1 Thessalonians, 3

1. When we could not bear it any longer, we decided it would be best to be left without a companion at Athens,

1. Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone,

2. and sent our brother Timothy, who is God's helper in spreading the gospel of Christ, to keep you firm and encourage you about your faith

2. and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's servant in the gospel of Christ, to establish you in your faith and to exhort you,

3. and prevent any of you from being unsettled by the present hardships. As you know, these are bound to come our way:

3. that no one be moved by these afflictions. You yourselves know that this is to be our lot.

4. indeed, when we were with you, we warned you that we are certain to have hardships to bear, and that is what has happened now, as you have found out.

4. For when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction; just as it has come to pass, and as you know.

5. That is why, when I could not bear it any longer, I sent to assure myself of your faith: I was afraid the Tester might have put you to the test, and all our work might have been pointless.

5. For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent that I might know your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and that our labor would be in vain.

6. However, Timothy has returned from you and has given us good news of your faith and your love, telling us that you always remember us with pleasure and want to see us quite as much as we want to see you.

6. But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you --

7. And so, brothers, your faith has been a great encouragement to us in the middle of our own distress and hardship;

7. for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith;

8. now we can breathe again, as you are holding firm in the Lord.

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

9. How can we thank God enough for you, for all the joy we feel before our God on your account?

9. For what thanksgiving can we render to God for you, for all the joy which we feel for your sake before our God,

10. We are earnestly praying night and day to be able to see you face to face again and make up any shortcomings in your faith.

10. praying earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?

11. May God our Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, ease our path to you.

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

12. May the Lord increase and enrich your love for each other and for all, so that it matches ours for you.

12. and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all men, as we do to you,

13. And may he so confirm your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless in the sight of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

13. so that he may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.