Timothy's Visit
1 Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;
Basi kwa hiyo, tulipokuwa hatuwezi kuvumilia zaidi, tuliona vema kuachwa Athene peke yetu.
2 and sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:
Tukamtuma Timotheo ndugu yetu, mtumishi wa Mungu katika Injili ya Kristo, ili kuwafanya ninyi imara na kuwafariji kwa habari ya imani yenu;
3 that no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.
mtu asifadhaishwe na dhiki hizi; maana ninyi wenyewe mnajua ya kuwa twawekewa hizo.
4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
Kwa kuwa tulipokuwapo kwenu tulitangulia kuwaambia kwamba tutapata dhiki, kama ilivyotukia, nanyi mwajua.
5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.
Kwa hiyo mimi nami nilipokuwa siwezi kuvumilia tena, nalituma mtu ili niijue imani yenu, asije yule mjaribu akawajaribu, na taabu yetu ikawa haina faida.
6 But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:
Lakini Timotheo alipotujia hivi sasa kutoka kwenu, alituletea habari njema za imani yenu na upendo wenu, na ya kwamba mnatukumbuka vema siku zote; mkitamani kutuona sisi vile vile kama sisi kuwaona ninyi.
7 therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:
Kwa sababu hiyo, ndugu, tulifarijiwa kwa habari zenu, katika msiba na dhiki yetu yote, kwa imani yenu.
8 for now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.
Kwa kuwa sasa twaishi, ikiwa ninyi mnasimama imara katika Bwana.
9 For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;
Maana ni shukrani gani tuwezayo kumlipa Mungu kwa ajili yenu, kwa furaha ile yote tunayoifurahia, kwa sababu yenu mbele za Mungu wetu;
10 night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
usiku na mchana tunapoomba kwa juhudi tupate kuwaona nyuso zenu, na kuyatengeneza mapungufu ya imani yenu?
11 Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.
Basi Mungu mwenyewe, Baba yetu, na Bwana wetu Yesu, atuongoze njia yetu tufike kwenu.
12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men , even as we do toward you:
Bwana na awaongeze na kuwazidisha katika upendo, ninyi kwa ninyi, na kwa watu wote, kama vile sisi nasi tulivyo kwenu;
13 to the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
apate kuifanya imara mioyo yenu iwe bila lawama katika utakatifu mbele za Mungu, Baba yetu, wakati wa kuja kwake Bwana wetu Yesu pamoja na watakatifu wake wote.
