| New International Version | NET Bible |
| 1So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. | 1So when we could bear it no longer, we decided to stay on in Athens alone. |
| 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, | 2We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen you and encourage you about your faith, |
| 3so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them. | 3so that no one would be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. |
| 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. | 4For in fact when we were with you, we were telling you in advance that we would suffer affliction, and so it has happened, as you well know. |
| 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. | 5So when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter somehow tempted you and our toil had proven useless. |
| 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. | 6But now Timothy has come to us from you and given us the good news of your faith and love and that you always think of us with affection and long to see us just as we also long to see you! |
| 7Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. | 7So in all our distress and affliction, we were reassured about you, brothers and sisters, through your faith. |
| 8For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. | 8For now we are alive again, if you stand firm in the Lord. |
| 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? | 9For how can we thank God enough for you, for all the joy we feel because of you before our God? |
| 10Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith. | 10We pray earnestly night and day to see you in person and make up what may be lacking in your faith. |
| 11Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. | 11Now may God our Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. |
| 12May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. | 12And may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we do for you, |
| 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. | 13so that your hearts are strengthened in holiness to be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. |
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