1 Thessalonians 3
1 Therefore, when we could not stand it any longer, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone,
Kwa hiyo, tulipo kuwa hatuwezi kuvumilia zaidi, tulifikiri kuwa ilikuwa vema kubaki kule Athene peke yetu.
2 and sent Timothy, our brother and God's fellow worker in the Good News of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith;
Tulimtuma Timotheo, ndugu yetu na mtumishi wa Mungu katika injili ya Kristo, kuwaimalisha na kuwafariji kuhusiana na imani yenu.
3 that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you know that we are appointed to this task.
Tulifanya haya ili kusudi asiwepo yeyote wa kuteteleka kutokana na mateso haya, kwa kuwa wenyewe mnajua kwamba tumekwisha teuliwa kwa ajili ya hili.
4 For truly, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction, even as it happened, and you know.
Kwa kweli, wakati tulipokuwa pamoja nanyi, tulitangulia kuwaeleza ya kuwa tulikuwa karibu kupata mateso, na hayo yalitokea kama mjuavyo.
5 For this cause I also, when I could not stand it any longer, sent that I might know your faith, for fear that by any means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor would have been in vain.
Kwa sababu hii, nilipo kuwa siwezi kuvumilia tena, nilituma ilikusudi nipate kujua juu ya imani yenu. Huenda mjaribu alikuwa angalau amewajaribu, na kazi yetu ikawa ni bure.
6 But when Timothy came just now to us from you, and brought us glad news of your faith and love, and that you have good memories of us always, longing to see us, even as we also long to see you;
Lakini Timotheo alikuja kwetu kutokea kwenu na akatuletea habari njema juu ya imani na upendo wenu. Alitwambia ya kuwa mnayo kumbukumbu nzuri juu yetu, na kuwa mnatamani kutuona kama ambavyo nasi twatamani kuwaona ninyi.
7 for this cause, brothers, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith.
Kwa sababu hii, ndugu tulifarijika sana na ninyi kwa sababu ya imani yenu, katika taabu na mateso yetu yote.
8 For now we live, since you stand firm in the Lord.
Kwa sasa tunaishi, kama mkisimama imara kwa Bwana,
9 For what thanksgiving can we render again to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sakes before our God;
Kwani ni shukurani zipi tumpe Mungu kwa ajili yenu, kwa furaha yote tuliyonayo mbele za Mungu juu yenu?
10 night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face, and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
Tunaomba sana usiku na mchana ili tuweze kuziona nyuso zenu na kuwaongezea kinachopungua katika imani yenu.
11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you;
Mungu wetu na Baba mwenyewe, na Bwana wetu Yesu atuongoze njia yetu tufike kwenu.
12 and the Lord make you to increase and abound in love for one another and for all, even as we also do toward you,
Na Bwana awafanye muongezeke na kuzidi katika pendo, mkipendana na kuwapenda watu wote, kama tunavyowafanyia ninyi.
13 to the end he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
Na afanye hivi ili kuiimarisha mioyo yenu iwe bila lawama katika utakatifu mbele za Mungu wetu na Baba yetu katika ujio wa Bwana Yesu pamoja na watakatifu wake wote.
