< 1 Thessalonians 2 >

1 For yourselves, brothers, know our entrance in to you, that it was not in vain:
For you have known, brothers, that our entrance to you has not been in vain,
2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as you know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God with much contention.
but having both suffered before, and having been mistreated (as you have known) in Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak to you the good news of God in much conflict,
3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:
for our exhortation [is] not out of deceit, nor out of uncleanness, nor in guile,
4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which tries our hearts.
but as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the good news, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, who is proving our hearts,
5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness; God is witness:
for at no time did we come with speech of flattery (as you have known), nor in a pretext for covetousness (God [is] witness),
6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
nor seeking glory from men, neither from you nor from others, being able to be burdensome, as Christ’s apostles.
7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherishes her children:
But we became gentle in your midst, as a nurse may nurture her own children,
8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted to you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because you were dear to us.
so being desirous of you, we are well-pleased to impart to you not only the good news of God, but also our own souls, because you have become beloved to us,
9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and travail: for laboring night and day, because we would not be chargeable 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 not to be a burden on any of you, we preached the good news of God to you;
10 You are witnesses, and God also, how piously and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you that believe:
you [are] witnesses—God also—how piously and righteously and blamelessly we became to you who believe,
11 As you know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father does his children,
even as you have known how we are exhorting each one of you, as a father his own children, and comforting, and testifying,
12 That you would walk worthy of God, who has called you to his kingdom and glory.
for your walking worthily of God, who is calling you to His own kingdom and glory.
13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when you received the word of God which you heard of us, you received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually works also in you that believe.
And because of this we also continually give thanks to God, that, having received the word of God [by] your hearing from us, you accepted, not the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God, who also works in you who believe;
14 For you, brothers, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for you also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:
for you became imitators, brothers, of the assemblies of God that are in Judea in Christ Jesus, because you suffered such things, even you, from your own countrymen, as they also from the Jews,
15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:
who put to death both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and persecuted us, and they are not pleasing God, and [are] contrary to all men,
16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins always: for the wrath is come on them to the uttermost.
forbidding us to speak to the nations that they might be saved, so as to always fill up their sins, but [God’s] anger came on them—to the end!
17 But we, brothers, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.
And we, brothers, having been taken from you for the space of an hour—in presence, not in heart—hurried more abundantly to see your face in much desire;
18 Why we would have come to you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
for this reason we wished to come to you (I, indeed, Paul), both once and again, and Satan hindered us;
19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
for what [is] our hope, or joy, or garland of rejoicing? Are not even you before our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?
20 For you are our glory and joy.
For you are our glory and joy.

< 1 Thessalonians 2 >