| New King James Version | NET Bible |
| 1Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, | 1So when we could bear it no longer, we decided to stay on in Athens alone. |
| 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, | 2We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen you and encourage you about 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 afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. |
| 4For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you 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 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. | 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 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 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, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith. | 7So in all our distress and affliction, we were reassured about you, brothers and sisters, through your faith. |
| 8For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord. | 8For now we are alive again, if you 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, | 9For how can we thank God enough for you, for all the joy we feel because of you before our God? |
| 10night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect 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 Christ, direct our way to you. | 11Now may God our Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. |
| 12And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to 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, |
| 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. | 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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