1 KwabaseThesalonika 1

1 UPhawuli, uSayilasi kanye loThimothi, Lebandleni labaseThesalonika abakuNkulunkulu uBaba leNkosini uJesu Khristu: Umusa lokuthula kakube kini.

To the Thessalonian Church in union with God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, from Paul, Silas, and Timothy. May God bless you and give you peace.

2 Sihlala silibongela lonke kuNkulunkulu njalo silibeka emikhulekweni yethu.

We always mention you in our prayers and thank God for you all;

3 Siyawukhumbula kokuphela phambi kukaNkulunkulu wethu uBaba umsebenzi wenu ongenxa yokukholwa lokusebenza kwenu okufuqwa luthando kanye lokubekezela kwenu okuqiniswa yikwethemba eNkosini uJesu Khristu.

recalling continually before our God and Father the efforts that have resulted from your faith, the toil prompted by your love, and the patient endurance sustained by your hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

4 Bazalwane abathandwa nguNkulunkulu, siyakwazi ukuthi ulikhethile

Brothers, whom God loves, we know that he has chosen you,

5 ngoba ivangeli lethu lafika kini hatshi ngamazwi nje kuphela kodwa langamandla loMoya oNgcwele kanye lokukholwa okujulileyo. Liyakwazi ukuba sahlala njani phakathi kwenu ngenxa yenu.

because the Good News that we brought came home to you, not merely as so many words, but with a power and a fulness of conviction due to the Holy Spirit. For you know the life that we lived among you for your good.

6 Lina laba ngabasilingisayo thina kanye leNkosi ngoba lalamukela ilizwi esikhathini esinzima ngokuthokoza okuvela kuMoya oNgcwele.

And you yourselves began to follow, not only our example, but the Master’s also; and, in spite of much suffering, you welcomed the Message with a joy inspired by the Holy Spirit,

7 Ngakho-ke, laba yisibonelo kuwo wonke amakholwa eMasedoniya kanye le-Akhayiya.

and so became a pattern to all who believed in Christ throughout Macedonia and Greece.

8 Ilizwi leNkosi lezwakala livela kini hatshi eMasedoniya lase-Akhayiya kuphela kodwa ukukholwa kwenu kuNkulunkulu sekusaziwa ezindaweni zonke. Ngakho-ke, akudingeki ukuba sikhulume ngakho

For it was from you that the Lord’s Message resounded throughout Macedonia and Greece; and, more than that, your faith in God has become known far and wide; so that there is no need for us to say another word.

9 ngoba bona ngokwabo bayabika ukuthi lasamukela njani. Bayatsho ngokuphendukela kwenu kuNkulunkulu lidela ukukhonza izithombe ukuba likhonze uNkulunkulu ophilayo loqotho

Indeed, in speaking about us, the people themselves tell of the reception you gave us, and how, turning to God from your idols, you became servants of the true and living God,

10 lilindele leNdodana yakhe evela ezulwini, ayivusayo kwabafileyo, uJesu osihlenga elakeni oluzayo.

and are now awaiting the return from Heaven of his Son whom he raised from the dead — Jesus, our deliverer from the Coming Wrath.