book 3
1 我们既不能再忍,就愿意独自等在雅典。
So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens.
2 打发我们的兄弟在基督福音上作神执事的提摩太前去,(作神执事的有古卷作与神同工的)坚固你们,并在你们所信的道上劝慰你们。
We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God's fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,
3 免得有人被诸般患难摇动。因为你们自己知道我们受患难原是命定的。
so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them.
4 我们在你们那里的时候,预先告诉你们,我们必受患难,以后果然应验了,你们也知道。
In 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.
5 为此,我既不能再忍,就打发人去,要晓得你们的信心如何,恐怕那诱惑人的到底诱惑了你们,叫我们的劳苦归于徒然。
For 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 might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless.
6 但提摩太刚才从你们那里回来,将你们信心和爱心的好消息报给我们,又说你们常常记念我们,切切地想见我们,如同我们想见你们一样。
But 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.
7 所以弟兄们,我们在一切困苦患难之中,因着你们的信心就得了安慰。
Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith.
8 你们若靠主站立得稳,我们就活了。
For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.
9 我们在神面前,因着你们甚是喜乐,为这一切喜乐,可用何等的感谢,为你们报答神呢?
How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?
10 我们昼夜切切地祈求,要见你们的面,补满你们信心的不足。
Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
11 愿神我们的父,和我们的主耶稣,一直引领我们到你们那里去。
Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you.
12 又愿主叫你们彼此相爱的心,并爱众人的心,都能增长,充足,如同我们爱你们一样。
May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.
13 好使你们,当我们主耶稣同他众圣徒来的时候,在我们父神面前,心里坚固,成为圣洁,无可责备。
May 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.