1 KwabaseThesalonika 3

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

Therefore, when we could bear it no longer, we thought it best to stay in Athens alone,

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

and we sent Timothy, our brother, who is a servant of God and our fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you in your faith,

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

so that no one would be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we have been appointed to afflictions such as these.

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

In fact, when we were with you, we told you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction, and as you well know, it has now happened.

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

For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out about your faith, lest somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor had 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 now come back to us from you and has brought us good news of your faith and love. He reports that you always think of us with affection, longing to see us, just as we also long to see you.

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

Therefore, brothers, in all our affliction and distress, we were encouraged about you because of your faith.

8 ngoba khathesi siyaphila, uba lina limi liqinile eNkosini.

For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.

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

How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?

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

Night and day we pray earnestly that we may see you face to face and supply what 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 cause you to increase and abound in your love for one another and for all, just as we abound in our love for you.

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

And may he strengthen your hearts to be blameless in holiness in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus Christ comes with all his saints.