1 KwabaseThesalonika 2
1 Ngoba liyazi lina, bazalwane, ukungena kwethu kini, ukuthi kakubanga yize;
For you have known, brothers, that our entrance to you has not been in vain,
2 kodwa lanxa sasihluphekile kuqala saphathwa kubi, njengoba lisazi, eFiliphi, saba lesibindi kuNkulunkulu wethu sokukhuluma kini ivangeli likaNkulunkulu phakathi kokulwa okukhulu.
but having both suffered before, and having been mistreated (as you have known) in Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak to you the good news of God in much conflict,
3 Ngoba inkuthazo yethu yayingayisiyo yokuduha njalo ingaveli ekungcoleni, njalo ingengobuqili;
for our exhortation [is] not out of deceit, nor out of uncleanness, nor in guile,
4 kodwa njengoba sivunyelwe nguNkulunkulu ukuthi siphathiswe ivangeli, sikhuluma ngokunjalo, kungenjengokuthokozisa abantu, kodwa uNkulunkulu ohlola inhliziyo zethu.
but as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the good news, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, who is proving our hearts,
5 Ngoba kasizange size ngamazwi ayengayo, njengoba lisazi, futhi kungeyisikho ngokufihla ubuhwaba; uNkulunkulu ungumfakazi;
for at no time did we come with speech of flattery (as you have known), nor in a pretext for covetousness (God [is] witness),
6 singadingi udumo ebantwini, futhi olungaveli kini kumbe kwabanye, loba sasingaba ngumthwalo njengabaphostoli bakaKristu,
nor seeking glory from men, neither from you nor from others, being able to be burdensome, as Christ’s apostles.
7 kodwa saba mnene phakathi kwenu njengomdlezane esingatha abakhe abantwana.
But we became gentle in your midst, as a nurse may nurture her own children,
8 Njengoba besilithanda kangaka, sathokoza ukulinika kungeyisilo ivangeli likaNkulunkulu kuphela, kodwa lemiphefumulo yethu uqobo, ngoba laselingabathandekayo kithi.
so being desirous of you, we are well-pleased to impart to you not only the good news of God, but also our own souls, because you have become beloved to us,
9 Ngoba liyakhumbula, bazalwane, ukutshikatshika lokulwisa kwethu; ngoba ubusuku lemini sisebenza ukuze singabi ngumthwalo lakomunye wenu, silitshumayeza ivangeli likaNkulunkulu.
for you remember, brothers, our labor and travail, for working night and day not to be a burden on any of you, we preached the good news of God to you;
10 Lina lingabafakazi, loNkulunkulu, ukuthi sasingcwele njani njalo silungile futhi singasoleki kini elikholwayo;
you [are] witnesses—God also—how piously and righteously and blamelessly we became to you who believe,
11 njengoba-ke lisazi ukuthi ngulowo lalowo wenu, njengoyise kwabakhe abantwana, salikhuthaza njani saliduduza safakaza
even as you have known how we are exhorting each one of you, as a father his own children, and comforting, and testifying,
12 ukuthi lihambe ngokufanele uNkulunkulu olibizela embusweni lebukhosini bakhe.
for your walking worthily of God, who is calling you to His own kingdom and glory.
13 Ngenxa yalokhu njalo thina kasiyekeli ukumbonga uNkulunkulu, ukuthi selemukele ilizwi likaNkulunkulu elalizwa kithi, lemukela kungeyisilo ilizwi labantu, kodwa linjengeqiniso ilizwi likaNkulunkulu, osebenza lakini elikholwayo.
And because of this we also continually give thanks to God, that, having received the word of God [by] your hearing from us, you accepted, not the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God, who also works in you who believe;
14 Ngoba lina, bazalwane, laba ngabalingiseli bamabandla kaNkulunkulu aseJudiya kuKristu Jesu; ngoba lani lahlupheka lezizinto kwabesizwe sakini uqobo, njengoba lawo kumaJuda,
for you became imitators, brothers, of the assemblies of God that are in Judea in Christ Jesus, because you suffered such things, even you, from your own countrymen, as they also from the Jews,
15 abulala leNkosi uJesu labaprofethi bawo uqobo, asizingela lathi, kawamthokozisi uNkulunkulu, amelana labantu bonke,
who put to death both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and persecuted us, and they are not pleasing God, and [are] contrary to all men,
16 esivimbela ukutshumayeza abezizwe ukuze basindiswe, ukuze agcwalise izono zawo njalonjalo; kodwa ulaka selwehlele phezu kwawo kuze kube sekupheleni.
forbidding us to speak to the nations that they might be saved, so as to always fill up their sins, but [God’s] anger came on them—to the end!
17 Kodwa thina, bazalwane, lokhu sehlukaniswe lani okwesikhatshana, ngobuso, kungeyisikho ngenhliziyo, sazama kakhulukazi ukuthi sibone ubuso benu ngokulangatha okukhulu.
And we, brothers, having been taken from you for the space of an hour—in presence, not in heart—hurried more abundantly to see your face in much desire;
18 Ngakho besifisa ukufika kini, ikakhulu mina Pawuli, lakanye lokuphinda, kodwa uSathane wasivimbela;
for this reason we wished to come to you (I, indeed, Paul), both once and again, and Satan hindered us;
19 ngoba liyini ithemba lethu, kumbe intokozo, kumbe umqhele wokuzincoma? Angithi yini futhi, phambi kweNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu ekufikeni kwayo?
for what [is] our hope, or joy, or garland of rejoicing? Are not even you before our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?
20 Ngoba lina liludumo lentokozo yethu.
For you are our glory and joy.
