1
Hatimaye, ndugu zangu, furahini katika Bwana. Kuwaandikieni mambo yale yale hakuniudhi mimi, bali kutawafaa ninyi.
Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.
2
Jihadharini na mbwa, jihadharini na watendao mabaya, jihadharini na wajikatao.
Watch out for those dogs, those workers of evil, those mutilators of the flesh!
3
Maana sisi tu tohara, tumwabuduo Mungu kwa Roho, na kuona fahari juu ya Kristo Yesu, wala hatuutumainii mwili.
For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—
4
Walakini mimi ningeweza kuutumainia mwili. Mtu ye yote akijiona kuwa anayo sababu ya kuutumainia mwili, mimi zaidi.
though I myself could have such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more:
5
Nalitahiriwa siku ya nane, ni mtu wa taifa la Israeli, wa kabila ya Benyamini, Mwebrania wa Waebrania, kwa habari ya kuishika torati, ni Farisayo,
circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;
6
kwa habari ya juhudi, mwenye kuliudhi Kanisa, kwa habari ya haki ipatikanayo kwa sheria sikuwa na hatia.
as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to righteousness in the law, faultless.
7
Lakini mambo yale yaliyokuwa faida kwangu, naliyahesabu kuwa hasara kwa ajili ya Kristo.
But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ.
8
Naam, zaidi ya hayo, nayahesabu mambo yote kuwa hasara kwa ajili ya uzuri usio na kiasi wa kumjua Kristo Yesu, Bwana wangu; ambaye kwa ajili yake nimepata hasara ya mambo yote nikiyahesabu kuwa kama mavi ili nipate Kristo;
More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9
tena nionekane katika yeye, nisiwe na haki yangu mwenyewe ipatikanayo kwa sheria, bali ile ipatikanayo kwa imani iliyo katika Kristo, haki ile itokayo kwa Mungu, kwa imani;
and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.
10
ili nimjue yeye, na uweza wa kufufuka kwake, na ushirika wa mateso yake, nikifananishwa na kufa kwake;
I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to Him in His death,
11
ili nipate kwa njia yo yote kuifikia kiyama ya wafu.
and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
12
Si kwamba nimekwisha kufika, au nimekwisha kuwa mkamilifu; la! Bali nakaza mwendo ili nipate kulishika lile ambalo kwa ajili yake nimeshikwa na Kristo Yesu.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
13
Ndugu, sijidhanii nafsi yangu kwamba nimekwisha kushika; ila natenda neno moja tu; nikiyasahau yaliyo nyuma, nikiyachuchumilia yaliyo mbele;
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
14
nakaza mwendo, niifikilie mede ya thawabu ya mwito mkuu wa Mungu katika Kristo Yesu.
I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.
15
Basi sisi tulio wakamilifu na tuwaze hayo; na hata mkiwaza mengine katika jambo lo lote, Mungu atawafunulia hilo nalo.
All of us who are mature should embrace this point of view. And if you think differently about some issue, God will reveal this to you as well.
16
Lakini, hapo tulipofika na tuenende katika lilo hilo.
Nevertheless, we must live up to what we have already attained.
17
Ndugu zangu, mnifuate mimi, mkawatazame wao waendao kwa kuufuata mfano tuliowapa ninyi.
Join one another in following my example, brothers, and carefully observe those who walk according to the pattern we set for you.
18
Maana wengi huenenda, ambao nimewaambieni mara nyingi habari zao, na sasa nawaambia hata kwa machozi, kuwa ni adui za msalaba wa Kristo;
For as I have often told you before, and now say again even with tears: Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.
19
mwisho wao ni uharibifu, mungu wao ni tumbo, utukufu wao u katika fedheha yao, waniao mambo ya duniani.
Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things.
20
Kwa maana sisi, wenyeji wetu uko mbinguni; kutoka huko tena tunamtazamia Mwokozi, Bwana Yesu Kristo;
But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
21
atakayeubadili mwili wetu wa unyonge, upate kufanana na mwili wake wa utukufu, kwa uweza ule ambao kwa huo aweza hata kuvitiisha vitu vyote viwe chini yake.
who, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.