1 Thessalonians 3

1 So when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left on our own in Athens.

So when we could not stand it any longer, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone

2 We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,

and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, also our fellow worker in the Gospel of Christ, to confirm you and encourage you concerning your faith,

3 so that none of you would be shaken by these trials. For you know that we are destined for this.

that no one be unsettled by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.

4 Indeed, when we were with you, we kept warning you that we would suffer persecution; and as you know, it has come to pass.

For indeed, when we were with you we kept telling you in advance that we were going to be afflicted; just as it happened, in fact, as you know.

5 For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter had somehow tempted you and caused our labor to be in vain.

Yes, that is why, no longer standing it, I sent to find out about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had successfully tempted you and our labor come to be for nothing.

6 But just now, Timothy has returned from his visit with the good news about your faith, your love, and the fond memories you have preserved, longing to see us just as we long to see you.

But now that Timothy has 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, just as we also long to see you

7 For this reason, brothers, in all our distress and persecution, we have been reassured about you, because of your faith.

—because of this, brothers, in all our affliction and distress we were encouraged about you by your faith;

8 For now we can go on living, as long as you are standing firm in the Lord.

for now we live, if you are standing firm in the Lord.

9 How can we adequately thank God for you in return for our great joy over you in His presence?

With what thankfulness can we repay God for you, for all the joy with which we are rejoicing in the presence of our God because of you;

10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking from your faith.

praying most earnestly night and day, that we may see your face and complete the things lacking in your faith?

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

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

12 And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone else, just as our love for you overflows,

And may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love toward each other and toward all, just as we also do toward you,

13 so that He may establish your hearts in blamelessness and holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. Amen.

so as to establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His holy ones.