1
Lakini nasema ya kuwa mrithi, wakati wote awapo mtoto, hana tofauti na mtumwa, angawa ni bwana wa yote;
What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he is the owner of everything.
2
bali yu chini ya mawakili na watunzaji, hata wakati uliokwisha kuamriwa na baba.
He is subject to guardians and trustees until the date set by his father.
3
Kadhalika na sisi, tulipokuwa watoto, tulikuwa tukitumikishwa na kawaida za kwanza za dunia.
So also, when we were children, we were enslaved under the basic principles of the world.
4
Hata ulipowadia utimilifu wa wakati, Mungu alimtuma Mwanawe ambaye amezaliwa na mwanamke, amezaliwa chini ya sheria,
But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
5
kusudi awakomboe hao waliokuwa chini ya sheria, ili sisi tupate kupokea hali ya kuwa wana.
to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our adoption as sons.
6
Na kwa kuwa ninyi mmekuwa wana, Mungu alimtuma Roho wa Mwanawe mioyoni mwetu, aliaye, Aba, yaani, Baba.
And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
7
Kama ni hivyo, wewe si mtumwa tena bali u mwana; na kama u mwana, basi, u mrithi kwa Mungu.
So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, you are also an heir through God.
8
Lakini wakati ule, kwa kuwa hamkumjua Mungu, mliwatumikia wao ambao kwa asili si miungu.
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.
9
Bali sasa mkiisha kumjua Mungu, au zaidi kujulikana na Mungu, kwa nini kuyarejea tena mafundisho ya kwanza yaliyo manyonge, yenye upungufu, ambayo mnataka kuyatumikia tena?
But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?
10
Mnashika siku, na miezi, na nyakati, na miaka.
You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!
11
Nawachelea, isiwe labda nimejitaabisha bure kwa ajili yenu.
I fear for you, that my efforts for you may have been in vain.
12
Ndugu zangu, nawasihi, iweni kama mimi, maana mimi ni kama ninyi. Hamkunidhulumu kwa lo lote.
I beg you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong.
13
Lakini mwajua ya kuwa naliwahubiri Injili mara ya kwanza kwa sababu ya udhaifu wa mwili;
You know that it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you.
14
na jaribu lililowapata katika mwili wangu hamkulidharau wala kulikataa, bali mlinipokea kama malaika wa Mungu, kama Kristo Yesu.
And although my illness was a trial to you, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus Himself.
15
Ku wapi, basi, kule kujiita heri? Maana nawashuhudu kwamba, kama ingaliwezekana, mngaling'oa macho yenu, mkanipa mimi.
What then has become of your blessing? For I can testify that, if it were possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.
16
Je! Nimekuwa adui wenu kwa sababu nawaambia yaliyo kweli?
Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17
Hao wana shauku nanyi, lakini si kwa njia nzuri, bali wanataka kuwafungia nje, ili kwamba ninyi mwaonee wao shauku.
Those people are zealous for you, but not in a good way. Instead, they want to isolate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them.
18
Navyo ni vizuri kuonewa shauku katika neno jema sikuzote, wala si wakati nikiwapo mimi pamoja nanyi tu.
Nevertheless, it is good to be zealous if it serves a noble purpose—at any time, and not only when I am with you.
19
Vitoto vyangu, ambao kwamba nawaonea utungu tena mpaka Kristo aumbike ndani yenu;
My children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,
20
laiti ningekuwapo pamoja nanyi sasa, na kuigeuza sauti yangu! Maana naona shaka kwa ajili yenu.
how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you.
21
Niambieni, ninyi mnaotaka kuwa chini ya sheria, je! Hamwisikii sheria?
Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not understand what the law says?
22
Kwa maana imeandikwa ya kuwa, Ibrahimu alikuwa na wana wawili mmoja kwa mjakazi, na mmoja kwa mwungwana.
For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.
23
Lakini yule wa mjakazi alizaliwa kwa mwili, yule wa mwungwana kwa ahadi.
His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born through the promise.
24
Mambo haya husemwa kwa mfano; kwa maana hawa ndio kama maagano mawili, moja kutoka mlima Sinai, lizaalo kwa utumwa, ambalo ni Hajiri.
These things serve as illustrations, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery: This is Hagar.
25
Maana Hajiri ni kama mlima Sinai ulioko Arabuni, umelingana na Yerusalemu wa sasa; kwa kuwa anatumika pamoja na watoto.
Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present-day Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children.
26
Bali Yerusalemu wa juu ni mwungwana, naye ndiye mama yetu sisi.
But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.
27
Kwa maana imeandikwa, Furahi, wewe uliye tasa, usiyezaa; Paza sauti, ulie, wewe usiye na utungu; Maana watoto wake aliyeachwa pekee ni wengi Kuliko wa huyo aliye na mume.
For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.”
28
Basi, ndugu zangu, kama Isaka sisi tu watoto wa ahadi.
Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.
29
Lakini kama vile siku zile yule aliyezaliwa kwa mwili alivyomwudhi yule aliyezaliwa kwa Roho, ndivyo ilivyo na sasa.
At that time, however, the son born by the flesh persecuted the son born by the Spirit. It is the same now.
30
Lakini lasemaje andiko? Mfukuze mjakazi na mwanawe, kwa maana mwana wa mjakazi hatarithi kabisa pamoja na mwana wa mwungwana.
But what does the Scripture say? “Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”
31
Ndiposa, ndugu zangu, sisi si watoto wa mjakazi, bali tu watoto wa huyo aliye mwungwana.
Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.