1
Nanyi mlikuwa wafu kwa sababu ya makosa na dhambi zenu;
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
2
ambazo mliziendea zamani kwa kuifuata kawaida ya ulimwengu huu, na kwa kumfuata mfalme wa uwezo wa anga, roho yule atendaye kazi sasa katika wana wa kuasi;
in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience.
3
ambao zamani, sisi sote nasi tulienenda kati yao, katika tamaa za miili yetu, tulipoyatimiza mapenzi ya mwili na ya nia, tukawa kwa tabia yetu watoto wa hasira kama na hao wengine.
All of us also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath.
4
Lakini Mungu, kwa kuwa ni mwingi wa rehema, kwa mapenzi yake makuu aliyotupenda;
But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
5
hata wakati ule tulipokuwa wafu kwa sababu ya makosa yetu; alituhuisha pamoja na Kristo; yaani, tumeokolewa kwa neema.
made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved!
6
Akatufufua pamoja naye, akatuketisha pamoja naye katika ulimwengu wa roho, katika Kristo Yesu;
And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
7
ili katika zamani zinazokuja audhihirishe wingi wa neema yake upitao kiasi kwa wema wake kwetu sisi katika Kristo Yesu.
in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
8
Kwa maana mmeokolewa kwa neema, kwa njia ya imani; ambayo hiyo haikutokana na nafsi zenu, ni kipawa cha Mungu;
For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9
wala si kwa matendo, mtu awaye yote asije akajisifu.
not by works, so that no one can boast.
10
Maana tu kazi yake, tuliumbwa katika Kristo Yesu, tutende matendo mema, ambayo tokea awali Mungu aliyatengeneza ili tuenende nayo.
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.
11
Kwa ajili ya hayo kumbukeni ya kwamba zamani ninyi, mlio watu wa Mataifa kwa jinsi ya mwili, mnaoitwa Wasiotahiriwa na wale wanaoitwa Waliotahiriwa, yaani, tohara ya mwilini iliyofanyika kwa mikono;
Therefore remember that formerly you who are Gentiles in the flesh and called uncircumcised by the so-called circumcision (that done in the body by human hands)—
12
kwamba zamani zile mlikuwa hamna Kristo, mmefarakana na jamii ya Israeli, wageni wasio wa maagano ya ahadi ile. Mlikuwa hamna tumaini, hamna Mungu duniani.
remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.
13
Lakini sasa, katika Kristo Yesu, ninyi mliokuwa mbali hapo kwanza mmekuwa karibu kwa damu yake Kristo.
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
14
Kwa maana yeye ndiye amani yetu, aliyetufanya sisi sote tuliokuwa wawili kuwa mmoja; akakibomoa kiambaza cha kati kilichotutenga.
For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility
15
Naye akiisha kuuondoa ule uadui kwa mwili wake; ndiyo sheria ya amri zilizo katika maagizo; ili afanye hao wawili kuwa mtu mpya mmoja ndani ya nafsi yake; akafanya amani.
by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees. He did this to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace
16
Akawapatanisha wote wawili na Mungu katika mwili mmoja, kwa njia ya msalaba, akiisha kuufisha ule uadui kwa huo msalaba.
and reconciling both of them to God in one body through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility.
17
Akaja akahubiri amani kwenu ninyi mliokuwa mbali, na amani kwao wale waliokuwa karibu.
He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.
18
Kwa maana kwa yeye sisi sote tumepata njia ya kumkaribia Baba katika Roho mmoja.
For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
19
Basi tangu sasa ninyi si wageni wala wapitaji, bali ninyi ni wenyeji pamoja na watakatifu, watu wa nyumbani mwake Mungu.
Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household,
20
Mmejengwa juu ya msingi wa mitume na manabii, naye Kristo Yesu mwenyewe ni jiwe kuu la pembeni.
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.
21
Katika yeye jengo lote linaungamanishwa vema na kukua hata liwe hekalu takatifu katika Bwana.
In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
22
Katika yeye ninyi nanyi mnajengwa pamoja kuwa maskani ya Mungu katika Roho.
And in Him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God in His Spirit.