1
Ndugu zangu, nitakayo sana moyoni mwangu, na dua yangu nimwombayo Mungu, ni kwa ajili yao, ili waokolewe.
Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is for their salvation.
2
Kwa maana nawashuhudia kwamba wana juhudi kwa ajili ya Mungu, lakini si katika maarifa.
For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge.
3
Kwa maana, wakiwa hawaijui haki ya Mungu, na wakitaka kuithibitisha haki yao wenyewe, hawakujitia chini ya haki ya Mungu.
Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.
4
Kwa maana Kristo ni mwisho wa sheria, ili kila aaminiye ahesabiwe haki.
For Christ is the end of the law, to bring righteousness to everyone who believes.
5
Kwa maana Musa aliandika juu ya haki itokayo kwa sheria, ya kuwa, Mtu afanyaye hiyo ataishi kwa hiyo.
For concerning the righteousness that is by the law, Moses writes: “The man who does these things will live by them.”
6
Bali ile haki ipatikanayo kwa imani yanena hivi, Usiseme moyoni mwako, Ni nani atakayepanda kwenda mbinguni? (Yaani, ni kumleta Kristo chini),
But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down)
7
au, Ni nani atakayeshuka kwenda kuzimuni? (Yaani, ni kumleta Kristo juu, kutoka kwa wafu.)
or, ‘Who will descend into the Abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).”
8
Lakini yanenaje? Lile neno li karibu nawe, katika kinywa chako, na katika moyo wako; yaani, ni lile neno la imani tulihubirilo.
But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:
9
Kwa sababu, ukimkiri Yesu kwa kinywa chako ya kuwa ni Bwana, na kuamini moyoni mwako ya kuwa Mungu alimfufua katika wafu, utaokoka.
that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10
Kwa maana kwa moyo mtu huamini hata kupata haki, na kwa kinywa hukiri hata kupata wokovu.
For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.
11
Kwa maana andiko lanena, Kila amwaminiye hatatahayarika.
It is just as the Scripture says: “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”
12
Kwa maana hakuna tofauti ya Myahudi na Myunani; maana yeye yule ni Bwana wa wote, mwenye utajiri kwa wote wamwitao;
For there is no difference between Jew and Greek: The same Lord is Lord of all, and gives richly to all who call on Him,
13
kwa kuwa, Kila atakayeliitia Jina la Bwana ataokoka.
for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14
Basi wamwiteje yeye wasiyemwamini? Tena wamwaminije yeye wasiyemsikia? Tena wamsikieje pasipo mhubiri?
How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach?
15
Tena wahubirije, wasipopelekwa? Kama ilivyoandikwa, Ni mizuri kama nini miguu yao wahubirio habari ya mema!
And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
16
Lakini si wote walioitii ile habari njema. Kwa maana Isaya asema, Bwana, ni nani aliyeziamini habari zetu?
But not all of them welcomed the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”
17
Basi imani, chanzo chake ni kusikia; na kusikia huja kwa neno la Kristo.
Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
18
Lakini nasema, Je! Wao hawakusikia? Naam, wamesikia, Sauti yao imeenea duniani mwote, Na maneno yao hata miisho ya ulimwengu.
But I ask, did they not hear? Indeed they did: “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”
19
Lakini nasema, Je! Waisraeli hawakufahamu? Kwanza Musa anena, Nitawatia wivu kwa watu ambao si taifa, Kwa taifa lisilo na fahamu nitawaghadhibisha.
I ask instead, did Israel not understand? First, Moses says: “I will make you jealous by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation without understanding.”
20
Na Isaya anao ujasiri mwingi, asema, Nalipatikana nao wasionitafuta, Nalidhihirika kwao wasioniulizia.
And Isaiah boldly says: “I was found by those who did not seek Me; I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me.”
21
Lakini kwa Israeli asema, Mchana kutwa naliwanyoshea mikono watu wasiotii na wakaidi.
But as for Israel he says: “All day long I have held out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”