1
Kwa hiyo nawasihi, mimi niliye mfungwa katika Bwana, mwenende kama inavyoustahili wito wenu mlioitiwa;
As a prisoner in the Lord, then, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received:
2
kwa unyenyekevu wote na upole, kwa uvumilivu, mkichukuliana katika upendo;
with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
3
na kujitahidi kuuhifadhi umoja wa Roho katika kifungo cha amani.
and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
4
Mwili mmoja, na Roho mmoja, kama na mlivyoitwa katika tumaini moja la wito wenu.
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;
5
Bwana mmoja, imani moja, ubatizo mmoja.
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6
Mungu mmoja, naye ni Baba wa wote, aliye juu ya yote na katika yote na ndani ya yote.
one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
7
Lakini kila mmoja wetu alipewa neema kwa kadiri ya kipimo cha kipawa chake Kristo.
Now to each one of us grace has been given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
8
Hivyo husema, Alipopaa juu aliteka mateka, Akawapa wanadamu vipawa.
This is why it says: “When He ascended on high, He led captives away, and gave gifts to men.”
9
Basi neno hilo, Alipaa, maana yake nini kama siyo kusema kwamba yeye naye alishuka mpaka pande zilizo chini za nchi?
What does “He ascended” mean, except that He also descended to the lower parts of the earth?
10
Naye aliyeshuka ndiye yeye aliyepaa juu sana kupita mbingu zote, ili avijaze vitu vyote.
He who descended is the very One who ascended above all the heavens, in order to fill all things.
11
Naye alitoa wengine kuwa mitume, na wengine kuwa manabii; na wengine kuwa wainjilisti na wengine kuwa wachungaji na waalimu;
And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
12
kwa kusudi la kuwakamilisha watakatifu, hata kazi ya huduma itendeke, hata mwili wa Kristo ujengwe;
to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ,
13
hata na sisi sote tutakapoufikia umoja wa imani na kumfahamu sana Mwana wa Mungu, hata kuwa mtu mkamilifu, hata kufika kwenye cheo cha kimo cha utimilifu wa Kristo;
until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ.
14
ili tusiwe tena watoto wachanga, tukitupwa huku na huku, na kuchukuliwa na kila upepo wa elimu, kwa hila ya watu, kwa ujanja, tukizifuata njia za udanganyifu.
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming.
15
Lakini tuishike kweli katika upendo na kukua hata tumfikie yeye katika yote, yeye aliye kichwa, Kristo.
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head.
16
Katika yeye mwili wote ukiungamanishwa na kushikanishwa kwa msaada wa kila kiungo, kwa kadiri ya utendaji wa kila sehemu moja moja, huukuza mwili upate kujijenga wenyewe katika upendo.
From Him the whole body, fitted and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love through the work of each individual part.
17
Basi nasema neno hili, tena nashuhudia katika Bwana, tangu sasa msienende kama Mataifa waenendavyo, katika ubatili wa nia zao;
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.
18
ambao; akili zao zimetiwa giza, nao wamefarikishwa na uzima wa Mungu, kwa sababu ya ujinga uliomo ndani yao, kwa sababu ya ugumu wa mioyo yao;
They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts.
19
ambao wakiisha kufa ganzi wanajitia katika mambo ya ufisadi wapate kufanyiza kila namna ya uchafu kwa kutamani.
Having lost all sense of shame, they have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity, with a craving for more.
20
Bali ninyi, sivyo mlivyojifunza Kristo;
But this is not the way you came to know Christ.
21
ikiwa mlimsikia mkafundishwa katika yeye, kama kweli ilivyo katika Yesu,
Surely you heard of Him and were taught in Him—in keeping with the truth that is in Jesus—
22
mvue kwa habari ya mwenendo wa kwanza utu wa zamani, unaoharibika kwa kuzifuata tamaa zenye kudanganya;
to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
23
na mfanywe wapya katika roho ya nia zenu;
to be renewed in the spirit of your minds;
24
mkavae utu mpya, ulioumbwa kwa namna ya Mungu katika haki na utakatifu wa kweli.
and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
25
Basi uvueni uongo, mkaseme kweli kila mtu na jirani yake; kwa maana tu viungo, kila mmoja kiungo cha wenzake.
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one another.
26
Mwe na hasira, ila msitende dhambi; jua lisichwe na uchungu wenu bado haujawatoka;
“Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger,
27
wala msimpe Ibilisi nafasi.
and do not give the devil a foothold.
28
Mwibaji asiibe tena; bali afadhali afanye juhudi, akitenda kazi iliyo nzuri kwa mikono yake mwenyewe, apate kuwa na kitu cha kumgawia mhitaji.
He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing good with his own hands, that he may have something to share with the one in need.
29
Neno lo lote lililo ovu lisitoke vinywani mwenu, bali lililo jema la kumfaa mwenye kuhitaji, ili liwape neema wanaosikia.
Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.
30
Wala msimhuzunishe yule Roho Mtakatifu wa Mungu; ambaye kwa yeye mlitiwa muhuri hata siku ya ukombozi.
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31
Uchungu wote na ghadhabu na hasira na kelele na matukano yaondoke kwenu, pamoja na kila namna ya ubaya;
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice.
32
tena iweni wafadhili ninyi kwa ninyi, wenye huruma, mkasameheane kama na Mungu katika Kristo alivyowasamehe ninyi.
Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.