1 Thessalonians 2
1 For ye yourselves know, brothers, our entrance with you, that it has not become empty.
Ndugu, ninyi wenyewe mnafahamu kwamba ziara yetu kwenu haikuwa bure.
2 But having suffered before and been mistreated in Philippi, as ye know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the good news of God within much conflict.
Mnajua jinsi tulivyodhulumiwa na kutukanwa kule Filipi kabla ya kufika kwenu Thesalonike. Ingawa kulikuwa na upinzani mwingi, Mungu wetu alitujalia uhodari wa kuwahubirieni Habari Njema yake.
3 For our exhortation is not from error, nor from uncleanness, nor in deception,
Jambo tunalosisitiza kwenu si jambo linalotegemea uongo au nia mbaya; wala hatupendi kumdanganya mtu yeyote.
4 but as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the good news, thus we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who proves our hearts.
Sisi twanena daima kama atakavyo Mungu kwani yeye alituona kwamba tunafaa, akatukabidhi hii Habari Njema. Si nia yetu kuwapendeza watu hata kidogo, bali twataka kumpendeza Mungu ambaye anajua mioyo yetu mpaka ndani.
5 For we came neither in word of flattery (at any time as ye know) nor a pretense of greed (God is witness)
Ninyi mnajua kwamba sisi hatukuja kwenu na maneno matamu ya kubembeleza wala hatukutumia maneno ya kijanja ya kuficha ubinafsi fulani; Mungu ni shahidi!
6 nor seeking glory from men, neither from you nor from others. While able to bear down as apostles of Christ,
Hatukutafuta sifa kutoka kwa watu, wala kutoka kwenu, wala kutoka kwa mtu yeyote,
7 nevertheless we became gentle in the midst of you, as a nurse cherishes her own children.
ingawa sisi tukiwa mitume wa Kristo, tungeweza kudai mambo fulani kwenu. Lakini sisi tulikuwa Wapole kati yenu kama alivyo mama kwa watoto wake.
8 Thus being desirous of you, we were pleased to impart to you, not only the good news of God, but also our own souls, because ye have become beloved to us.
Tuliwapenda ninyi sana hata tukawa tayari kuwashirikisha si tu Habari Njema ya Mungu, bali pia na maisha yetu. Ndivyo mlivyokuwa wapenzi wetu!
9 For ye remember, brothers, our labor and the hardship. For, laboring night and day in order not to burden any of you, we preached to you the good news of God.
Ndugu, mnakumbuka jinsi tulivyofanya kazi na kutaabika. Tulipowaleteeni Habari Njema ya Mungu tulifanya kazi mchana na usiku kusudi tusiwe mzigo kwa mtu yeyote miongoni mwenu.
10 Ye are witnesses, and God, how piously and justly and blamelessly we became to you who believe,
Ninyi mnaweza kushuhudia, na Mungu pia ni shahidi, jinsi mwenendo wetu kati yenu ninyi mnaoamini ulivyokuwa mzuri, mwadilifu na usio na lawama.
11 just as ye know, as each one of you as a father of his own children, imploring you, and comforting,
Mnajua kwamba sisi tulimtendea kila mmoja wenu kama vile baba anavyowatendea watoto wake mwenyewe.
12 and solemnly declaring for you to walk worthily of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
Tuliwapeni moyo, tuliwafarijini na kuwahimiza ili mpate kuishi maisha yampendezayo Mungu ambaye aliwaiteni mshiriki Utawala na utukufu wake.
13 And because of this we thank God without ceasing, because, having received the word of God heard from us, ye received not the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God, which also is at work in you who believe.
Tena tunayo sababu nyingine ya kumshukuru Mungu: tulipowaleteeni ujumbe wa Mungu, ninyi mliusikia mkaupokea, si kama vile ujumbe wa binadamu, bali kama ujumbe wa Mungu, na kweli ndivyo ulivyo. Maana Mungu anafanya kazi ndani yenu ninyi mnaoamini.
14 For ye, brothers, became imitators of the congregations of God, which are in Judea in Christ Jesus, because ye also suffered the same things by your own countrymen, just as also they by the Jews.
Ndugu, ninyi mmepatwa na mambo yaleyale yaliyoyapata makanisa ya Mungu kule Yudea, mambo yaliyowapata watu walio wake Kristo Yesu. Ninyi mlidhulumiwa na wananchi wenzenu kama vile wao walivyodhulumiwa na wenzao Wayahudi,
15 The men who both killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and who persecuted us, and are not pleasing to God, and are contrary to all men.
ambao walimuua Bwana Yesu na manabii, wakatutesa na sisi pia. Watu hao wanamchukiza Mungu, tena ni adui za kila mtu!
16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles so that they might be saved, in order to fill up their sins always. But wrath came upon them finally.
Hata walijaribu kutuzuia kuwahubiria watu wa mataifa mengine ujumbe utakaowaletea wokovu. Ndivyo walivyokamilisha orodha ya dhambi zote walizotenda siku zote. Lakini sasa hasira ya Mungu imewaangukia.
17 But we, brothers, who were orphaned from you for the time of an hour, in presence not in heart, hastened more earnestly to see your face, with much desire.
Ndugu, kuachana kwetu nanyi kulikuwa kwa muda tu, tena kuachana huko kulikuwa kwa mwili tu na si kwa roho. Kitambo kifupi baadaye, tulishikwa na hamu kubwa ya kuwaoneni tena!
18 Therefore we wanted to come to you, indeed I, Paul, even once and again, and Satan hindered us.
Kwa hiyo tuliamua kuwatembeleeni tena. Nami, Paulo, nilijaribu kuja kwenu zaidi ya mara moja, lakini Shetani alituzuia.
19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boast? Or is it not even ye, before our Lord Jesus at his coming?
Je, tutakaposimama mbele ya Bwana Yesu wakati atakapokuja, fahari ya ushindi wetu itakuwa nini? Itakuwa ni ninyi wenyewe; ninyi ndio tumaini letu na furaha yetu.
20 For ye are our glory and joy.
Naam, ninyi ni utukufu wetu na furaha yetu!
