1 KwabaseThesalonika 3

1 Kwathi-ke singaselakubekezela, sathi kuhle ukuthi sitshiywe sodwa eAtene,

Therefore when we could not stand it any longer, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone,

2 sasesithuma uTimothi umzalwane wethu lesikhonzi sikaNkulunkulu lesisebenzi kanye lathi evangelini likaKristu, ukuze aliqinise lokuthi alikhuthaze ngokholo lwenu,

and sent Timothy, our brother and God’s servant in the Good News of Christ, to establish you and to comfort you concerning your faith,

3 ukuze kunganyikinywa lamunye kulezizinhlupheko; ngoba liyazi lina ukuthi simiselwe lokhu.

that no one would be moved by these afflictions. For you know that we are appointed to this task.

4 Ngoba lathi siselani, salitshela ngaphambili ukuthi sesizahlupheka, njengoba futhi kwenzeka, lani liyakwazi.

For most certainly, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction, even as it happened, and you know.

5 Ngenxa yalokhu futhi ngingaselakubekezela, ngathumela ukuthi ngazi ukholo lwenu, hlezi mhlawumbe umlingi ulilingile, lokuthi umtshikatshika wethu ube yize.

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.

6 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;

But Timothy has just now come 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.

7 ngenxa yalokhu saduduzeka, bazalwane, ngani, kukho konke ukuhlupheka losizi lwethu ngokholo lwenu;

For this cause, brothers, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith.

8 ngoba khathesi siyaphila, uba lina limi liqinile eNkosini.

For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.

9 Ngoba sibongobani esingenanisa kuNkulunkulu ngani, ngentokozo yonke esithokoza ngayo ngenxa yenu phambi kukaNkulunkulu wethu?

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,

10 Ebusuku lemini siyakhuleka kakhulu sidlulisa amalawulo ukuze sibone ubuso benu, siphelelise-ke okusileleyo kokholo lwenu.

night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

11 Njalo kungathi uNkulunkulu uqobo loBaba wethu, leNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu angaqondisa indlela yethu kini;

Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you.

12 njalo kungathi iNkosi ingalandisa njalo ilenze lengezeleleke ethandweni omunye komunye lakubo bonke, njengoba sinjalo lathi kini,

May the Lord make you to increase and abound in love toward one another and toward all men, even as we also do toward you,

13 ukuze iqinise inhliziyo zenu zingasoleki ebungcweleni, phambi kukaNkulunkulu loBaba wethu, ekufikeni kweNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu kanye labangcwele bakhe bonke.

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.