1 KwabaseThesalonika 2
1 Ngoba liyazi lina, bazalwane, ukungena kwethu kini, ukuthi kakubanga yize;
For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not useless.
2 kodwa lanxa sasihluphekile kuqala saphathwa kubi, njengoba lisazi, eFiliphi, saba lesibindi kuNkulunkulu wethu sokukhuluma kini ivangeli likaNkulunkulu phakathi kokulwa okukhulu.
You know that we previously suffered and were shamefully treated at Philippi. We were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much struggling.
3 Ngoba inkuthazo yethu yayingayisiyo yokuduha njalo ingaveli ekungcoleni, njalo ingengobuqili;
For our exhortation was not from error, nor from impurity, nor from deceit.
4 kodwa njengoba sivunyelwe nguNkulunkulu ukuthi siphathiswe ivangeli, sikhuluma ngokunjalo, kungenjengokuthokozisa abantu, kodwa uNkulunkulu ohlola inhliziyo zethu.
Instead, just as we have been approved by God to be trusted with the gospel, so we speak. We speak, not to please men, but to please God. He is the one who examines our hearts.
5 Ngoba kasizange size ngamazwi ayengayo, njengoba lisazi, futhi kungeyisikho ngokufihla ubuhwaba; uNkulunkulu ungumfakazi;
For we never used words of flattery, as you know, nor as an excuse to cover up greed— God is our witness.
6 singadingi udumo ebantwini, futhi olungaveli kini kumbe kwabanye, loba sasingaba ngumthwalo njengabaphostoli bakaKristu,
Nor did we seek glory from people, either from you or from others. We could have claimed privileges as apostles of Christ.
7 kodwa saba mnene phakathi kwenu njengomdlezane esingatha abakhe abantwana.
Instead, we were as gentle among you as a mother comforting her own children.
8 Njengoba besilithanda kangaka, sathokoza ukulinika kungeyisilo ivangeli likaNkulunkulu kuphela, kodwa lemiphefumulo yethu uqobo, ngoba laselingabathandekayo kithi.
In this way we had affection for you. We were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives. For you had become very dear 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 toil. Night and day we were working so that we might not weigh down any of you. During that time, we preached to you the gospel of God.
10 Lina lingabafakazi, loNkulunkulu, ukuthi sasingcwele njani njalo silungile futhi singasoleki kini elikholwayo;
You are witnesses, and God also, how holy, righteous, and blameless was our behavior toward you who believe.
11 njengoba-ke lisazi ukuthi ngulowo lalowo wenu, njengoyise kwabakhe abantwana, salikhuthaza njani saliduduza safakaza
In the same way you know how we dealt with each one of you as a father deals with his own children.
12 ukuthi lihambe ngokufanele uNkulunkulu olibizela embusweni lebukhosini bakhe.
We were begging you and encouraging and urging you to walk in a manner that is worthy of God, who calls you into 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.
For this reason we also thank God constantly. For when you received from us God's message that you heard, you accepted it not as the word of man. Instead, you received it as it truly is, the word of God. It is this word that is also at work among 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, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God that are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, as they did from the Jews.
15 abulala leNkosi uJesu labaprofethi bawo uqobo, asizingela lathi, kawamthokozisi uNkulunkulu, amelana labantu bonke,
It was the Jews who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets. It was the Jews who drove us out. They do not please God. Instead, they are hostile to all people.
16 esivimbela ukutshumayeza abezizwe ukuze basindiswe, ukuze agcwalise izono zawo njalonjalo; kodwa ulaka selwehlele phezu kwawo kuze kube sekupheleni.
They forbid us to speak to the Gentiles for them to be saved. The result is that they always fill up their own sins. Wrath must come on them in the end.
17 Kodwa thina, bazalwane, lokhu sehlukaniswe lani okwesikhatshana, ngobuso, kungeyisikho ngenhliziyo, sazama kakhulukazi ukuthi sibone ubuso benu ngokulangatha okukhulu.
We were separated from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart. We were especially eager, with great desire, to see your face.
18 Ngakho besifisa ukufika kini, ikakhulu mina Pawuli, lakanye lokuphinda, kodwa uSathane wasivimbela;
For we wished to come to you—I, Paul, wished to come to you once and again—but Satan stopped 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 crown of pride in front of our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you just as much as others?
20 Ngoba lina liludumo lentokozo yethu.
For you are our glory and our joy.
