1
Paulo na Timotheo, watumwa wa Kristo Yesu, kwa watakatifu wote katika Kristo Yesu, walioko Filipi, pamoja na maaskofu na mashemasi.
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:
2
Neema na iwe kwenu na amani zitokazo kwa Mungu Baba yetu na kwa Bwana Yesu Kristo.
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3
Namshukuru Mungu wangu kila niwakumbukapo,
I thank my God every time I remember you.
4
sikuzote kila niwaombeapo ninyi nyote nikisema sala zangu kwa furaha,
In every prayer for all of you, I always pray with joy,
5
kwa sababu ya ushirika wenu katika kuieneza Injili, tangu siku ile ya kwanza hata leo hivi.
because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,
6
Nami niliaminilo ndilo hili, ya kwamba yeye aliyeanza kazi njema mioyoni mwenu ataimaliza hata siku ya Kristo Yesu;
being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
7
vile vile kama ilivyo wajibu wangu kufikiri haya juu yenu nyote; kwa sababu ninyi mmo moyoni mwangu; kwa kuwa katika kufungwa kwangu na katika kazi ya kutetea Injili na kuithibitisha, ninyi nyote mmeshirikiana nami neema hii.
It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart. For in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partners in grace with me.
8
Maana Mungu ni shahidi wangu, jinsi ninavyowaonea shauku ninyi nyote katika moyo wake Kristo Yesu.
God is my witness how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
9
Na hii ndiyo dua yangu, kwamba pendo lenu lizidi kuwa jingi sana, katika hekima na ufahamu wote;
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
10
mpate kuyakubali yaliyo mema; ili mpate kuwa na mioyo safi, bila kosa, mpaka siku ya Kristo;
so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
11
hali mmejazwa matunda ya haki, kwa njia ya Yesu Kristo, kwa utukufu na sifa ya Mungu.
filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
12
Lakini, ndugu zangu, nataka mjue ya kuwa mambo yote yaliyonipata yametokea zaidi kwa kuieneza Injili;
Now I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances have actually served to advance the gospel.
13
hata vifungo vyangu vimekuwa dhahiri katika Kristo, miongoni mwa askari, na kwa wengine wote pia.
As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.
14
Na wengi wa hao ndugu walio katika Bwana, hali wakapata kuthibitika kwa ajili ya kufungwa kwangu, wamezidi sana kuthubutu kunena neno la Mungu pasipo hofu.
And most of the brothers, confident in the Lord by my chains, now dare more greatly to speak the word without fear.
15
Wengine wanahubiri habari za Kristo kwa sababu ya husuda na fitina; na wengine kwa nia njema.
It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.
16
Hawa wanamhubiri kwa pendo, wakijua ya kuwa nimewekwa ili niitetee Injili;
The latter do so in love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.
17
bali wengine wanamhubiri Kristo kwa fitina, wala si kwa moyo mweupe, wakidhani kuongeza dhiki za kufungwa kwangu.
The former, however, preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can add to the distress of my chains.
18
Yadhuru nini? Lakini kwa njia zote, ikiwa ni kwa hila, au ikiwa ni kwa kweli, Kristo anahubiriwa; na kwa hiyo nafurahi, naam, nami nitafurahi.
What then is the issue? Just this: that in every way, whether by false motives or true, Christ is preached. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,
19
Maana najua ya kuwa haya yatanigeukia kuwa wokovu wangu, kwa sababu ya kuomba kwenu, na kuruzukiwa Roho wa Yesu Kristo;
because I know that through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, my distress will turn out for my deliverance.
20
kama vile nilivyotazamia sana, na kutumaini, kwamba sitaaibika kamwe, bali kwa uthabiti wote, kama sikuzote na sasa vivyo hivyo Kristo ataadhimishwa katika mwili wangu; ikiwa kwa maisha yangu, au ikiwa kwa mauti yangu.
I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
21
Kwa maana kwangu mimi kuishi ni Kristo, na kufa ni faida.
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22
Ila ikiwa kuishi katika mwili, kwangu mimi ni matunda ya kazi; basi nitakalolichagua silitambui.
But if I go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. So what shall I choose? I do not know.
23
Ninasongwa katikati ya mambo mawili; ninatamani kwenda zangu nikae na Kristo maana ni vizuri zaidi sana;
I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed.
24
bali kudumu katika mwili kwahitajiwa zaidi kwa ajili yenu.
But it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.
25
Nami nikitumaini hayo, najua ya kuwa nitakaa na kudumu pamoja nanyi, ili mpate kuendelea na kufurahi katika imani;
Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,
26
hata mzidi kuona fahari katika Kristo Yesu juu yangu kwa sababu ya kuwapo kwangu pamoja nanyi tena.
so that through my coming to you again your exultation in Christ Jesus will resound on account of me.
27
Lakini mwenendo wenu na uwe kama inavyoipasa Injili ya Kristo, ili, nikija na kuwaona ninyi, au nisipokuwapo, niyasikie mambo yenu, kama mnasimama imara katika roho moja, kwa moyo mmoja mkiishindania imani ya Injili;
Nevertheless, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending together as one for the faith of the gospel,
28
wala hamwaogopi adui zenu, katika neno lo lote; kwao hao ni ishara mathubuti ya kupotea, bali kwenu ninyi ni ishara ya wokovu, huo utokao kwa Mungu.
without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a clear sign of their destruction but of your salvation, and it is from God.
29
Maana mmepewa kwa ajili ya Kristo, si kumwamini tu, ila na kuteswa kwa ajili yake;
For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him,
30
mkiwa na mashindano yale yale mliyoyaona kwangu, na kusikia kwamba ninayo hata sasa.
since you are encountering the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.