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

For you yourselves know, brothers, our visit to you wasn’t 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 having suffered before and been shamefully treated, as you know, at Philippi, we grew bold in our God to tell you the Good News of God in much conflict.

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

For our exhortation is not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in deception.

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 even as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News, so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, who tests 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 neither were we at any time found using words of flattery, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness (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 seeking glory from men (neither from you nor from others), when we might have claimed authority as apostles of Christ.

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

But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother cherishes 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.

Even so, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you, not the Good News of God only, but also our own souls, 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 remember, brothers, our labor and travail; for working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached to you the Good News 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 with God, how holy, righteously, and blamelessly we behaved ourselves toward you who believe.

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

As you know, we exhorted, comforted, and implored every one of you, as a father does his own children,

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

to the end that you should walk worthily of 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 cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when you received from us the word of the message of God, you accepted it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also works 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, brothers, became imitators of the assemblies of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus; for you also suffered the same things from 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 killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove us out, and didn’t please God, and are contrary 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

forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved; to fill up their sins always. But wrath has come on them to the uttermost.

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, brothers, being bereaved of you for a short season, in presence, not in heart, tried even harder to see your face with great desire,

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

because we wanted to come to you—indeed, I, Paul, once and again—but 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 what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Isn’t it even you, before our Lord Jesus at his coming?

20 F or you are our glory and joy.

For you are our glory and our joy.