1 Finally, we couldn't stand it any longer. We decided to stay in Athens by ourselves 2 and send our friend Timothy to you. He works with us as God's servant and preaches the good news about Christ. We wanted him to make you strong in your faith and to encourage you. 3 We didn't want any of you to be discouraged by all these troubles. You knew we would have to suffer, 4 because when we were with you, we told you this would happen. And we did suffer, as you well know. 5 At last, when I could not wait any longer, I sent Timothy to find out about your faith. I hoped Satan had not tempted you and made all our work useless.
6 Timothy has now come back from his visit with you and has told us about your faith and love. He also said that you always have happy memories of us and that you want to see us as much as we want to see you.
7 My friends, even though we have a lot of trouble and suffering, your faith makes us feel better about you. 8 Your strong faith in the Lord is like a breath of new life. 9 How can we possibly thank God enough for all the happiness you have brought us? 10 Day and night we sincerely pray that we will see you again and help you to have an even stronger faith.
11 We pray that God our Father and our Lord Jesus will let us visit you. 12 May the Lord make your love for each other and for everyone else grow by leaps and bounds. This is how our love for you has grown. 13 And when our Lord comes with all his people, I pray he will make your hearts pure and innocent in the sight of God the Father.
1 Ndizo takati tibona tikong'wa, tikayemula kuti tisale toga mu Atene. 2 Takatuma Timoti ikamu tjedu, nshingili we Ndzimu naswi mu kusumikila ndebo mbuya ya Kirisiti, kumusimisa nenge kumukulumbidza mu bugalimoyo gwenyu, 3 kuti ndizo kushaye unosagadzikanyiwa nge ndiko idzedzi. Moziba zubuyanana kuti ikoku kwakatilingisana. 4 Nge malebeswa takati tinamwi, takabe timubudza lubaka gutjipo kuti towodziyidziwa; ngono sekwa munoziba, nditjo tjakashingikala. 5 Ndizo ngekwa ikoku ndakati ndibona kuti andingatjatubule kudzikitadza, ndakatumila nthu ndida ziba sekwa munotjila mu bugalimoyo gwenyu. Ndidziyidzika mu meya ndialakana kuti pamwe nliki wakamulika, ngono nshingo wedu ukasibe ne mbhayilo.
6 Koga se Timoti akatjibuya edwa kumuli ngono katizhisila thawu dzakanaka ngekwe bugalimoyo nenge ludo gwenyu, wakatibudza kuti tjibaka tjose motikumbula nge kwakanaka nenge kuti makashuba kutibona, se naswibo takamushuba. 7 Ndizo ngwenu zwikamu, mu buyendasi gwedu ne kudziyidziwa, takakulumbidzika nge kwe bugalimoyo gwenyu. 8 Ngobe ngwenu tozwihwa titjila dumbu, ngoti mumile makasima muna She. 9 Apa tingaboka Ndzimu kungapani nge kwenyu, ngekwe kushatha kose kwatinako nge kwenyu mbeli kwe Ndzimu wedu kene? 10 Siku ne sikati totembezela nge kugalamoyo, kuti titubule kumubona kakale kuti ndizo timupe tjamunosheta mu kugalamoyo kwenyu.
11 Tshene Ndzimu wedu, ibo Tate nge kwabo na She wedu Jesu bangatizhulila zila kuti tizhe kumuli. 12 Tshene She bangayita kuti, ludo gwenyu gupaphidzike, kuswikila mudana kwazo, kakale mudzine mude bathu bose sekwa tinomuda iswi. 13 Tshene bangasimisa mimoyo yenyu mu buyengemali, kuti ha She Jesu ezha ne bayengemali babe musibe ne nlandu mbeli kwe Ndzimu wedu, kakale bali Tate bedu.