LK. 12

Onyo dhidi ya Unafiki

1  tWakati huo, makutano walipokutanika elfu elfu, hata wakakanyagana, alianza kuwaambia wanafunzi wake kwanza, Jilindeni na chachu ya Mafarisayo, ambayo ni unafiki. 2 ttLakini hakuna neno lililositirika ambalo halitafunuliwa, wala lililofichwa ambalo halitajulikana.

3 Basi, yo yote mliyosema gizani yatasikiwa mwangani; na mliyonena sikioni mwa mtu katika vyumba vya ndani, yatahubiriwa juu ya dari.

Himizo ya Kukiri bila Woga

4 Nami nawaambia ninyi rafiki zangu, msiwaogope hao wauuao mwili, kisha baada ya hayo hawana wawezalo kutenda zaidi. 5 Lakini nitawaonya mtakayemwogopa; mwogopeni yule ambaye akiisha kumwua mtu ana uweza wa kumtupa katika Jehanum; naam, nawaambia, Mwogopeni huyo. 6 Je! Mashomoro watano hawauzwi kwa senti mbili? Wala hasahauliwi hata mmojawapo mbele za Mungu. 7 tLakini hata nywele za vichwa vyenu zimehesabiwa zote. Msiogope basi, bora ninyi kuliko mashomoro wengi. 8 Nami nawaambia, kila atakayenikiri mbele ya watu, Mwana wa Adamu naye atamkiri yeye mbele ya malaika wa Mungu; 9 tna mwenye kunikana mbele ya watu, huyo atakanwa mbele ya malaika wa Mungu. 10 tNa kila mtu atakayenena neno juu ya Mwana wa Adamu atasamehewa, bali aliyemkufuru Roho Mtakatifu hatasamehewa. 11 tNa watakapowapeleka ninyi mbele ya masinagogi na maliwali na wenye mamlaka, msifadhaike kwa kuwaza maneno yenu jinsi mtakavyojibu au kusema;

12 kwa kuwa Roho Mtakatifu atawafundisha saa ile ile yawapasayo kuyasema.

Mfano wa Tajiri Mpumbavu

13 Mtu mmoja katika mkutano akamwambia, Mwalimu, mwambie ndugu yangu anigawie urithi wetu. 14 tAkamwambia, Mtu wewe, ni nani aliyeniweka mimi kuwa mwamuzi au mgawanyi juu yenu? 15 tAkawaambia, Angalieni, jilindeni na choyo, maana uzima wa mtu haumo katika wingi wa vitu vyake alivyo navyo. 16 Akawaambia mithali, akisema, Shamba la mtu mmoja tajiri lilikuwa limezaa sana; 17 akaanza kuwaza moyoni mwake, akisema, Nifanyeje? Maana sina pa kuyaweka akiba mavuno yangu. 18 Akasema, Nitafanya hivi; nitazivunja ghala zangu, nijenge nyingine kubwa zaidi, na humo nitaweka nafaka yangu yote na vitu vyangu. 19 Kisha, nitajiambia, Ee nafsi yangu, una vitu vyema vingi ulivyojiwekea akiba kwa miaka mingi; pumzika basi, ule, unywe, ufurahi. 20 tLakini Mungu akamwambia, Mpumbavu wewe, usiku huu wa leo wanataka roho yako! Na vitu ulivyojiwekea tayari vitakuwa vya nani?

21 tNdivyo alivyo mtu ajiwekeaye nafsi yake akiba, asijitajirishe kwa Mungu.

Msisumbuke

22  tAkawaambia wanafunzi wake, Kwa sababu hiyo nawaambia, Msisumbukie maisha yenu, mtakula nini; wala miili yenu, mtavaa nini. 23 Kwa kuwa maisha ni zaidi ya chakula, na mwili ni zaidi ya mavazi. 24 tWatafakarini kunguru, ya kwamba hawapandi wala hawavuni; hawana ghala wala uchaga, na Mungu huwalisha. Bora ninyi mara nyingi kuliko ndege! 25 Na yupi kwenu ambaye akijisumbua aweza kujiongeza kimo chake hata mkono mmoja? 26 Basi, ikiwa hamwezi hata neno lililo dogo, kwa nini kujisumbua kwa ajili ya yale mengine? 27 tYatafakarini maua jinsi yameavyo; hayatendi kazi wala hayasokoti; nami nawaambia ya kwamba hata Sulemani katika fahari yake yote hakuvikwa vizuri kama mojawapo la hayo. 28 Basi, ikiwa Mungu huvika hivi majani ya kondeni, yaliyopo leo na kesho hutupwa kalibuni, je! Hatawatendea ninyi zaidi, enyi wa imani haba? 29 Ninyi msitafute mtakavyokula wala mtakavyokunywa; wala msifanye wasiwasi, 30 kwa maana, hayo yote ndiyo watafutayo mataifa ya duniani, lakini Baba yenu anajua ya kuwa mna haja na hayo. 31 Bali utafuteni ufalme wa Mungu, na hayo mtaongezewa. 32 tMsiogope, enyi kundi dogo; kwa kuwa Baba yenu ameona vema kuwapa ule ufalme. 33 ttViuzeni mlivyo navyo, mtoe sadaka. Jifanyieni mifuko isiyochakaa, akiba isiyopungua katika mbingu, mahali pasipokaribia mwivi, wala nondo haharibu.

