1
Paulo, mtume wa Kristo Yesu, kwa mapenzi ya Mungu; kwa watakatifu walioko [Efeso] wanaomwamini Kristo Yesu.
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2
Neema na iwe kwenu na amani zitokazo kwa Mungu Baba yetu na kwa Bwana Yesu Kristo.
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3
Atukuzwe Mungu, Baba wa Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo, aliyetubariki kwa baraka zote za rohoni, katika ulimwengu wa roho, ndani yake Kristo;
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms.
4
kama vile alivyotuchagua katika yeye kabla ya kuwekwa misingi ya ulimwengu, ili tuwe watakatifu, watu wasio na hatia mbele zake katika pendo.
For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love
5
Kwa kuwa alitangulia kutuchagua, ili tufanywe wanawe kwa njia ya Yesu Kristo, sawasawa na uradhi wa mapenzi yake.
He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will,
6
Na usifiwe utukufu wa neema yake, ambayo ametuneemesha katika huyo Mpendwa.
to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the Beloved One.
7
Katika yeye huyo, kwa damu yake, tunao ukombozi wetu, masamaha ya dhambi, sawasawa na wingi wa neema yake.
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace
8
Naye alituzidishia hiyo katika hekima yote na ujuzi;
that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.
9
akiisha kutujulisha siri ya mapenzi yake, sawasawa na uradhi wake, alioukusudia katika yeye huyo.
And He has made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ
10
Yaani, kuleta madaraka ya wakati mkamilifu atavijumlisha vitu vyote katika Kristo, vitu vya mbinguni na vitu vya duniani pia. Naam, katika yeye huyo;
as a plan for the fullness of time, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Christ.
11
na ndani yake sisi nasi tulifanywa urithi, huku tukichaguliwa tangu awali sawasawa na kusudi lake yeye, ambaye hufanya mambo yote kwa shauri la mapenzi yake.
In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will,
12
Nasi katika huyo tupate kuwa sifa ya utukufu wake, sisi tuliotangulia kumwekea Kristo tumaini letu.
in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, would be for the praise of His glory.
13
Nanyi pia katika huyo mmekwisha kulisikia neno la kweli, habari njema za wokovu wenu; tena mmekwisha kumwamini yeye, na kutiwa muhuri na Roho yule wa ahadi aliye Mtakatifu.
And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
14
Ndiye aliye arabuni ya urithi wetu, ili kuleta ukombozi wa milki yake, kuwa sifa ya utukufu wake.
who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory.
15
Kwa sababu hiyo mimi nami, tangu nilipopata habari za imani yenu katika Bwana Yesu, na pendo lenu kwa watakatifu wote,
For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
16
siachi kutoa shukrani kwa ajili yenu; nikiwakumbuka katika sala zangu,
I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,
17
Mungu wa Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo, Baba wa utukufu, awape ninyi roho ya hekima na ya ufunuo katika kumjua yeye;
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him.
18
macho ya mioyo yenu yatiwe nuru, mjue tumaini la mwito wake jinsi lilivyo; na utajiri wa utukufu wa urithi wake katika watakatifu jinsi ulivyo;
I ask that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints,
19
na ubora wa ukuu wa uweza wake ndani yetu tuaminio jinsi ulivyo; kwa kadiri ya utendaji wa nguvu za uweza wake;
and the surpassing greatness of His power to us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength,
20
aliotenda katika Kristo alipomfufua katika wafu, akamweka mkono wake wa kuume katika ulimwengu wa roho;
which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms,
21
juu sana kuliko ufalme wote, na mamlaka, na nguvu, na usultani, na kila jina litajwalo, wala si ulimwenguni humu tu, bali katika ule ujao pia;
far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
22
akavitia vitu vyote chini ya miguu yake, akamweka awe kichwa juu ya vitu vyote kwa ajili ya kanisa; ambalo
And God put everything under His feet and made Him head over everything for the church,
23
ndilo mwili wake, ukamilifu wake anayekamilika kwa vyote katika vyote.
which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.