1 Thessalonians 2
1 For yourselves, brethren, know our entering in unto you, that it hath not been found vain:
Ndugu, ninyi wenyewe mnafahamu kwamba ziara yetu kwenu haikuwa bure.
2 but having suffered before and been shamefully treated, as ye know, at Philippi, we waxed bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God in 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 of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:
Jambo tunalosisitiza kwenu si jambo linalotegemea uongo au nia mbaya; wala hatupendi kumdanganya mtu yeyote.
4 but even as we have been approved of God to be intrusted with the gospel, so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God who proveth 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 neither at any time were we found using words of flattery, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness, 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 of men, neither from you nor from others, when we might have claimed authority as apostles of Christ.
Hatukutafuta sifa kutoka kwa watu, wala kutoka kwenu, wala kutoka kwa mtu yeyote,
7 But we were gentle in the midst of you, as when a nurse cherisheth 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 even so, being affectionately desirous of you, we were well pleased to impart unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were become very dear 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, brethren, our labor and travail: working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached unto you the gospel 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 [also], how holily and righteously and unblamably we behaved ourselves toward you that believe:
Ninyi mnaweza kushuhudia, na Mungu pia ni shahidi, jinsi mwenendo wetu kati yenu ninyi mnaoamini ulivyokuwa mzuri, mwadilifu na usio na lawama.
11 as ye know how we [dealt with] each one of you, as a father with his own children, exhorting you, and encouraging [you], and testifying,
Mnajua kwamba sisi tulimtendea kila mmoja wenu kama vile baba anavyowatendea watoto wake mwenyewe.
12 to the end that ye should walk worthily of God, who calleth 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 for this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when ye received from us the word of the message, [even the word] of God, ye accepted [it] not [as] the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also worketh in you that 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, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judæa in Christ Jesus: for ye also suffered the same things of your own countrymen, even as they did of 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 who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove out us, and please not 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 that they may be saved; to fill up their sins always: but the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
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, brethren, being bereaved of you for a short season, in presence not in heart, endeavored the more exceedingly to see your face with great 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 because we would fain have come unto you, I Paul 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 glorying? Are 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 our joy.
Naam, ninyi ni utukufu wetu na furaha yetu!
