| New King James Version | New Living Translation |
| 1Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, | 1Finally, when we could stand it no longer, we decided to stay 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 we sent Timothy to visit you. He is our brother and God’s co-worker in proclaiming the Good News of Christ. We sent him to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith, |
| 3that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. | 3and to keep you from being shaken by the troubles you were going through. But you know that we are destined for such troubles. |
| 4For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know. | 4Even while we were with you, we warned you that troubles would soon come—and they did, 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. | 5That is why, when I could bear it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out whether your faith was still strong. I was afraid that the tempter had gotten the best of you and that our work had been 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 just returned, bringing us good news about your faith and love. He reports that you always remember our visit with joy and that you want to see us as much as we want to see you. |
| 7therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith. | 7So we have been greatly encouraged in the midst of our troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. |
| 8For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord. | 8It gives us new life to know that 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 we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence. |
| 10night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith? | 10Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith. |
| 11Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. | 11May God our Father and our Lord Jesus bring us to you very soon. |
| 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 make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. |
| 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, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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