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

Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone,

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

and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith,

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

that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.

4 F or 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.

For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know.

5 F or 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.

For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain. Encouraged by Timothy

6 B ut 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;

But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you—

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

therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith.

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

For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.

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

For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God,

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

night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith? Prayer for the Church

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

Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you.

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

And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you,

13 t o 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.

so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.