1 Thessalonians 2
1 For you yourselves know, brothers, our visit to you was not in vain,
Kwa kuwa ninyi wenyewe mnajua, ndugu, kuwa ujio wetu kwenu haukuwa wa bure.
2 but having suffered before and been shamefully treated, as you know, at Philippi, we grew bold in our God to tell you the Good News of God in much conflict.
Mnajua kwamba mwanzoni tuliteseka na walitutenda kwa aibu kule Filipi, kama mujuavyo. Tulikuwa na ujasiri katika Mungu kunena injili ya Mungu hata katika taabu nyingi.
3 For our exhortation is not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in deception.
Kwa maana mahusia yetu hayatokani na ubaya, wala katika uchafu, wala katika hila.
4 But even as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News, so we speak—not as pleasing men, but God, who tests our hearts.
Badala yake, kama vile tulivyokubalika na Mungu na kuaminiwa injili, ndivyo tunenavyo. Tunanena, si kwa kuwafurahisha watu, lakini kumfurahisha Mungu. Yeye pekee ndiye achunguzaye mioyo yetu.
5 For neither were we at any time found using words of flattery, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness (God is witness),
Kwa maana hatukutumia maneno ya kujipendekeza wakati wote wote, kama mjuavyo, wala ukutumia maneno kama kisingizio kwa tamaa, Mungu ni shahidi wetu.
6 nor seeking glory from men (neither from you nor from others), when we might have claimed authority as apostles of Christ.
Wala hatukutafuta utukufu kwa watu, wala kutoka kwenu au kwa wengine. Tungeweza kudai kupendelewa kama mitume wa Kristo.
7 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother cherishes her own children.
Badala yake tulikuwa wapole kati yenu kama mama awafarijivyo watoto wake mwenyewe.
8 Even so, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not the Good News of God only, but also our own souls, because you had become very dear to us.
Kwa njia hii tulikuwa na upendo kwenu. Tulikuwa radhi kuwashirikisha si tu injili ya Mungu bali pia na maisha yetu wenyewe. Kwa kuwa mmekuwa wapendwa wetu.
9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and travail; for working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached to you the Good News of God.
Kwa kuwa ndugu, mnakumbuka kazi na taabu yetu. Usiku na mchana tulikuwa tukifanya kazi kusudi tusije tukamlemea yeyote. Wakati huo, tuliwahubiria injili ya Mungu.
10 You are witnesses with God how holy, righteously, and blamelessly we behaved ourselves toward you who believe.
Ninyi ni mashahidi, na Mungu pia, ni kwa utakatifu wa namna gani, haki, na bila lawama tulivyoenenda wenyewe mbele yenu mnaoamini.
11 As you know, we exhorted, comforted, and implored every one of you, as a father does his own children,
Vivyo hivyo, mnajua ni kwa namna gani kwa kila mmoja wenu, kama baba alivyo kwa wanawe tulivyowahimiza na kuwatia moyo. Tulishuhudia
12 to the end that you should walk worthily of God, who calls you into his own Kingdom and glory.
kwamba mlipaswa kuenenda kama ulivyo mwito wenu kwa Mungu, aliyewaita kwenye ufalme na utukufu wake.
13 For this cause we also thank God without ceasing that when you received from us the word of the message of God, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, God’s word, which also works in you who believe.
Kwa sababu hiyo twamshukuru Mungu pia kila wakati. Kwa kuwa wakati mlipo pokea kutoka kwetu ujumbe wa Mungu mliosikia, mlipokea si kama neno la wanadamu. Badala yake, mlipokea kama kweli ilivyo, neno la Mungu. Ni neno hili ambalo linalofanya kazi kati yenu mnaoamini.
14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the assemblies of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus; for you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews
Kwa hivyo ninyi, ndugu, muwe watu wa kuiga makanisa ya Mungu yaliyoko katika Uyahudi katika Kristo Yesu. Kwa kuwa ninyi pia mliteseka katika mambo yale yale kutoka kwa watu wenu, kama ilivyo kuwa kutoka kwa wayahudi.
15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove us out, and do not please God, and are contrary to all men,
walikuwa ni Wayahudi ndiyo waliomuua Bwana Yesu pamoja na manabii. Ni Wayahudi ambao walitufukuza tutoke nje. Hawampendezi Mungu na ni maadui kwa watu wote.
16 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, to fill up their sins always. But wrath has come on them to the uttermost.
Walituzuia tusiseme na Mataifa ili wapate kuokolewa. Matokeo yake ni kwamba wanaendelea na dhambi zao. Mwisho ghadhabu imekuja juu yao.
17 But we, brothers, being bereaved of you for a short season in presence, not in heart, tried even harder to see your face with great desire,
Sisi, ndugu, tulikuwa tumetengana nanyi kwa muda mfupi, kimwili, si katika roho. Tulifanya kwa uwezo wetu na kwa shauku kuu kuona nyuso zenu.
18 because we wanted to come to you—indeed, I, Paul, once and again—but Satan hindered us.
Kwa kuwa tulitaka kuja kwenu, mimi Paulo, kwa mara moja na mara nyingine, lakini shetani alituzuia.
19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is not it even you, before our Lord Jesus at his coming?
Kwa kuwa kujiamini kwetu ni nini kwa baadaye, au furaha, au taji ya kujivunia mbele za Bwana wetu Yesu wakati wa kuja kwake? Je si ninyi zaidi kama walivyo wengine?
20 For you are our glory and our joy.
Kwa kuwa ninyi ni utukufu na furaha yetu.
