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

Therefore when we couldn’t stand it any longer, we thought it good to be left behind at 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 God’s servant in the Good News of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort 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 be moved by these afflictions. For you know that we are appointed to this task.

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 most certainly, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction, even 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 cause I also, when I couldn’t stand it any longer, sent that I might know your faith, for fear that by any means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor would have been in vain.

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 when Timothy came just now to us from you, and brought us glad news of your faith and love, and that you have good memories of us always, longing to see us, even as we also long to see you;

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

for this cause, brothers, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through 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 thanksgiving can we render again to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sakes 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 may perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

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

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