1 Thessalonians 3

1 Why when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;

Therefore, when we could bear it no longer, we thought it best to stay in Athens alone,

2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:

and we sent Timothy, our brother, who is a servant of God and our fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you in your faith,

3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.

so that no one would be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we have been appointed to afflictions such as these.

4 For truly, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and you know.

In fact, when we were with you, we told you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction, and as you well know, it has now happened.

5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labor be in vain.

For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out about your faith, lest somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor had been in vain.

6 But now when Timotheus came from you to us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that you have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:

But Timothy has now come back to us from you and has brought us good news of your faith and love. He reports that you always think of us with affection, longing to see us, just as we also long to see you.

7 Therefore, brothers, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:

Therefore, brothers, in all our affliction and distress, we were encouraged about you because of your faith.

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

For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.

9 For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy with which we joy for your sakes before our God;

How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?

10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

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

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

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

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

May the Lord cause you to increase and abound in your love for one another and for all, just as we abound in our love for you.

13 To the end he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

And may he strengthen your hearts to be blameless in holiness in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus Christ comes with all his saints.