¹ For$ brethren, you° yourselves know our entrance to you°, that it has not become empty.

² But we suffered before and have been abused in Philippi {Acts 16:12-40} , just-as you° know, we were bold in our God to speak to you° the good-news of God, even in our large struggle.

³ For$ our encouragement is not from deceit, nor from uncleanness, nor in treachery.

⁴ But just-as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the good-news, so we are speaking, not as pleasing men, but it is God who tests our hearts.

⁵ For$ just-as you° know (God is witness), we previously came$ neither with flattering speech, nor in a pretext of greed,

⁶ nor seeking glory from men, neither from you°, nor from others, while being able to be in any way a burden to you° as apostles of Christ.

⁷ But we became mild in your° midst, as a nurse would cherish her own children.

⁸ So we have kindly-feelings of you°, and we were delighted to give to you° not only the good-news of God, but also our own souls, because you° have become beloved to us.

⁹ For$ brethren, you° remember our labor and hardship. For$ while working night and day, in-order-to not burden any of you°, we preached to you° the good-news of God.

¹⁰ You° and God are witnesses, as we became holy and righteous and blameless toward you° who believe.

¹¹ Just-as you° know (as each one of you° like a father is to his children) we were encouraging you° and consoling you°

¹² and testifying, $that$ you° should walk worthy of God, who is calling you° into his own kingdom and glory.

¹³ We also are constantly giving-thanks to God because of this, that after you° received the word of God from our report, you° accepted it not as the word of men, but just-as it truly is, the word of God, which is also working in you° who believe.

¹⁴ For$ brethren, you° became imitators of the congregations$ of God, which are in Judea in Christ Jesus, because you° also suffered the same things by your° own countrymen, just-as they themselves also by the Jews.

¹⁵ The Jews, who both killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and banished us, and were not pleasing to God, and are adverse to all men,

¹⁶ forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles in-order-that they might be saved, $that$ they should always fill up their sins; but the wrath has arrived-unexpectedly upon them to the end.

¹⁷ But brethren, we were orphaned away from you° for an hour’s time in face {i.e., a period of time in person} but not in heart, we were even-more diligent to see your° face in much desire.

¹⁸ Hence, we wished to come to you°, indeed, I, Paul, even once and then twice, and yet the Adversary hindered us.

¹⁹ For$ what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting, or is it not also you°, which is before our Lord Jesus at his presence?

²⁰ For$ you° are our glory and our joy.