¹ Therefore, no longer covering over it, we preferred to be left behind in Athens alone.

² And we sent Timothy, our brother, and a helper of God, and our fellow workman in the good news of the Christ, in order to establish you and to encourage you about your faith,

³ for no man to be disturbed by these afflictions. For ye yourselves know that we are set for this.

⁴ For also when we were with you we foretold you that we were going to be oppressed, just as it also happened, and ye know.

⁵ Because of this, I too, no longer covering over it, sent in order to know your faith, lest somehow he who tempts was tempting you, and our labor became in vain.

⁶ But now of Timothy, having come to us from you, and having proclaimed good news to us of your faith and love, and that ye always have a good recollection of us, longing to see us, just as we also you,

⁷ because of this, brothers, we were encouraged toward you in all our affliction and necessity through your faith.

⁸ Because now we live, if ye stand firm in the Lord.

⁹ For what thanks can we repay God about you, for all the joy in which we rejoiced because of you before our God,

¹⁰ praying night and day above extraordinary in order to see your face and to mend the deficiencies of your faith?

¹¹ Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you.

¹² And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love toward each other, and toward all men, just as also we toward you,

¹³ in order to establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his sanctified.