1 Thessalonians 3

1Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone;

1Finally, when we couldn’t stand the suspense any longer, we decided it was best to stay behind in Athens by ourselves.

2and sent Timothy, our brother and God’s minister in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith;

2We sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in spreading the good news about Christ, to strengthen you and encourage you in your faith.

3that no man be moved by these afflictions; for yourselves know that hereunto we are appointed.

3We did this so that no one would be shaken by the troubles you are going through. You know yourselves that we are destined to face these things.

4For verily, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction; even as it came to pass, and ye know.

4In fact, when we were with you, we warned you ahead of time that we would suffer hardship, and as you know, that is exactly what happened.

5For this cause I also, when I could no longer forbear, sent that I might know your faith, lest by any means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor should be in vain.

5That is why, when I couldn’t wait any longer, I sent Timothy to find out about your faith. I was afraid that the Tempter might have led you astray and that all our hard work had been for nothing.

6But when Timothy came even now unto us from you, and brought us glad tidings of your faith and love, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, longing to see us, even as we also to see you;

6But Timothy has just now returned from visiting you and has brought us great news about your faith and love. He told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you want to see us just as much as we want to see you.

7for this cause, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith:

7So, brothers and sisters, in the middle of all our own hardship and suffering, we have been encouraged about you because of your faithfulness.

8for now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.

8It gives us new life to know that you are standing strong in the Lord.

9For what thanksgiving can we render again unto God for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;

9How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we feel because of you in the presence of our God?

10night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face, and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

10Night and day we pray with all our hearts that we can see you again in person and provide whatever is still missing in your faith.

11Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way unto you:

11Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you.

12and the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we also do toward you;

12And may the Lord make your love grow and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as our love overflows for you.

13to the end he may establish your hearts unblamable 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 holy and blameless in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus returns with all his holy people.