1 At last our desire to have news of you was so strong that, while we ourselves were waiting at Athens,

2 We sent Timothy, our brother and God's servant in the good news of Christ, to give you strength and comfort in your faith;

3 So that no man might be moved by these troubles; because you see that these things are part of God's purpose for us.

4 And when we were with you, we said to you that trouble was before us; and so it came about, as you see.

5 For this reason, when I was no longer able to keep quiet, I sent to get news of your faith, fearing that you might be tested by the Evil One and that our work might come to nothing.

6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has given us good news of your faith and love, and that you have happy memories of us, desiring greatly to see us, even as we do to see you;

7 For this cause, brothers, in all our trouble and grief we were comforted about you because of your faith;

8 For it is life to us if you keep your faith in the Lord unchanged.

9 For how great is the praise which we give to God for you, and how great the joy with which we are glad because of you before our God;

10 Night and day requesting God again and again that we may see your face and make your faith complete.

11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus make a way for us to come to you;

12 And the Lord give you increase of love in fullest measure to one another and to all men, even as our love to you;

13 So that your hearts may be strong and free from all sin before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

1 Na, i te kore e taea te ngakau te pehi tonu, i pai matou kia mahue ko matou anake i Atene.

2 A tonoa ana e matou a Timoti, to matou teina, he minita na te Atua, he hoa mahi no matou ki te rongopai o te Karaiti, hei whakau i a koutou, hei korero whakamarie ki a koutou mo nga mea o to koutou whakapono.

3 Kei whakangaueuetia tetahi e enei tukinotanga: e matau ana ano hoki koutou he mea momotu ke tatou mo tenei mea.

4 I a matou hoki e noho ana i a koutou, i korero wawe ano matou ki a koutou, tera tatou e tukinotia; ko ia ano tenei, ka matau nei koutou.

5 Na reira i te mea te taea toku ngakau te pehi tonu, ka tono tangata atu ahau kia mohio ai ahau ki to koutou whakapono, kei whakawaia pea koutou e te kaiwhakawai, a maumau kau ta matou mahi.

6 Tena ko tenei, ka tae mai nei a Timoti ki a matou i a koutou, ka pai hoki tana korero ki a matou mo to koutou whakapono, mo to koutou aroha, mo koutou hoki e whai mahara pai ana ki a matou i nga wa katoa, e hiahia ana kia kite i a matou, he pera ano me to matou ki a koutou;

7 Na kua whai whakamarietanga matou i a koutou, e oku teina, i o matou tukinotanga katoa, i o matou matenga, he mea na to koutou whakapono.

8 Ko to matou ora nei hoki tenei, ara kia tu tonu koutou i runga i te Ariki.

9 Me aha hoki he whakawhetai ma matou ki te Atua mo koutou, mo nga hari katoa e hari nei matou ki a koutou, i te aroaro o to tatou Atua?

10 Nui atu ta matou inoi i te po, i te ao, kia kite i o koutou kanohi, kia whakaotia ano hoki e matou nga whai o to koutou whakapono i hapa.

11 Na, ma te Atua ake ano, ara ma to tatou Matua, ma to tatou Ariki hoki, ma Ihu Karaiti, e whakatika to matou ara ki a koutou.

12 Ma te Ariki ano hoki e mea kia nui, kia hira to koutou aroha tetahi, ki tetahi, ki nga tangata katoa hoki, kia penei ano me to matou ki a koutou.

13 Kia whakaukia ai o koutou ngakau he mea kahore he he i runga i te tapu i te aroaro o te Atua, o to tatou Matua, i te taenga mai o to tatou Ariki, o Ihu Karaiti, ratou ko tana hunga tapu katoa.