1 Wathesalonike 3
1 Mwishowe hatukuweza kuvumilia zaidi. Basi, tuliamua kubaki kule Athene peke yetu,
And so, when I could no longer bear it, I made up my mind to be left behind at Athens, all alone.
2 na kumtuma kwenu ndugu yetu Timotheo, ambaye ni mfanyakazi mwenzetu kwa ajili ya Mungu katika kuhubiri Habari Njema ya Kristo. Tulimtuma ili awaimarisheni na kuwafarijini,
I sent Timothy, my brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen you and to hearten you in your faith.
3 kusudi imani ya mtu yeyote miongoni mwenu isije ikafifia kwa sababu ya taabu hizo. Ninyi mnajua kwamba tunapaswa kupata mateso.
So that no one should be shaken by these troubles-for you know well that we are appointed to troubles.
4 Maana, tulipokuwa pamoja nanyi, tuliwaambieni kwamba tutateswa; na kama mjuavyo ndivyo ilivyotukia.
For even when I was with you I used to tell you beforehand that I was to suffer affliction; and so it proved, as you know.
5 Ndio maana nilimtuma Timotheo kwenu. Sikuweza kungoja zaidi, na hivyo nilimtuma nipate habari za imani yenu. Isije ikawa labda Mshawishi aliwajaribuni na kazi yote tuliyofanya miongoni mwenu imepotea bure!
So, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to find out about your faith, fearing that the tempter had tempted you and that my labor had been in vain.
6 Sasa Timotheo amekwisha rudi, naye ametupa habari za kufurahisha kuhusu imani na upendo wenu. Ametuarifu kwamba mnatukumbuka daima, na kwamba mna hamu ya kutuona sisi kama nasi tulivyo na hamu ya kuwaoneni.
But now that Timothy has returned from you to me, and has brought good news of your faith and love, and that you are still holding me in affectionate remembrance, always longing to see me as I also am longing to see you.
7 Basi, habari za imani yenu zimetutia moyo katika taabu na mateso yetu yote,
I have been comforted, my brothers, in regard to you, in spite of all my distress and affliction over your faith.
8 kwani sasa tunaishi kweli ikiwa ninyi mnasimama imara katika kuungana na Bwana.
For now I am really living, if you are standing firm in the Lord.
9 Sasa twaweza kumshukuru Mungu wetu kwa ajili yenu. Tunamshukuru kwa furaha tuliyo nayo mbele yake kwa sababu yenu.
For what thanksgiving can I render again to God in your behalf, in return for all the joy which you cause me in the presence of my God?
10 Tunazidi kumwomba Mungu usiku na mchana kwa moyo wetu wote ili atupatie fursa ya kuwaoneni uso kwa uso ili tuweze kurekebisha chochote kilichopungua katika imani yenu.
Night and day I am praying earnestly that I may see you face to face, and may perfect whatever is yet lacking in your faith.
11 Tunamwomba Mungu, Baba yetu mwenyewe, na Bwana wetu Yesu atutayarishie njia ya kuja kwenu.
Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct my path to you.
12 Bwana awawezeshe ninyi kupendana na kuwapenda watu wote zaidi na zaidi, kama vile sisi tunavyowapenda ninyi.
Meanwhile, may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love toward one another and toward all men, even as I do toward you.
13 Hivyo ataiimarisha mioyo yenu, nanyi mtakuwa wakamilifu na watakatifu mbele ya Mungu na Baba yetu wakati Bwana wetu Yesu atakapokuja pamoja na wote walio wake.
And so may he establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus, with all his saints.