34 Kwa kuwa hazina yenu ilipo, ndipo itakapokuwapo na mioyo yenu.

Watumwa Waangalifu

35  t tViuno vyenu na viwe vimefungwa, na taa zenu ziwe zinawaka; 36 tnanyi iweni kama watu wanaomngojea bwana wao, atakaporudi kutoka arusini, ili atakapokuja na kubisha, wamfungulie mara. 37 tHeri watumwa wale, ambao bwana wao ajapo atawakuta wanakesha. Amin, nawaambieni, atajifunga na kuwakaribisha chakulani, atakuja na kuwahudumia. 38 Na akija zamu ya pili, au akija zamu ya tatu, na kuwakuta hivi, heri watumwa hao. 39 ttLakini fahamuni neno hili, Kwamba mwenye nyumba angalijua saa atakayokuja mwivi, angalikesha, wala asingaliacha nyumba yake kuvunjwa.

40 Nanyi jiwekeni tayari, kwa kuwa saa msiyodhani ndipo ajapo Mwana wa Adamu.

Mtumwa Mwaminifu au asiye Mwaminifu

41 Petro akamwambia, Bwana, mithali hiyo umetuambia sisi tu, au watu wote pia? 42 tBwana akasema, Ni nani, basi, aliye wakili mwaminifu, mwenye busara, ambaye bwana wake atamweka juu ya utumishi wake wote, awape watu posho kwa wakati wake? 43 Heri mtumwa yule, ambaye bwana wake ajapo atamkuta anafanya hivyo. 44 tKweli nawaambia, atamweka juu ya vitu vyake vyote. 45 Lakini, mtumwa yule akisema moyoni mwake, Bwana wangu anakawia kuja, akaanza kuwapiga wajoli wake, wanaume kwa wanawake, akila na kunywa na kulewa; 46 bwana wake mtumwa huyo atakuja siku asiyodhani na saa asiyojua, atamkata vipande viwili, na kumwekea fungu lake pamoja na wasioamini. 47 tNa mtumwa yule aliyejua mapenzi ya bwana wake, asijiweke tayari, wala kuyatenda mapenzi yake, atapigwa sana.

48 Na yule asiyejua, naye amefanya yastahiliyo mapigo, atapigwa kidogo. Na kila aliyepewa vingi, kwake huyo vitatakwa vingi; naye waliyemwekea amana vitu vingi, kwake huyo watataka na zaidi.

Yesu kuwa Sababu ya Mafarakano

49 Nimekuja kutupa moto duniani; na ukiwa umekwisha washwa, ni nini nitakalo zaidi? 50 tLakini nina ubatizo unipasao kubatiziwa, nami nina dhiki kama nini hata utimizwe! 51 tJe! Mwadhani ya kwamba nimekuja kuleta amani duniani? Nawaambia, La, sivyo, bali mafarakano. 52 Kwa kuwa tokea sasa katika nyumba moja watakuwamo watu watano wamefarakana, watatu kwa wawili, wawili kwa watatu.

53 tWatafarakana baba na mwanawe, na mwana na babaye; mama na binti yake, na binti na mamaye; mkwe mtu na mkwewe, mkwe na mkwe mtu.

Kufasiri Nyakati

54  tAkawaambia makutano pia, Kila mwonapo wingu likizuka pande za magharibi mara husema, Mvua inakuja; ikawa hivyo. 55 Na kila ivumapo kaskazi, husema, Kutakuwa na joto; na ndivyo ilivyo. 56 Enyi wanafiki, mwajua kuutambua uso wa nchi na mbingu; imekuwaje, basi, kuwa hamjui kutambua majira haya?

57 Na mbona ninyi wenyewe kwa nafsi zenu hamwamui yaliyo haki?

Mapatano na Mpinzani wako

58  tMaana, unapofuatana na mshitaki wako kwenda kwa mwamuzi, hapo njiani fanya bidii kupatanishwa naye, asije akakuburuta mpaka mbele ya kadhi; yule kadhi akakutia mikononi mwake mwenye kulipiza, na yule mwenye kulipiza akakutupa gerezani. 59 Nakuambia, Hutoki humo kamwe hata uishe kulipa senti ya mwisho.

LUKE 12

Warnings

1  t As thousands of people crowded around Jesus and were stepping on each other, he told his disciples:
Be sure to guard against the dishonest teachingt of the Pharisees! It is their way of fooling people. 2 t Everything that is hidden will be found out, and every secret will be known.

3 Whatever you say in the dark will be heard when it is day. Whatever you whisper in a closed room will be shouted from the housetops.

The One To Fear

(Matthew 10.28-31)

4  t My friends, don't be afraid of people. They can kill you, but after that, there is nothing else they can do.

5 God is the one you must fear. Not only can he take your life, but he can throw you into hell. God is certainly the one you should fear!
6 Five sparrows are sold for only a few cents, but God doesn't forget a single one of them.

