< 1 Wathesalonike 4 >
1 Hatimaye, ndugu, tuliwaomba na kuwasihi katika Bwana Yesu kwamba, kama mlivyojifunza kutoka kwetu jinsi iwapasavyo kuishi ili kumpendeza Mungu, kama vile mnavyoishi, imewapasa mzidi sana kufanya hivyo.
Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort [you] by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, [ so] ye would abound more and more.
2 Kwa kuwa mnajua ni maagizo gani tuliyowapa kwa mamlaka ya Bwana Yesu.
For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
3 Mapenzi ya Mungu ni kwamba ninyi mtakaswe, ili kwamba mjiepushe na zinaa,
For this is the will of God, [even] your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
4 ili kwamba kila mmoja wenu ajifunze kuutawala mwili wake mwenyewe katika utakatifu na heshima,
That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
5 si kwa tamaa mbaya kama watu wa Mataifa wasiomjua Mungu.
Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
6 Katika jambo hili mtu asimkosee ndugu yake wala kumlaghai. Kwa kuwa Bwana ni mlipiza kisasi katika mambo haya yote, kama vile tulivyokwisha kuwaambia mapema na kuwaonya vikali.
That no [man] go beyond and defraud his brother in [any] matter: because that the Lord [is] the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
7 Kwa maana Mungu hakutuitia uchafu, bali utakatifu.
For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
8 Kwa hiyo, mtu yeyote anayekataa mafundisho haya hamkatai mwanadamu, bali anamkataa Mungu anayewapa ninyi Roho wake Mtakatifu.
He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.
9 Sasa kuhusu upendo wa ndugu hamna haja mtu yeyote kuwaandikia, kwa maana ninyi wenyewe mmefundishwa na Mungu kupendana.
But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
10 Nanyi kwa kweli mnawapenda ndugu wote katika Makedonia nzima. Lakini ndugu, tunawasihi mzidi sana kuwapenda.
And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;
11 Jitahidini kuishi maisha ya utulivu, kila mtu akijishughulisha na mambo yake mwenyewe na kufanya kazi kwa mikono yake, kama vile tulivyowaagiza,
And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
12 ili maisha yenu ya kila siku yajipatie heshima kutoka kwa watu walio nje, ili msimtegemee mtu yeyote.
That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and [that] ye may have lack of nothing.
13 Lakini ndugu, hatutaki mkose kujua kuhusu wale waliolala mauti, ili msihuzunike kama watu wengine wasiokuwa na tumaini.
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 Kwa kuwa tunaamini kwamba Yesu alikufa na kufufuka, na kwa hivyo, Mungu kwa njia ya Yesu atawafufua pamoja naye wale waliolala mautini ndani yake.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 Kulingana na neno la Bwana mwenyewe, tunawaambia kwamba sisi ambao bado tuko hai, tuliobaki hadi kuja kwake Bwana, hakika hatutawatangulia waliolala mauti.
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 Kwa maana Bwana mwenyewe atashuka kutoka mbinguni, akitoa amri kwa sauti kuu, pamoja na sauti ya malaika mkuu, na sauti ya tarumbeta ya Mungu. Nao waliokufa wakiwa katika Kristo watafufuka kwanza.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Baada ya hilo sisi tulio hai, tuliosalia, tutanyakuliwa pamoja nao katika mawingu ili kumlaki Bwana hewani, hivyo tutakuwa pamoja na Bwana milele.
Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Kwa hiyo farijianeni kwa maneno haya.
Wherefore comfort one another with these words.