1 Thessalonians 3

1 So when we could endure it no longer, we decided to remain behind in Athens alone;

So when we could not stand it any longer, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone

2 and sent Timothy our brother and God's minister in the service of Christ's Good News, that he might help you spiritually and encourage you in your faith;

and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, also our fellow worker in the Gospel of Christ, to confirm you and encourage you concerning your faith,

3 that none of you might be unnerved by your present trials: for you yourselves know that they are our appointed lot.

that no one be unsettled by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.

4 For even when we were with you, we forewarned you, saying, "We are soon to suffer affliction;" and this actually happened, as you well know.

For indeed, when we were with you we kept telling you in advance that we were going to be afflicted; just as it happened, in fact, as you know.

5 For this reason I also, when I could no longer endure the uncertainty, sent to know the condition of your faith, lest perchance the Tempter might have tempted you and our labour have been lost.

Yes, that is why, no longer standing it, I sent to find out about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had successfully tempted you and our labor come to be for nothing.

6 But now that Timothy has recently come back to us from you, and has brought us the happy tidings of your faith and love, and has told us how you still cherish a constant and affectionate recollection of us, and are longing to see us as we also long to see you--

But now that Timothy has come to us from you and brought us glad news of your faith and love, and that you have good memories of us always, longing to see us, just as we also long to see you

7 for this reason in our distress and trouble we have been comforted about you, brethren, by your faith.

—because of this, brothers, in all our affliction and distress we were encouraged about you by your faith;

8 For now life is for us life indeed, since you are standing fast in the Lord.

for now we live, if you are standing firm in the Lord.

9 For what thanksgiving on your behalf can we possibly offer to God in return for all the joy which fills our souls before our God for you,

With what thankfulness can we repay God for you, for all the joy with which we are rejoicing in the presence of our God because of you;

10 while night and day, with intense earnestness, we pray that we may see your faces, and may bring to perfection whatever may be still lacking in your faith?

praying most earnestly night and day, that we may see your face and complete the things lacking in your faith?

11 But may our God and Father Himself--and our Lord Jesus--guide us on our way to you;

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

12 and as for you, may the Lord teach you to love one another and all men, with a growing and a glowing love, resembling our love for you.

And may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love toward each other and toward all, just as we also do toward you,

13 Thus He will build up your characters, so that you will be faultlessly holy in the presence of our God and Father at the Coming of our Lord Jesus with all His holy ones.

so as to establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His holy ones.