1 Thessalonians 3

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

Therefore, when we could no longer bear it, we thought it was good to be left behind at Athens alone.

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

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

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

We did this so that no one would be shaken by these sufferings. For yourselves know that for this we have been appointed.

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

Truly, when we were with you, we told you in advance that we were about to suffer affliction, and that happened, as you know.

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

For this reason, when I could no longer stand it, I sent that I might know about your faith. Perhaps the tempter had somehow tempted you, and our labor was in vain.

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

But Timothy came to us from you and brought us the good news of your faith and love. He told us that you always have good memories of us, and that you long to see us just as we also long to see you.

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

Because of this, brothers, we were comforted by you because of your faith, in all our distress and affliction.

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

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

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

For what thanks can we give to God for you, for all the joy that we have before our God over you?

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

Night and day we pray very hard that we may see your face and provide what is lacking in your faith.

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

May our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, 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 make you increase and abound in love one for another and toward all people, as we also do for you.

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

May he strengthen your hearts, so that they will be blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.