1
Maana ninyi wenyewe, ndugu, mwakujua kuingia kwetu kwenu, ya kwamba hakukuwa bure;
You yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not in vain.
2
lakini tukiisha kuteswa kwanza na kutendwa jeuri, kama mjuavyo, katika Filipi, twalithubutu katika Mungu kuinena Injili ya Mungu kwenu, kwa kuishindania sana.
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.
3
Kwa maana maonyo yetu siyo ya ukosefu, wala ya uchafu, wala ya hila;
For our appeal does not arise from deceit or ulterior motives or trickery.
4
bali kama vile tulivyopata kibali kwa Mungu tuwekewe amana Injili, ndivyo tunenavyo; si kama wapendezao wanadamu, bali wampendezao Mungu anayetupima mioyo yetu.
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.
5
Maana hatukuwa na maneno ya kujipendekeza wakati wo wote, kama mjuavyo, wala maneno ya juujuu ya kuficha choyo; Mungu ni shahidi.
As you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness!
6
Hatukutafuta utukufu kwa wanadamu, wala kwenu, wala kwa wengine tulipokuwa tukiweza kuwalemea kama mitume wa Kristo;
Nor did we seek praise from you or from anyone else, although as apostles of Christ we had authority to demand it.
7
bali tulikuwa wapole katikati yenu, kama vile mlezi awatunzavyo watoto wake mwenyewe.
On the contrary, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring for her children.
8
Vivyo hivyo nasi tukiwatumaini kwa upendo mwingi, tuliona furaha kuwapa, si Injili ya Mungu tu, bali na roho zetu pia, kwa sababu mmekuwa wapendwa wetu.
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.
9
Maana, ndugu, mnakumbuka taabu yetu na masumbufu yetu; kwa kuwa mchana na usiku tulifanya kazi tusije tukamlemea mtu wa kwenu awaye yote, tukawahubiri hivi Injili ya Mungu.
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.
10
Ninyi ni mashahidi, na Mungu pia, jinsi tulivyokaa kwenu ninyi mnaoamini, kwa utakatifu, na kwa haki, bila kulaumiwa;
You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous, and blameless our conduct was among you who believed.
11
vile vile, kama mjuavyo, jinsi tulivyomwonya kila mmoja wenu kama baba awaonyavyo watoto wake mwenyewe, tukiwatia moyo na kushuhudia;
For you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children—
12
ili mwenende kama ilivyo wajibu wenu kwa Mungu, mwenye kuwaita ninyi ili mwingie katika ufalme wake na utukufu wake.
encouraging you, comforting you, and urging you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
13
Kwa sababu hiyo sisi nasi twamshukuru Mungu bila kukoma, kwa kuwa, mlipopata lile neno la ujumbe la Mungu mlilolisikia kwetu, mlilipokea si kama neno la wanadamu, bali kama neno la Mungu; na ndivyo lilivyo kweli kweli; litendalo kazi pia ndani yenu ninyi mnaoamini.
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.
14
Maana ninyi, ndugu, mlikuwa wafuasi wa makanisa ya Mungu yaliyo katika Uyahudi, katika Kristo Yesu; kwa kuwa mlipata mateso yale yale kwa watu wa taifa lenu wenyewe, waliyoyapata na hao kwa Wayahudi;
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,
15
ambao walimwua Bwana Yesu, na hao manabii, na kutuudhi sisi; wala hawampendezi Mungu, wala hawapatani na watu wo wote;
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,
16
huku wakituzuia tusiseme na Mataifa wapate kuokolewa; ili watimize dhambi zao siku zote. Lakini hasira imewafikia hata mwisho.
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.
17
Lakini sisi, ndugu, tukiwa tumefarakana nanyi kwa kitambo, kwa uso si kwa moyo, tulizidi kutamani kwa shauku nyingi kuwaona nyuso zenu.
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.
18
Kwa hiyo tulitaka kuja kwenu, naam, mimi Paulo, mara ya kwanza, na mara ya pili, na Shetani akatuzuia.
For we wanted to come to you—indeed I, Paul, tried again and again—but Satan obstructed us.
19
Maana tumaini letu, au furaha yetu, au taji ya kujionea fahari, ni nini? Je! Si ninyi, mbele za Bwana wetu Yesu, wakati wa kuja kwake?
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?
20
Maana ninyi ndinyi utukufu wetu, na furaha yetu.
You are indeed our glory and our joy.