7 Even the hairs on your head are counted. So don't be afraid! You are worth much more than many sparrows.

Telling Others about Christ

(Matthew 10.32,33; 12.32; 10.19,20)

8 If you tell others that you belong to me, the Son of Man will tell God's angels that you are my followers. 9 But if you reject me, you will be rejected in front of them.

10 t If you speak against the Son of Man, you can be forgiven, but if you speak against the Holy Spirit, you cannot be forgiven.
11  t When you are brought to trial in the synagogues or before rulers or officials, don't worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say.

12 At that time the Holy Spirit will tell you what to say.

A Rich Fool

13 A man in a crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to give me my share of what our father left us when he died.”

14 Jesus answered, “Who gave me the right to settle arguments between you and your brother?”

15 Then he said to the crowd, “Don't be greedy! Owning a lot of things won't make your life safe.”

16 So Jesus told them this story:
A rich man's farm produced a big crop,

17 and he said to himself, “What can I do? I don't have a place large enough to store everything.”
18 Later, he said, “Now I know what I'll do. I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones, where I can store all my grain and other goods.

19 t Then I'll say to myself, ‘You have stored up enough good things to last for years to come. Live it up! Eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.’ ”

20 But God said to him, “You fool! Tonight you will die. Then who will get what you have stored up?”

21 “This is what happens to people who store up everything for themselves, but are poor in the sight of God.”

Worry

(Matthew 6.25-34)

22 Jesus said to his disciples:
I tell you not to worry about your life! Don't worry about having something to eat or wear. 23 Life is more than food or clothing. 24 Look at the crows! They don't plant or harvest, and they don't have storehouses or barns. But God takes care of them. You are much more important than any birds. 25 Can worry make you live longer?t

26 If you don't have power over small things, why worry about everything else?
27  t Look how the wild flowers grow! They don't work hard to make their clothes. But I tell you Solomon with all his wealtht wasn't as well clothed as one of these flowers.

28 God gives such beauty to everything that grows in the fields, even though it is here today and thrown into a fire tomorrow. Won't he do even more for you? You have such little faith!
29 Don't keep worrying about having something to eat or drink. 30 Only people who don't know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father knows what you need.

31 But put God's work first, and these things will be yours as well.

Treasures in Heaven

(Matthew 6.19-21)

32 My little group of disciples, don't be afraid! Your Father wants to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell what you have and give the money to the poor. Make yourselves moneybags that never wear out. Make sure your treasure is safe in heaven, where thieves cannot steal it and moths cannot destroy it.

34 Your heart will always be where your treasure is.

Faithful and Unfaithful Servants

(Matthew 24.45-51)

35  t Be ready and keep your lamps burning 36 t just like those servants who wait up for their master to return from a wedding feast. As soon as he comes and knocks, they open the door for him. 37 Servants are fortunate if their master finds them awake and ready when he comes! I promise you he will get ready and let his servants sit down so he can serve them. 38 Those servants are really fortunate if their master finds them ready, even though he comes late at night or early in the morning. 39 t You would surely not let a thief break into your home, if you knew when the thief was coming.

40 So always be ready! You don't know when the Son of Man will come.

41 Peter asked Jesus, “Did you say this just for us or for everyone?”

42 The Lord answered:
Who are faithful and wise servants? Who are the ones the master will put in charge of giving the other servants their food supplies at the proper time? 43 Servants are fortunate if their master comes and finds them doing their job.

44 A servant who is always faithful will surely be put in charge of everything the master owns.
45 But suppose one of the servants thinks that the master won't return until late. Suppose that servant starts beating all the other servants and eats and drinks and gets drunk.

46 If that happens, the master will come on a day and at a time when the servant least expects him. That servant will then be punished and thrown out with the servants who cannot be trusted.
47 If servants are not ready or willing to do what their master wants them to do, they will be beaten hard.

48 But servants who don't know what their master wants them to do will not be beaten so hard for doing wrong. If God has been generous with you, he will expect you to serve him well. But if he has been more than generous, he will expect you to serve him even better.

Not Peace, but Trouble

(Matthew 10.34-36)

49 I came to set fire to the earth, and I wish it were already on fire! 50 t I am going to be put to a hard test. And I will have to suffer a lot of pain until it is over. 51 Do you think that I came to bring peace to earth? No indeed! I came to make people choose sides. 52 A family of five will be divided, with two of them against the other three.

53 t Fathers and sons will turn against one another, and mothers and daughters will do the same. Mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law will also turn against each other.

Knowing What To Do

(Matthew 16.2,3; 5.25,26)

54 Jesus said to all the people:
As soon as you see a cloud coming up in the west, you say, “It's going to rain,” and it does. 55 When the south wind blows, you say, “It's going to get hot,” and it does. 56 Are you trying to fool someone? You can predict the weather by looking at the earth and sky, but you don't really know what's going on right now. 57 Why don't you understand the right thing to do? 58 When someone accuses you of something, try to settle things before you are taken to court. If you don't, you will be dragged before the judge. Then the judge will hand you over to the jailer, and you will be locked up. 59 You won't get out until you have paid the last cent you owe.