¹Mwishowe hatukuweza kuvumilia zaidi. Basi, tuliamua kubaki kule Athene peke yetu,

¹Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone;

²na kumtuma kwenu ndugu yetu Timotheo, ambaye ni mfanyakazi mwenzetu kwa ajili ya Mungu katika kuhubiri Habari Njema ya Kristo. Tulimtuma ili awaimarisheni na kuwafarijini,

²and sent Timothy, our brother and God's minister in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort [you] concerning your faith;

³kusudi imani ya mtu yeyote miongoni mwenu isije ikafifia kwa sababu ya taabu hizo. Ninyi mnajua kwamba tunapaswa kupata mateso.

³that no man be moved by these afflictions; for yourselves know that hereunto we are appointed.

⁴Maana, tulipokuwa pamoja nanyi, tuliwaambieni kwamba tutateswa; na kama mjuavyo ndivyo ilivyotukia.

⁴For verily, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction; even as it came to pass, and ye know.

⁵Ndio 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!

⁵For this cause I also, when I could no longer forbear, sent that I might know your faith, lest by any means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor should be in vain.

⁶Sasa 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.

⁶But when Timothy came even now unto us from you, and brought us glad tidings of your faith and love, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, longing to see us, even as we also [to see] you;

⁷Basi, habari za imani yenu zimetutia moyo katika taabu na mateso yetu yote,

⁷for this cause, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith:

⁸kwani sasa tunaishi kweli ikiwa ninyi mnasimama imara katika kuungana na Bwana.

⁸for now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.

⁹Sasa twaweza kumshukuru Mungu wetu kwa ajili yenu. Tunamshukuru kwa furaha tuliyo nayo mbele yake kwa sababu yenu.

⁹For what thanksgiving can we render again unto God for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;

¹⁰Tunazidi 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.

¹⁰night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face, and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

¹¹Tunamwomba Mungu, Baba yetu mwenyewe, na Bwana wetu Yesu atutayarishie njia ya kuja kwenu.

¹¹Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way unto you:

¹²Bwana awawezeshe ninyi kupendana na kuwapenda watu wote zaidi na zaidi, kama vile sisi tunavyowapenda ninyi.

¹²and the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we also [do] toward you;

¹³Hivyo ataiimarisha mioyo yenu, nanyi mtakuwa wakamilifu na watakatifu mbele ya Mungu na Baba yetu wakati Bwana wetu Yesu atakapokuja pamoja na wote walio wake.

¹³to the end he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.