1 F or you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain.

For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain,

2 B ut even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict.

but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition.

3 F or our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit.

For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit;

4 B ut as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.

but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.

5 F or neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness.

For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed— God is witness—

6 N or did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ.

nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority.

7 B ut we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.

But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children.

8 S o, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.

Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.

9 F or you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.

10 Y ou are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe;

You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers;

11 a s you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children,

just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children,

12 t hat you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. Their Conversion

so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

13 F or this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.

For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.

14 F or you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans,

For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews,

15 w ho killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men,

who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out. They are not pleasing to God, but hostile to all men,

16 f orbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost. Longing to See Them

hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved; with the result that they always fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them to the utmost.

17 B ut we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire.

But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short while— in person, not in spirit—were all the more eager with great desire to see your face.

18 T herefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us.

For we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, more than once—and yet Satan hindered us.

19 F or what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?

For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?

20 F or you are our glory and joy.

For you are our glory and joy.