are always consigned to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal body.
12
Basi hapo mauti hufanya kazi ndani yetu, bali uzima ndani yenu.
So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
13
Lakini kwa kuwa tuna roho ile ile ya imani; kama ilivyoandikwa, Naliamini, na kwa sababu hiyo nalinena; sisi nasi twaamini, na kwa sababu hiyo twanena;
And in keeping with what is written, “I believed, therefore I have spoken,” we who have the same spirit of faith also believe and therefore speak,
14
tukijua ya kwamba yeye aliyemfufua Bwana Yesu atatufufua sisi nasi pamoja na Yesu, na kutuhudhurisha pamoja nanyi.
knowing that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in His presence.
15
Kwa maana mambo yote ni kwa ajili yenu, ili neema hiyo ikiongezwa sana, kwa hao walio wengi shukrani izidishwe, na Mungu atukuzwe.
All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is extending to more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow, to the glory of God.
16
Kwa hiyo hatulegei; bali ijapokuwa utu wetu wa nje unachakaa, lakini utu wetu wa ndani unafanywa upya siku kwa siku.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day.
17
Maana dhiki yetu nyepesi, iliyo ya muda wa kitambo tu, yatufanyia utukufu wa milele uzidio kuwa mwingi sana;
For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison.
18
tusiviangalie vinavyoonekana, bali visivyoonekana. Kwa maana vinavyoonekana ni vya muda tu; bali visivyoonekana ni vya milele.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.