< 1 Thessalonians 3 >

1 For this reason, enduring no longer, we thought good to be left in Athens alone,
為此,我們不能再等待,就決意留在雅典,
2 and sent Timotheus—our brother, and a servant of God, and our fellow-workman in the good news of the Christ—to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith,
而打發我們的弟兄和在基督的福音上,作天主僕人的弟茂德前去,為在信德上堅固鼓勵你們,
3 that no one be moved in these tribulations, for you have known that we are set for this,
不叫任何人在這些困苦中受到動搖;你們自己也原已知道:我們是注定要受苦的,
4 for even when we were with you, we said to you beforehand that we are about to suffer tribulation, as it also came to pass, and you have known [it];
因為我們還在你們那裏的時候,已給你們預言了,我們將受磨難;你們看,現在就發生了。
5 because of this also, I, no longer enduring, sent to know your faith, lest he who is tempting tempted you, and our labor might be in vain.
為此,我既不能再等待,遂派遺他去探悉你們的信德,怕那誘惑者誘惑了你們,而使我們的勞苦等於白費了。
6 And Timotheus now having come to us from you, and having declared good news to us of your faith and love, and that you always have a good remembrance of us, desiring much to see us, as we also [to see] you,
現今,弟茂德從你們那裏回到我們這裏,對你們的信德和愛德,給我們報告了好消息;並說你們時常想念我們,渴望見到我們,就像我們渴望見到你們一樣。
7 because of this we were comforted, brothers, over you, in all our tribulation and necessity, through your faith,
為此,弟兄們,我們在一切困苦磨難中,因了你們的信德,由你們獲得了安慰。
8 because now we live, if you may stand fast in the LORD.
因為若是在主內站立穩定,我們現在就能活下去。
9 For what thanks are we able to repay to God for you, for all the joy with which we delight because of you in the presence of our God,
我們為了你們的原故,在我們的天主前甚為喜樂:對這一切善樂,我們能怎樣感謝,好為你們稱謝天主呢﹖
10 exceedingly imploring night and day, that we might see your face, and perfect the things lacking in your faith?
我們惟有黑夜白日懇切求,為能見到你們的面,為能彌補你們信德的缺陷。
11 And our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you,
但願天主我們的父和我們的主耶穌,舖平我們去你們那裏的道路。
12 and the LORD cause you to increase and to abound in the love to one another, and to all, even as we also to you,
願主使你們彼此間的愛情,和對眾人的愛情增長滿溢,就像我們對你們所有的愛情,
13 in order to have established your hearts, blameless in sanctification before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His holy ones.
好堅固你們的心,使你們在我們的主耶穌同衪的眾聖者來臨時,於天主我們的父前,在聖德上無可指摘。

< 1 Thessalonians 3 >