1 Thessalonians 3

1 Therefore when we couldn’t stand it any longer, we thought it good to be left behind at 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 servant in the Good News of Christ, to establish you and to comfort you concerning 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 no one would be moved by these afflictions. For you know that we are appointed to this task.

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

4 For most certainly, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction, even as it happened, and you 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 cause I also, when I couldn’t stand it any longer, sent that I might know your faith, for fear that by any means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor would have been in vain.

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 Timothy has just now 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, even 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 cause, brothers, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith.

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

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

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

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

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 night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and may perfect that which is 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 Now may our God and Father himself, 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 May the Lord make you to increase and abound in love toward one another and toward all men, even as we also do toward 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 to the end he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

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.