1 Thessalonians 3

1 Therefore when we could not stand it any longer, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone,

So when we could endure it no longer, we decided to remain behind in Athens alone;

2 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,

and sent Timothy our brother and God's minister in the service of Christ's Good News, that he might help you spiritually and encourage you in your faith;

3 that no one would be moved by these afflictions. For you know that we are appointed to this task.

that none of you might be unnerved by your present trials: for you yourselves know that they are our appointed lot.

4 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.

For even when we were with you, we forewarned you, saying, "We are soon to suffer affliction;" and this actually happened, as you well know.

5 For this cause I also, when I could not 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.

For this reason I also, when I could no longer endure the uncertainty, sent to know the condition of your faith, lest perchance the Tempter might have tempted you and our labour have been lost.

6 But Timothy has just now come 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.

But now that Timothy has recently come back to us from you, and has brought us the happy tidings of your faith and love, and has told us how you still cherish a constant and affectionate recollection of us, and are longing to see us as we also long to see you--

7 For this cause, brothers, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith.

for this reason in our distress and trouble we have been comforted about you, brethren, by your faith.

8 For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.

For now life is for us life indeed, since you are standing fast in the Lord.

9 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,

For what thanksgiving on your behalf can we possibly offer to God in return for all the joy which fills our souls before our God for you,

10 night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

while night and day, with intense earnestness, we pray that we may see your faces, and may bring to perfection whatever may be still lacking in your faith?

11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you.

But may our God and Father Himself--and our Lord Jesus--guide us on our way to you;

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

and as for you, may the Lord teach you to love one another and all men, with a growing and a glowing love, resembling our love for you.

13 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.

Thus He will build up your characters, so that you will be faultlessly holy in the presence of our God and Father at the Coming of our Lord Jesus with all His holy ones.