| English Standard Version | New International Version |
| 1Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, | 1So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. |
| 2and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, | 2We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God's service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, |
| 3that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. | 3so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them. |
| 4For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. | 4In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. |
| 5For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain. | 5For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain. |
| 6But 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— | 6But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. |
| 7for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. | 7Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. |
| 8For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. | 8For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. |
| 9For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, | 9How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? |
| 10as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith? | 10Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith. |
| 11Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, | 11Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. |
| 12and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, | 12May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. |
| 13so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. | 13May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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