1 Thessalonians 2
1 For, yourselves, know, brethren, our entrance which was unto you—that it hath not proved void;
For you yourselves know, brothers, that our acceptance among you was not empty.
2 But, though we had previously suffered, and been insulted, even as ye know, in Philippi, we waxed bold in our God to speak unto you the glad-message of God with much conflict.
Instead, having previously suffered and been treated shamefully, as you know, at Philippi, we had confidence in our God, so as to speak the Gospel of God to you with much solicitude.
3 For, our exhortation, is not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile,
For our exhortation was not in error, nor from impurity, nor with deception.
4 But, even as we have been approved by God, to be entrusted with the glad-message, so, we speak, —not as, unto men, giving pleasure, but unto God—who proveth our hearts.
But, just as we have been tested by God, so that the Gospel would be entrusted to us, so also did we speak, not so as to please men, but rather to please God, who tests our hearts.
5 For neither at any time were we found, using words of flattery, —even as ye know, nor a pretext for greed—God, is witness!
And neither did we, at any time, become flattering in speech, as you know, nor did we seek an opportunity for avarice, as God is witness.
6 Nor, of men, seeking glory—either from you, or from others, though we could have assumed, dignity, as Apostles of Christ;
Nor did we seek the glory of men, neither from you, nor from others.
7 But we became gentle in your midst, —as though, a nursing mother, had been cherishing her own children:
And although we could have been a burden to you, as Apostles of Christ, instead we became like little ones in your midst, like a nurse cherishing her children.
8 Thus, yearning after you, we could have been well-pleased to impart unto you—not only the glad-message of God, but, our own lives also, —because, very dear to us, had ye become.
So desirous were we for you that we were willing to hand over to you, not only the Gospel of God, but even our own souls. For you have become most beloved to us.
9 For ye remember, brethren, our toil and hardship: night and day, working, so as not to be a burden unto any of you, we proclaimed unto you the glad-message of God,
For you remember, brothers, our hardship and weariness. We preached the Gospel of God among you, working night and day, so that we would not be burdensome to any of you.
10 Ye, are witnesses—God also, how kindly and righteously and blamelessly, unto you who were believing, we were found to behave;
You are witnesses, as is God, of how holy and just and blameless we were with you who have believed.
11 Even as ye know how, unto each one of you, we were as a father unto his own children, consoling you, and soothing, and calling to witness, —
And you know the manner, with each one of you, like a father with his sons,
12 To the end ye might be walking in a manner worthy of God, who is calling you unto his own kingdom and glory,
in which we were pleading with you and consoling you, bearing witness, so that you would walk in a manner worthy of God, who has called you into his kingdom and glory.
13 And, for this cause, we, are also giving thanks unto God unceasingly, that, when ye received a spoken word from us—which was God’s, ye welcomed it—not as a human word, but, even as it truly is, a divine word, —which is also inwardly working itself in you who believe.
For this reason also, we give thanks to God without ceasing: because, when you had accepted from us the Word of the hearing of God, you accepted it not as the word of men, but (as it truly is) as the Word of God, who is working in you who have believed.
14 For, ye, became, imitators, brethren, of the assemblies of God which are in Judaea, in Christ Jesus, in that, the same things, ye, also suffered by your own fellow-countrymen, even as, they, also by the Jews:
For you, brothers, have become imitators of the churches of God which are at Judea, in Christ Jesus. For you, too, have suffered the same things from your fellow countrymen as they have suffered from the Jews,
15 Who have both slain the, Lord, Jesus—and the prophets, and, us, have persecuted, and, unto God, are displeasing, and, unto all men, are contrary, —
who also killed both the Lord Jesus, and the Prophets, and who have persecuted us. But they do not please God, and so they are adversaries to all men.
16 Hindering us from speaking, unto the nations, that they might be saved, to the filling up of their own sins, continually; but anger hath overtaken them at length.
They prohibit us to speak to the Gentiles, so that they may be saved, and thus do they continually add to their own sins. But the wrath of God will overtake them in the very end.
17 Now, we, brethren, having been bereaved away from you, for the season of an hour, —in presence, not in heart, gave more abundant diligence, your face, to behold, with much longing;
And we, brothers, having been deprived of you for a short time, in sight, but not in heart, have hurried all the more to see your face, with a great desire.
18 Wherefore, we desired to come unto you—even, I, Paul, both once and again, —and, Satan, thwarted us.
For we wanted to come to you, (indeed, I, Paul, attempted to do so once, and then again, ) but Satan impeded us.
19 For what shall be our hope, or joy, or crown of boasting? Shall not even, ye, before our Lord Jesus, in his Presence?
For what is our hope, and our joy, and our crown of glory? Is it not you, before our Lord Jesus Christ at his return?
20 Ye, in fact, are our glory and joy.
For you are our glory and our joy.
