1
Paulo, mtume wa Kristo Yesu kwa mapenzi ya Mungu, na Timotheo, ndugu yetu,
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
2
kwa ndugu watakatifu, waaminifu katika Kristo, walioko Kolosai. Neema na iwe kwenu, na amani, zitokazo kwa Mungu Baba yetu.
To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.
3
Twamshukuru Mungu, Baba yake Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo, siku zote tukiwaombea;
We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,
4
tangu tuliposikia habari za imani yenu katika Kristo Yesu, na upendo mlio nao kwa watakatifu wote;
because we have heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all the saints—
5
kwa sababu ya tumaini mlilowekewa akiba mbinguni; ambalo habari zake mlizisikia zamani kwa neno la kweli ya Injili;
the faith and love proceeding from the hope stored up for you in heaven, of which you have already heard in the word of truth, the gospel
6
iliyofika kwenu, kama ilivyo katika ulimwengu wote, na kuzaa matunda na kukua, kama inavyokua kwenu pia, tangu siku mlipoisikia mkaifahamu sana neema ya Mungu katika kweli;
that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood the grace of God.
7
kama mlivyofundishwa na Epafra, mjoli wetu mpenzi, aliye mhudumu mwaminifu wa Kristo kwa ajili yenu;
You learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,
8
naye alitueleza upendo wenu katika Roho.
and who also informed us of your love in the Spirit.
9
Kwa sababu hiyo sisi nasi, tangu siku ile tuliposikia, hatuachi kufanya maombi na dua kwa ajili yenu, ili mjazwe maarifa ya mapenzi yake katika hekima yote na ufahamu wa rohoni;
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
10
mwenende kama ulivyo wajibu wenu kwa Bwana, mkimpendeza kabisa; mkizaa matunda kwa kila kazi njema, na kuzidi katika maarifa ya Mungu;
so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
11
mkiwezeshwa kwa uwezo wote, kwa kadiri ya nguvu ya utukufu wake, mpate kuwa na saburi ya kila namna na uvumilivu pamoja na furaha;
being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have full endurance and patience, and joyfully
12
mkimshukuru Baba, aliyewastahilisha kupokea sehemu ya urithi wa watakatifu katika nuru.
giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.
13
Naye alituokoa katika nguvu za giza, akatuhamisha na kutuingiza katika ufalme wa Mwana wa pendo lake;
He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son,
14
ambaye katika yeye tuna ukombozi, yaani, msamaha wa dhambi;
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
15
naye ni mfano wa Mungu asiyeonekana, mzaliwa wa kwanza wa viumbe vyote.
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
16
Kwa kuwa katika yeye vitu vyote viliumbwa, vilivyo mbinguni na vilivyo juu ya nchi, vinavyoonekana na visivyoonekana; ikiwa ni vitu vya enzi, au usultani, au enzi, au mamlaka; vitu vyote viliumbwa kwa njia yake, na kwa ajili yake.
For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him.
17
Naye amekuwako kabla ya vitu vyote, na vitu vyote hushikana katika yeye.
He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
18
Naye ndiye kichwa cha mwili, yaani, cha kanisa; naye ni mwanzo, ni mzaliwa wa kwanza katika wafu, ili kwamba awe mtangulizi katika yote.
And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence.
19
Kwa kuwa katika yeye ilipendeza utimilifu wote ukae;
For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him,
20
na kwa yeye kuvipatanisha vitu vyote na nafsi yake akiisha kufanya amani kwa damu ya msalaba wake; kwa yeye, ikiwa ni vitu vilivyo juu ya nchi, au vilivyo mbinguni.
and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross.
21
Na ninyi, mliokuwa hapo kwanza mmefarikishwa, tena adui katika nia zenu, kwa matendo yenu mabaya, amewapatanisha sasa;
Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds, engaging in evil deeds.
22
katika mwili wa nyama yake, kwa kufa kwake, ili awalete ninyi mbele zake, watakatifu, wasio na mawaa wala lawama;
But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence—
23
mkidumu tu katika ile imani, hali mmewekwa juu ya msingi, mkawa imara; msipogeuzwa na kuliacha tumaini la Injili mliyosikia habari zake, iliyohubiriwa katika viumbe vyote vilivyo chini ya mbingu; ambayo mimi Paulo nalikuwa mhudumu wake.
if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
24
Sasa nayafurahia mateso niliyo nayo kwa ajili yenu; tena nayatimiliza katika mwili wangu yale yaliyopungua ya mateso ya Kristo, kwa ajili ya mwili wake, yaani, kanisa lake;
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, which is the church.
25
ambalo nimefanywa mhudumu wake, sawasawa na uwakili wa Mungu, niliopewa kwa faida yenu, nilitimize neno la Mungu;
I became its servant by the commission God gave me to fully proclaim to you the word of God,
26
siri ile iliyofichwa tangu zamani zote na tangu vizazi vyote, bali sasa imefunuliwa kwa watakatifu wake;
the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations but is now revealed to His saints.
27
ambao Mungu alipenda kuwajulisha jinsi ulivyo utajiri wa utukufu wa siri hii katika Mataifa, nao ni Kristo ndani yenu, tumaini la utukufu
To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
28
ambaye sisi tunamhubiri habari zake tukimwonya kila mtu, na kumfundisha kila mtu katika hekima yote, tupate kumleta kila mtu mtimilifu katika Kristo.
We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
29
Nami najitaabisha kwa neno lilo hilo, nikijitahidi kwa kadiri ya kutenda kazi kwake atendaye kazi ndani yangu kwa nguvu.
To this end I also labor, striving with all His energy working powerfully within me.