1 Thessalonians 3
1 As a result of that, when I could no longer endure [worrying about you], I decided that [Silas and I] would stay behind alone in Athens [city],
Kwathi-ke singaselakubekezela, sathi kuhle ukuthi sitshiywe sodwa eAtene,
2 and we two sent Timothy [to you. You know that he is] our close associate and also works for God by [proclaiming] the message about Christ. [Silas and I sent him] in order that he would urge you to continue to strongly trust [in Christ].
sasesithuma uTimothi umzalwane wethu lesikhonzi sikaNkulunkulu lesisebenzi kanye lathi evangelini likaKristu, ukuze aliqinise lokuthi alikhuthaze ngokholo lwenu,
3 We wanted none [of you] to consider turning away from Christ as a result of [people] causing you to suffer. You know that [God has] planned that [we who trust in him will suffer like that when people do that to us who trust in him].
ukuze kunganyikinywa lamunye kulezizinhlupheko; ngoba liyazi lina ukuthi simiselwe lokhu.
4 Remember that when we were present with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted {that [people] would cause us to suffer}. And because that is what happened, you know that [what we said] was true!
Ngoba lathi siselani, salitshela ngaphambili ukuthi sesizahlupheka, njengoba futhi kwenzeka, lani liyakwazi.
5 [I was] afraid that [Satan], the one who tempts us, had caused you [to stop trusting in Christ. If that had happened], we would have worked uselessly [while we were present with you! So] I sent [Timothy to you] in order to find out whether or not you were [still] trusting [in Christ]. I sent him because I could no longer endure [not knowing (about your spiritual condition/whether or not you were still trusting in Christ]).
Ngenxa yalokhu futhi ngingaselakubekezela, ngathumela ukuthi ngazi ukholo lwenu, hlezi mhlawumbe umlingi ulilingile, lokuthi umtshikatshika wethu ube yize.
6 Now Timothy has just returned to Silas and me from [being with] you, and he has told us the good news that you [still] trust [in Christ] and that you love [him] (OR, [each other]). He told us also that you always happily remember us [and that] you strongly desire that we visit you, just like we strongly desire to visit you.
Kodwa khathesi uTimothi usefikile kithi evela kini, usibikele indaba ezinhle zokholo lothando lwenu, lokuthi lihlala lilomkhumbulo omuhle ngathi, lifisa kakhulu ukusibona, njengoba-ke lathi lina;
7 My fellow believers, [even though] we are suffering very much [DOU] because of what people are doing to us here, we have been cheered up because [Timothy told us about] your [still] trusting [in Christ].
ngenxa yalokhu saduduzeka, bazalwane, ngani, kukho konke ukuhlupheka losizi lwethu ngokholo lwenu;
8 Now we feel very encouraged [IDM] that you continue to strongly [trust] in the Lord [Jesus].
ngoba khathesi siyaphila, uba lina limi liqinile eNkosini.
9 (We cannot thank God adequately for [what he has done for] you!/How can we thank God enough for [what he has done for] you?) [RHQ] We greatly rejoice concerning you [when we pray to] our God!
Ngoba sibongobani esingenanisa kuNkulunkulu ngani, ngentokozo yonke esithokoza ngayo ngenxa yenu phambi kukaNkulunkulu wethu?
10 We constantly [HYP] and fervently/earnestly ask [God] that [we will be able] to visit you [SYN] and that [we will be able] to help you to trust [in Christ/God] more strongly!
Ebusuku lemini siyakhuleka kakhulu sidlulisa amalawulo ukuze sibone ubuso benu, siphelelise-ke okusileleyo kokholo lwenu.
11 We pray to God, our Father, and to our Lord Jesus, that they will (clear the way/make it possible) so that we can return to you.
Njalo kungathi uNkulunkulu uqobo loBaba wethu, leNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu angaqondisa indlela yethu kini;
12 As for you, we pray that the Lord Jesus will help you to love each other and other people more and more, just like we continue loving you more and more.
njalo kungathi iNkosi ingalandisa njalo ilenze lengezeleleke ethandweni omunye komunye lakubo bonke, njengoba sinjalo lathi kini,
13 We pray that our Lord Jesus will strengthen your resolve to do what pleases God (OR, strengthen you spiritually). We pray that God our Father will enable you to conduct your lives in a way that is pure and that no one can justly criticize, so that when Jesus comes back to earth accompanied by all those who belong to him, he will be pleased with you.
ukuze iqinise inhliziyo zenu zingasoleki ebungcweleni, phambi kukaNkulunkulu loBaba wethu, ekufikeni kweNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu kanye labangcwele bakhe bonke.
