| NET Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, about our coming to you--it has not proven to be purposeless. | 1For you yourselves know, brothers, that our visit with you was not without result. |
| 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. | 2On the contrary, after we had previously suffered, and we were treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, we were emboldened by our God to speak the gospel of God to you in spite of great opposition. |
| 3For the appeal we make does not come from error or impurity or with deceit, | 3For our exhortation didn't come from error or impurity or an intent to deceive. |
| 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. | 4Instead, just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please men, but rather God, who examines our hearts. |
| 5For we never appeared with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed--God is our witness-- | 5For we never used flattering speech, as you know, or had greedy motives--God is our witness-- |
| 6nor to seek glory from people, either from you or from others, | 6and we didn't seek glory from people, either from you or from others. |
| 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, | 7Although we could have been a burden as Christ's apostles, instead we were gentle among you, as a nursing mother nurtures her own children. |
| 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. | 8We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. |
| 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. | 9For you remember our labor and hardship, brothers. Working night and day so that we would not burden any of you, we preached God's gospel to you. |
| 10You are witnesses, and so is God, as to how holy and righteous and blameless our conduct was toward you who believe. | 10You are witnesses, and so is God, of how devoutly, righteously, and blamelessly we conducted ourselves with you believers. |
| 11As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his own children, | 11As you know, like a father with his own children, |
| 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. | 12we encouraged, comforted, and implored each one of you to walk worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. |
| 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. | 13This is why we constantly thank God, because when you received the message about God that you heard from us, you welcomed it not as a human message, but as it truly is, the message of God, which also works effectively in you believers. |
| 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, | 14For you, brothers, became imitators of God's churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, since you have also suffered the same things from people of your own country, just as they did from the Jews |
| 15who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and persecuted us severely. They are displeasing to God and are opposed to all people, | 15who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and persecuted us; they displease God and are hostile to everyone, |
| 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. | 16hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. As a result, they are always completing the number of their sins, and wrath has overtaken them at last. |
| 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. | 17But 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. |
| 18For we wanted to come to you (I, Paul, in fact tried again and again) but Satan thwarted us. | 18So we wanted to come to you--even I, Paul, time and again--but Satan hindered us. |
| 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? | 19For who is our hope or joy or crown of boasting in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? Is it not you? |
| 20For you are our glory and joy! | 20For you are our glory and joy! |
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