1 Wathesalonike 2
1 Ndugu, ninyi wenyewe mnafahamu kwamba ziara yetu kwenu haikuwa bure.
For ye yourselves, brethren, know our entrance among you, that it was not in vain.
2 Mnajua jinsi tulivyodhulumiwa na kutukanwa kule Filipi kabla ya kufika kwenu Thesalonike. Ingawa kulikuwa na upinzani mwingi, Mungu wetu alitujalia uhodari wa kuwahubirieni Habari Njema yake.
But though we had suffered before and been injuriously treated, as ye know, at Philippi, we spake boldly in the name of our God to declare unto you the gospel of God with much conflict.
3 Jambo tunalosisitiza kwenu si jambo linalotegemea uongo au nia mbaya; wala hatupendi kumdanganya mtu yeyote.
For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of impurity, nor in guile:
4 Sisi twanena daima kama atakavyo Mungu kwani yeye alituona kwamba tunafaa, akatukabidhi hii Habari Njema. Si nia yetu kuwapendeza watu hata kidogo, bali twataka kumpendeza Mungu ambaye anajua mioyo yetu mpaka ndani.
but as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, who trieth our hearts.
5 Ninyi mnajua kwamba sisi hatukuja kwenu na maneno matamu ya kubembeleza wala hatukutumia maneno ya kijanja ya kuficha ubinafsi fulani; Mungu ni shahidi!
For neither at any time used we flattering speech, as ye know, nor covetous pretence, God is witness:
6 Hatukutafuta sifa kutoka kwa watu, wala kutoka kwenu, wala kutoka kwa mtu yeyote,
nor sought we glory of men, neither of you, nor of others: though we might have expected maintenance, as the apostles of Christ.
7 ingawa sisi tukiwa mitume wa Kristo, tungeweza kudai mambo fulani kwenu. Lakini sisi tulikuwa Wapole kati yenu kama alivyo mama kwa watoto wake.
But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
8 Tuliwapenda ninyi sana hata tukawa tayari kuwashirikisha si tu Habari Njema ya Mungu, bali pia na maisha yetu. Ndivyo mlivyokuwa wapenzi wetu!
so we, being affectionately desirous of you, were willing to impart to you, not only the gospel of God, but even our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.
9 Ndugu, mnakumbuka jinsi tulivyofanya kazi na kutaabika. Tulipowaleteeni Habari Njema ya Mungu tulifanya kazi mchana na usiku kusudi tusiwe mzigo kwa mtu yeyote miongoni mwenu.
For ye remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for working night and day, that we might not be burthensome to any of you, we preached among you the gospel of God.
10 Ninyi mnaweza kushuhudia, na Mungu pia ni shahidi, jinsi mwenendo wetu kati yenu ninyi mnaoamini ulivyokuwa mzuri, mwadilifu na usio na lawama.
Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily, and justly, and unblameably we behaved towards you that believe:
11 Mnajua kwamba sisi tulimtendea kila mmoja wenu kama vile baba anavyowatendea watoto wake mwenyewe.
as ye know likewise, how we exhorted and comforted every one of you, as a father his children;
12 Tuliwapeni moyo, tuliwafarijini na kuwahimiza ili mpate kuishi maisha yampendezayo Mungu ambaye aliwaiteni mshiriki Utawala na utukufu wake.
and charged you, that ye should walk worthy of God, who hath called you to his kingdom and glory.
13 Tena tunayo sababu nyingine ya kumshukuru Mungu: tulipowaleteeni ujumbe wa Mungu, ninyi mliusikia mkaupokea, si kama vile ujumbe wa binadamu, bali kama ujumbe wa Mungu, na kweli ndivyo ulivyo. Maana Mungu anafanya kazi ndani yenu ninyi mnaoamini.
For this also we thank God continually, that when ye received the word of God, which ye heard from us, ye received it not as the word of men, but (as it is in truth) the word of God, which also worketh effectually in you that believe.
14 Ndugu, ninyi mmepatwa na mambo yaleyale yaliyoyapata makanisa ya Mungu kule Yudea, mambo yaliyowapata watu walio wake Kristo Yesu. Ninyi mlidhulumiwa na wananchi wenzenu kama vile wao walivyodhulumiwa na wenzao Wayahudi,
For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God, which are in Judea, in Christ Jesus, in that ye also have suffered the same things from your own countrymen, as they have from the Jews:
15 ambao walimuua Bwana Yesu na manabii, wakatutesa na sisi pia. Watu hao wanamchukiza Mungu, tena ni adui za kila mtu!
who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; who are displeasing to God, and contrary to all men:
16 Hata walijaribu kutuzuia kuwahubiria watu wa mataifa mengine ujumbe utakaowaletea wokovu. Ndivyo walivyokamilisha orodha ya dhambi zote walizotenda siku zote. Lakini sasa hasira ya Mungu imewaangukia.
forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, thus going on to fill up their sins perpetually: but wrath is coming upon them to extremity.
17 Ndugu, kuachana kwetu nanyi kulikuwa kwa muda tu, tena kuachana huko kulikuwa kwa mwili tu na si kwa roho. Kitambo kifupi baadaye, tulishikwa na hamu kubwa ya kuwaoneni tena!
But we, brethren, being separated from you for a season, in person not in heart, endeavoured the more earnestly to see you again with much desire.
18 Kwa hiyo tuliamua kuwatembeleeni tena. Nami, Paulo, nilijaribu kuja kwenu zaidi ya mara moja, lakini Shetani alituzuia.
Wherefore we would have come unto you (even I Paul) once and again; but Satan hindered us.
19 Je, tutakaposimama mbele ya Bwana Yesu wakati atakapokuja, fahari ya ushindi wetu itakuwa nini? Itakuwa ni ninyi wenyewe; ninyi ndio tumaini letu na furaha yetu.
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of boasting? are not ye also among others in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
20 Naam, ninyi ni utukufu wetu na furaha yetu!
for ye are our glory and our joy.
