1
Hivyo mfuateni Mungu, kama watoto wanaopendwa;
Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children,
2
mkaenende katika upendo, kama Kristo naye alivyowapenda ninyi tena akajitoa kwa ajili yetu, sadaka na dhabihu kwa Mungu, kuwa harufu ya manukato.
and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.
3
Lakini uasherati usitajwe kwenu kamwe, wala uchafu wo wote wa kutamani, kama iwastahilivyo watakatifu;
But among you, as is proper among the saints, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed.
4
wala aibu wala maneno ya upuzi wala ubishi; hayo hayapendezi; bali afadhali kushukuru.
Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving.
5
Maana neno hili mnalijua hakika, ya kwamba hakuna mwasherati wala mchafu wala mwenye tamaa, ndiye mwabudu sanamu, aliye na urithi katika ufalme wa Kristo na Mungu.
For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person (that is, an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6
Mtu asiwadanganye kwa maneno yasiyo na maana; kwa kuwa kwa sababu ya hayo hasira ya Mungu huwajia wana wa uasi.
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.
7
Basi msishirikiane nao.
Therefore do not be partakers with them.
8
Kwa maana zamani ninyi mlikuwa giza, bali sasa mmekuwa nuru katika Bwana; enendeni kama watoto wa nuru,
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,
9
kwa kuwa tunda la nuru ni katika wema wote na haki na kweli;
for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.
10
mkihakiki ni nini impendezayo Bwana.
Test and prove what pleases the Lord.
11
Wala msishirikiane na matendo yasiyozaa ya giza, bali myakemee;
Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
12
kwa kuwa yanayotendeka kwao kwa siri, ni aibu hata kuyanena.
For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.
13
Lakini yote yaliyokemewa hudhihirishwa na nuru maana kila kilichodhihirika ni nuru.
But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that is illuminated becomes a light itself.
14
Hivyo husema, Amka, wewe usinziaye, Ufufuke katika wafu, Na Kristo atakuangaza.
So it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
15
Basi angalieni sana jinsi mnavyoenenda; si kama watu wasio na hekima bali kama watu wenye hekima;
Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,
16
mkiukomboa wakati kwa maana zamani hizi ni za uovu.
redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17
Kwa sababu hiyo msiwe wajinga, bali mfahamu ni nini yaliyo mapenzi ya Bwana.
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
18
Tena msilewe kwa mvinyo, ambamo mna ufisadi; bali mjazwe Roho;
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
19
mkisemezana kwa zaburi na tenzi na nyimbo za rohoni, huku mkiimba na kumshangilia Bwana mioyoni mwenu;
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord,
20
na kumshukuru Mungu Baba sikuzote kwa mambo yote, katika jina lake Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo;
always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
21
hali mnanyenyekeana katika kicho cha Kristo.
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
22
Enyi wake, watiini waume zenu kama kumtii Bwana wetu.
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.
23
Kwa maana mume ni kichwa cha mkewe, kama Kristo naye ni kichwa cha Kanisa; naye ni mwokozi wa mwili.
For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior.
24
Lakini kama vile Kanisa limtiivyo Kristo vivyo hivyo wake nao wawatii waume zao katika kila jambo.
Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
25
Enyi waume, wapendeni wake zenu, kama Kristo naye alivyolipenda Kanisa, akajitoa kwa ajili yake;
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her
26
ili makusudi alitakase na kulisafisha kwa maji katika neno;
to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,
27
apate kujiletea Kanisa tukufu, lisilo na ila wala kunyanzi wala lo lote kama hayo; bali liwe takatifu lisilo na mawaa.
and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless.
28
Vivyo hivyo imewapasa waume nao kuwapenda wake zao kama miili yao wenyewe. Ampendaye mkewe hujipenda mwenyewe.
In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
29
Maana hakuna mtu anayeuchukia mwili wake po pote; bali huulisha na kuutunza, kama Kristo naye anavyolitendea Kanisa.
Indeed, no one ever hated his own body, but he nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church.
30
Kwa kuwa tu viungo vya mwili wake.
For we are members of His body.
31
Kwa sababu hiyo mtu atamwacha baba yake na mama yake, ataambatana na mkewe na hao wawili watakuwa mwili mmoja.
“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”
32
Siri hiyo ni kubwa; ila mimi nanena habari ya Kristo na Kanisa.
This mystery is profound, but I am speaking about Christ and the church.
33
Lakini kila mtu ampende mke wake kama nafsi yake mwenyewe; wala mke asikose kumstahi mumewe.
Nevertheless, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.