| New King James Version | International Standard Version |
| 1Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, | 1Therefore, when we could stand it no longer, we decided to remain alone in Athens |
| 2and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, | 2and send Timothy, our brother who works with us for God in the gospel of the Messiah, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, |
| 3that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. | 3so that no one would be shaken by these persecutions, for which you are aware that we were destined. |
| 4For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know. | 4In fact, when we were with you, we told you ahead of time that we were going to suffer persecution. And as you know, that is what happened. |
| 5For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain. | 5But when I could stand it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out about your faith. I was afraid that the tempter had tempted you in some way, and that our work had been a waste of time. |
| 6But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you— | 6But Timothy has just now returned from visiting you and has told us the good news about your faith and love. He also told us that you always have fond memories of us and want to see us, just as we want to see you. |
| 7therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith. | 7That's why, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we have been encouraged about you by your faith. |
| 8For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord. | 8For now we can go on living, as long as you continue to stand firm in the Lord. |
| 9For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God, | 9How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we have in God's presence because of you? |
| 10night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith? | 10We pray very hard night and day that we may see you again face to face, so that we may equip you with whatever is lacking in your faith. |
| 11Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. | 11Now may our God and Father and our Lord Jesus provide a way for us to visit you. |
| 12And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, | 12May the Lord greatly increase your love for each other and for all people, just as we love you. |
| 13so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints. | 13Then your hearts will be strong, blameless, and holy in the presence of God, who is our Father, when our Lord Jesus appears with all his saints. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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