| New King James Version | NET Bible |
| 1For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. | 1For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, about our coming to you--it has not proven to be purposeless. |
| 2But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict. | 2But although we suffered earlier and were mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of much opposition. |
| 3For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit. | 3For the appeal we make does not come from error or impurity or with deceit, |
| 4But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. | 4but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we declare it, not to please people but God, who examines our hearts. |
| 5For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness. | 5For we never appeared with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed--God is our witness-- |
| 6Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. | 6nor to seek glory from people, either from you or from others, |
| 7But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. | 7although we could have imposed our weight as apostles of Christ; instead we became little children among you. Like a nursing mother caring for her own children, |
| 8So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. | 8with such affection for you we were happy to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. |
| 9For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. | 9For you recall, brothers and sisters, our toil and drudgery: By working night and day so as not to impose a burden on any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. |
| 10You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; | 10You are witnesses, and so is God, as to how holy and righteous and blameless our conduct was toward you who believe. |
| 11as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, | 11As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his own children, |
| 12that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. | 12exhorting and encouraging you and insisting that you live in a way worthy of God who calls you to his own kingdom and his glory. |
| 13For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. | 13And so we too constantly thank God that when you received God's message that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human message, but as it truly is, God's message, which is at work among you who believe. |
| 14For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, | 14For you became imitators, brothers and sisters, of God's churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, because you too suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they in fact did from the Jews, |
| 15who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, | 15who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and persecuted us severely. They are displeasing to God and are opposed to all people, |
| 16forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost. | 16because they hinder us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. Thus they constantly fill up their measure of sins, but wrath has come upon them completely. |
| 17But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire. | 17But when we were separated from you, brothers and sisters, for a short time (in presence, not in affection) we became all the more fervent in our great desire to see you in person. |
| 18Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us. | 18For we wanted to come to you (I, Paul, in fact tried again and again) but Satan thwarted us. |
| 19For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? | 19For who is our hope or joy or crown to boast of before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not of course you? |
| 20For you are our glory and joy. | 20For you are our glory and joy! |
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