1 W herefore no longer forbearing, we thought good to be left in Athens alone,

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

2 a nd did send Timotheus -- our brother, and a ministrant of God, and our fellow-workman in the good news of the Christ -- to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith,

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

3 t hat no one be moved in these tribulations, for yourselves have known that for this we are set,

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

4 f or even when we were with you, we said to you beforehand, that we are about to suffer tribulation, as also it did come to pass, and ye have known;

For 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.

5 b ecause of this also, I, no longer forbearing, did send to know your faith, lest he who is tempting did tempt you, and in vain might be our labour.

For 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.

6 A nd now Timotheus having come unto us from you, and having declared good news to us of your faith and love, and that ye have a good remembrance of us always, desiring much to see us, as we also you,

But 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,

7 b ecause of this we were comforted, brethren, over you, in all our tribulation and necessity, through your faith,

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

8 b ecause now we live, if ye may stand fast in the Lord;

for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord.

9 f or what thanks are we able to recompense to God for you, for all the joy with which we do joy because of you in the presence of our God?

For 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,

10 n ight and day exceedingly beseeching, that we might see your face, and perfect the things lacking in your faith.

as we night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete what is lacking in your faith?

11 A nd our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you,

Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you;

12 a nd you the Lord cause to increase and to abound in the love to one another, and to all, even as we also to you,

and 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;

13 t o the establishing your hearts blameless in sanctification before our God and Father, in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.

so 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.