1 Thessalonians 2

1 You yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not in vain.

1 Ndugu zangu, kwa kuwa ninyi wenyewe mnajua ya kwamba kuja kwetu kwenu hakukuwa bure,

2 As you are aware, we had already endured suffering and shameful treatment in Philippi. But in the face of strong opposition, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God.

2 kama vile mjuavyo, tulikuwa tumeteswa na kutukanwa huko Filipi, lakini hata hivyo, kwa msaada wa Mungu wetu, tulikuwa na ujasiri wa kuwaambia Injili ya Mungu ingawa kulikuwa na upinzani mkubwa.

3 For our appeal does not arise from deceit or ulterior motives or trickery.

3 Kwa maana himizo letu halikutokana na hila wala nia mbaya au udanganyifu.

4 Instead, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, not in order to please men but God, who examines our hearts.

4 Kinyume chake, tulinena kama watu tuliokubaliwa na Mungu tukakabidhiwa Injili. Sisi hatujaribu kuwapendeza wanadamu bali kumpendeza Mungu, yeye ayachunguzaye mawazo ya ndani sana ya mioyo yetu.

5 As you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness!

5 Kama mjuavyo, hatukuja kwenu kwa maneno ya kujipendekeza au maneno yasiyo ya kweli ili kuficha tamaa mbaya: Mungu ndiye shahidi yetu.

6 Nor did we seek praise from you or from anyone else, although as apostles of Christ we had authority to demand it.

6 Wala hatukuwa tunatafuta sifa kutoka kwa wanadamu, wala kutoka kwenu au kwa mtu mwingine awaye yote. Kama mitume wa Kristo tungaliweza kuwa mzigo kwenu,

7 On the contrary, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring for her children.

7 lakini tulikuwa wapole katikati yenu, kama mama anayewatunza watoto wake wadogo.

8 We cared so deeply that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our own lives as well. That is how beloved you have become to us.

8 Tuliwapenda sana kiasi kwamba tulifurahia kushirikiana nanyi, si Injili ya Mungu tu, bali hata maisha yetu, kwa sababu mlikuwa wa thamani mno kwetu.

9 Surely you recall, brothers, our labor and toil. We worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to anyone while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.

9 Ndugu zetu, mnakumbuka juhudi yetu na taabu yetu. Tulifanya kazi usiku na mchana, ili tusimlemee mtu yeyote wa kwenu wakati tulipokuwa tunawahubiria Injili ya Mungu.

10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous, and blameless our conduct was among you who believed.

10 Ninyi wenyewe ni mashahidi na Mungu pia, jinsi tulivyokuwa watakatifu, wenye haki na wasio na lawama miongoni mwenu ninyi mlioamini.

11 For you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children—

11 Maana mnajua kwamba tuliwatendea kila mmoja wenu kama vile baba awatendeavyo watoto wake.

12 encouraging you, comforting you, and urging you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

12 Tuliwatia moyo, tuliwafariji na kuwahimiza kuishi maisha yampendezayo Mungu, anayewaita katika Ufalme na utukufu wake.

13 And we continually thank God because, when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God, which is also now at work in you who believe.

13 Nasi pia tunamshukuru Mungu bila kukoma kwa sababu mlipolipokea neno la Mungu mlilosikia kutoka kwetu, hamkulipokea kama neno la wanadamu, bali mlilipokea kama lilivyo hasa, neno la Mungu, litendalo kazi ndani yenu ninyi mnaoamini.

14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Judea that are in Christ Jesus. You suffered from your own countrymen the very things they suffered from the Jews,

14 Kwa maana ninyi ndugu zetu, mlifanyika wafuasi wa makanisa ya Mungu yaliyoko ndani ya Kristo Yesu katika Uyahudi. Mlipata mateso yale yale kutoka kwa watu wenu wenyewe kama vile makanisa hayo yalivyoteswa na Wayahudi,

15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets and drove us out as well. They are displeasing to God and hostile to all men,

15 wale waliomuua Bwana Yesu na manabii, nasi wakatufukuza pia. Watu hao walimchukiza Mungu na tena ni adui wa watu wote,

16 hindering us from telling the Gentiles how they may be saved. As a result, they continue to heap up their sins to full capacity; the utmost wrath has come upon them.

16 wakijitahidi kutuzuia tusizungumze na watu wa Mataifa ili kwamba wapate kuokolewa. Kwa njia hii wanazidi kujilundikia dhambi zao hadi kikomo. Lakini hatimaye ghadhabu ya Mungu imewafikia.

17 Brothers, although we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in heart), our desire to see you face to face was even more intense.

17 Lakini ndugu zetu, tulipotenganishwa nanyi kwa kitambo kidogo (ingawa kutengana huko kulikuwa kwa mwili tu, si kwa moyo), tulizidi kuwa na shauku kubwa kuwaona uso kwa uso.

18 For we wanted to come to you—indeed I, Paul, tried again and again—but Satan obstructed us.

18 Maana tulitaka kuja kwenu, hasa mimi Paulo, nilitaka kuja tena na tena, lakini Shetani akatuzuia.

19 After all, who is our hope, our joy, our crown of boasting, if it is not you yourselves in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?

19 Kwa maana tumaini letu ni nini, au furaha yetu au taji yetu ya kujisifia mbele za Bwana Yesu Kristo wakati wa kuja kwake? Je, si ni ninyi?

20 You are indeed our glory and our joy.

20 Naam, ninyi ndio fahari yetu na furaha yetu.