1
Akawaambia mfano, ya kwamba imewapasa kumwomba Mungu sikuzote, wala wasikate tamaa.
Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart:
2
Akasema, Palikuwa na kadhi katika mji fulani, hamchi Mungu, wala hajali watu.
“In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected men.
3
Na katika mji huo palikuwa na mwanamke mjane, aliyekuwa akimwendea-endea, akisema, Nipatie haki na adui wangu.
And there was a widow in that town who kept appealing to him, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’
4
Naye kwa muda alikataa; halafu akasema moyoni mwake, Ijapokuwa simchi Mungu wala sijali watu,
For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect men,
5
lakini, kwa kuwa mjane huyu ananiudhi, nitampatia haki yake, asije akanichosha kwa kunijia daima.
yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice. Otherwise, she will wear me out with her perpetual requests.’”
6
Bwana akasema, Sikilizeni asemavyo yule kadhi dhalimu.
And the Lord said, “Listen to the words of the unjust judge.
7
Na Mungu, je! Hatawapatia haki wateule wake wanaomlilia mchana na usiku, naye ni mvumilivu kwao?
Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay in helping them?
8
Nawaambia, atawapatia haki upesi; walakini, atakapokuja Mwana wa Adamu, je! Ataiona imani duniani?
I tell you, He will promptly carry out justice on their behalf. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”
9
Akawaambia mfano huu watu waliojikinai ya kuwa wao ni wenye haki, wakiwadharau wengine wote.
To some who trusted in their own righteousness and viewed others with contempt, He also told this parable:
10
Watu wawili walipanda kwenda hekaluni kusali, mmoja Farisayo, wa pili mtoza ushuru.
“Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11
Yule Farisayo akasimama akiomba hivi moyoni mwake; Ee Mungu, nakushukuru kwa kuwa mimi si kama watu wengine, wanyang'anyi, wadhalimu, wazinzi, wala kama huyu mtoza ushuru.
The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.
12
Mimi nafunga mara mbili kwa juma; hutoa zaka katika mapato yangu yote.
I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire.’
13
Lakini yule mtoza ushuru alisimama mbali, wala hakuthubutu hata kuinua macho yake mbinguni, bali alijipiga-piga kifua akisema, Ee Mungu, uniwie radhi mimi mwenye dhambi.
But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’
14
Nawaambia, huyu alishuka kwenda nyumbani kwake amehesabiwa haki kuliko yule; kwa maana kila ajikwezaye atadhiliwa, naye ajidhiliye atakwezwa.
I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
15
Wakamletea na watoto wachanga ili awaguse; lakini wanafunzi walipoona waliwakemea.
Now people were even bringing their babies to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them. And when the disciples saw this, they rebuked those who brought them.
16
Bali Yesu akawaita waje kwake, akasema, Waacheni watoto wadogo waje kwangu, wala msiwazuie, kwa kuwa watu kama hao ufalme wa Mungu ni wao.
But Jesus called the children to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
17
Amin, nawaambia, Mtu ye yote asiyeupokea ufalme wa Mungu kama mtoto mdogo hauingii kamwe.
Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
18
Tena, mtu mkubwa mmoja alimwuliza, akisema, Mwalimu mwema, nifanye nini ili nipate kuurithi uzima wa milele?
Then a certain ruler asked Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
19
Yesu akamwambia, Mbona unaniita mwema? Hakuna aliye mwema ila mmoja, naye ndiye Mungu.
“Why do you call Me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good except God alone.
20
Wazijua amri; Usizini, Usiue, Usiibe, Usishuhudie uongo, Waheshimu baba yako na mama yako.
You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother.’”
21
Akasema, Hayo yote nimeyashika tangu utoto wangu.
“All these I have kept from my youth,” he said.
22
Yesu aliposikia hayo alimwambia, Umepungukiwa na neno moja bado; viuze ulivyo navyo vyote, ukawagawanyie maskini, nawe utakuwa na hazina mbinguni; kisha, njoo unifuate.
On hearing this, Jesus told him, “You still lack one thing: Sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”
23
Lakini aliposikia hayo alihuzunika sana, maana alikuwa na mali nyingi.
But when the ruler heard this, he became very sad, because he was extremely wealthy.
24
Yesu alipoona vile alisema, Kwa shida gani wenye mali watauingia ufalme wa Mungu!
Seeing the man’s sadness, Jesus said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!
25
Kwa maana ni vyepesi ngamia kupita katika tundu la sindano kuliko tajiri kuingia katika ufalme wa Mungu.
Indeed, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
26
Nao waliosikia walisema, Ni nani basi awezaye kuokoka?
Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?”
27
Akasema, Yasiyowezekana kwa wanadamu yawezekana kwa Mungu.
But Jesus said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”
28
Petro akasema, Tazama, sisi tumeviacha vitu vyetu vyote na kukufuata.
“Look,” said Peter, “we have left all we had to follow You.”
29
Akawaambia, Hakika nawaambia, hakuna mtu aliyeacha nyumba, au mke, au ndugu, au wazazi, au wana, kwa ajili ya ufalme wa Mungu,
“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God
30
asiyepokea zaidi mara nyingi katika zamani hizi, na katika ulimwengu ujao uzima wa milele.
will fail to receive many times more in this age—and in the age to come, eternal life.”
31
Akawachukua wale Thenashara, akawaambia, Tazameni, tunapanda kwenda Yerusalemu, na mambo yote yatatimizwa, Mwana wa Adamu aliyoandikiwa na manabii.
Then Jesus took the Twelve aside and said to them, “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything the prophets have written about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.
32
Kwa kuwa atatiwa mikononi mwa Mataifa, atafanyiwa dhihaka; atatendwa jeuri, na kutemewa mate;
He will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon.
33
nao watampiga mijeledi, kisha watamwua; na siku ya tatu atafufuka.
They will flog Him and kill Him, and on the third day He will rise again.”
34
Walakini hawakuelewa maneno hayo hata kidogo, na jambo hilo lilikuwa limefichwa kwao, wala hawakufahamu yaliyonenwa.
But the disciples did not understand any of these things. The meaning was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend what He was saying.
35
Ikawa alipokaribia Yeriko, mtu mmoja kipofu alikuwa ameketi kando ya njia, akiomba sadaka;
As Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting beside the road, begging.
36
na alipowasikia makutano wakipita, aliuliza, Kuna nini?
When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening.
37
Wakamwambia, Yesu wa Nazareti anapita.
“Jesus of Nazareth is passing by,” they told him.
38
Akapiga kelele, akisema, Yesu, Mwana wa Daudi, unirehemu.
So he called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
39
Basi wale waliotangulia wakamkemea ili anyamaze; lakini yeye alizidi sana kupaza sauti, Ee Mwana wa Daudi, unirehemu.
Those who led the way admonished him to be silent, but he cried out all the louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
40
Yesu akasimama, akaamuru aletwe kwake; na alipomkaribia, alimwuliza,
Jesus stopped and directed that the man be brought to Him. When he had come near, Jesus asked him,
41
Wataka nikufanyie nini? Akasema, Bwana, nipate kuona.
“What do you want Me to do for you?” “Lord,” he said, “let me see again.”
42
Yesu akamwambia, Upewe kuona; imani yako imekuponya.
“Receive your sight!” Jesus replied. “Your faith has healed you.”
43
Mara hiyo akapata kuona, akamfuata, huku akimtukuza Mungu. Na watu wote walipoona hayo walimsifu Mungu.
Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.