We thank God always for all of you as we mention you constantly in our prayers,

as we recall your active faith and labour of love and patient hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father.

knowing as we do, brethren, that you are beloved by God and that He has chosen you.

For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

And you took us and the Lord as your example, after the word had come to you in much trouble, with joy in the Holy Spirit;

As a result, you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.

From you the word of the Lord has spread out not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place where your faith in God has become known. As a result, we do not need to say anything about it.

But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.

But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:

Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.

But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:

Having such a deep affection for you, we were delighted to share with you not only God’s good news but also our own lives, because you had become so very dear to us.

For you remember, brethren, our labour and toil: how, working night and day so as not to become a burden to any one of you, we came and proclaimed among you God's Good News.

You are witnesses, and so is God, as to how holy and righteous and blameless our conduct was toward you who believe.

As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,

as a father his own children, And charged you to walk worthy of God, who hath called you to his kingdom and glory.

For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:

which as they killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, even so have they persecuted us, and God they please not, and are contrary to all men:

forbidding us from speaking to the Gentiles (non-Jews) so that they may be saved. So, as always, they fill up [to the brim] the measure of their sins [allotted to them by God]. But [God’s] wrath has come upon them at last [completely and forever].

But as for us, brothers, after we were forced to leave you for a short time (in person, not in heart), we greatly desired and made every effort to return and see you face to face.

And so, as we could bear it no longer, we made up our minds to remain behind alone at Athens,

and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith,

so that no one would be unsettled by these difficulties [to which I have referred]. For you know that we have been destined for this [as something unavoidable in our position].

For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.

But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:

For now we can go on living, as long as you continue to stand firm in the Lord.

as we pray very earnestly night and day to see you face to face and to complete what is lacking in your faith?

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

so as to strengthen your hearts and make them blameless in holiness before our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. [Amen.]

Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:

That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.

But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

as indeed is your practice towards all the brothers throughout all Macedonia. We beseech you, brothers, to excel in this more and more;

And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

so as to live worthy lives in relation to outsiders, and not be a burden to any one.

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also we believe that God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep as Christians.

For we tell you, as the Lord has told us, that we the living, who survive till the Lord comes, are by no means to take precedence of those who have fallen asleep.

Now as to the times and dates, brothers and sisters, you have no need for anything to be written to you.

For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

but we being of the day, let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as helmet the hope of salvation;

Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

And we ask you, brethren, to know those labouring among you, and leading you in the Lord, and admonishing you,

Under all circumstances give thanks to God. For this is his will for you as made known in Christ Jesus.

But, the God of peace himself, hallow you completely, and, entire, might your spirit, and soul, and body, - so as to be unblameable in the Presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, - be preserved!