1 T herefore when we could endure it no longer, we thought it best to be left behind at Athens alone,

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

2 a nd we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith,

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

3 s o that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this.

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

4 F or indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; and so it came to pass, as you know.

For 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.

5 F or this reason, when I could endure it no longer, I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor would be in vain.

For 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.

6 B ut now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you,

But 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;

7 f or this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith;

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

8 f or now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord.

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

9 F or what thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God on your account,

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

10 a s we night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete what 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 Jesus our Lord direct our way to you;

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

12 a nd may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for 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 s o that He may establish your hearts without blame 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 unblameable in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.