| New King James Version | New International Version |
| 1Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, | 1So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves 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, | 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 should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. | 3so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them. |
| 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 kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, 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. | 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 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 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. |
| 7therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by 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 stand fast in the Lord. | 8For now we really live, since you are standing 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 we have in the presence of our God because of you? |
| 10night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect 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 Christ, 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 to one another and to all, just as we do to 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 Christ 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. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. 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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