| English Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. | 1For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, about our coming to you--it has not proven to be purposeless. |
| 2But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. | 2But although we suffered earlier and were mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of much opposition. |
| 3For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, | 3For the appeal we make does not come from error or impurity or with deceit, |
| 4but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. | 4but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we declare it, not to please people but God, who examines our hearts. |
| 5For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. | 5For we never appeared with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed--God is our witness-- |
| 6Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. | 6nor to seek glory from people, either from you or from others, |
| 7But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. | 7although we could have imposed our weight as apostles of Christ; instead we became little children among you. Like a nursing mother caring for her own children, |
| 8So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. | 8with such affection for you we were happy to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. |
| 9For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. | 9For you recall, brothers and sisters, our toil and drudgery: By working night and day so as not to impose a burden on any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. |
| 10You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. | 10You are witnesses, and so is God, as to how holy and righteous and blameless our conduct was toward you who believe. |
| 11For you know how, like a father with his children, | 11As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his own children, |
| 12we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. | 12exhorting and encouraging you and insisting that you live in a way worthy of God who calls you to his own kingdom and his glory. |
| 13And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. | 13And so we too constantly thank God that when you received God's message that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human message, but as it truly is, God's message, which is at work among you who believe. |
| 14For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, | 14For you became imitators, brothers and sisters, of God's churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, because you too suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they in fact did from the Jews, |
| 15who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind | 15who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and persecuted us severely. They are displeasing to God and are opposed to all people, |
| 16by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last! | 16because they hinder us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. Thus they constantly fill up their measure of sins, but wrath has come upon them completely. |
| 17But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, | 17But when we were separated from you, brothers and sisters, for a short time (in presence, not in affection) we became all the more fervent in our great desire to see you in person. |
| 18because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. | 18For we wanted to come to you (I, Paul, in fact tried again and again) but Satan thwarted us. |
| 19For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? | 19For who is our hope or joy or crown to boast of before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not of course you? |
| 20For you are our glory and joy. | 20For you are our glory and joy! |
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