1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13

New International Version

Paul’s Longing to See the Thessalonians

¹⁷But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought),^(A) out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you.^(B) ¹⁸For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan^(C) blocked our way.^(D) ¹⁹For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown^(E) in which we will glory^(F) in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes?^(G) Is it not you? ²⁰Indeed, you are our glory^(H) and joy.

3 So when we could stand it no longer,^(I) we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens.^(J) ²We sent Timothy,^(K) who is our brother and co-worker^(L) in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ,^(M) to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, ³so that no one would be unsettled by these trials.^(N) For you know quite well that we are destined for them.^(O) ⁴In 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.^(P) ⁵For this reason, when I could stand it no longer,^(Q) I sent to find out about your faith.^(R) I was afraid that in some way the tempter^(S) had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain.^(T)

Timothy’s Encouraging Report

⁶But Timothy^(U) has just now come to us from you^(V) and has brought good news about your faith and love.^(W) 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.^(X) ⁷Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. ⁸For now we really live, since you are standing firm^(Y) in the Lord. ⁹How can we thank God enough for you^(Z) in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?^(AA) ¹⁰Night and day we pray^(AB) most earnestly that we may see you again^(AC) and supply what is lacking in your faith.

¹¹Now may our God and Father^(AD) himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. ¹²May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other^(AE) and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. ¹³May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless^(AF) and holy in the presence of our God and Father^(AG) when our Lord Jesus comes^(AH) with all his holy ones.^(AI)

Psalm 72

New International Version

Psalm 72

Of Solomon.

¹Endow the king with your justice,^(A) O God,
the royal son with your righteousness.
²May he judge your people in righteousness,^(B)
your afflicted ones with justice.

³May the mountains bring prosperity to the people,
    the hills the fruit of righteousness.
⁴May he defend the afflicted^(C) among the people
    and save the children of the needy;^(D)
    may he crush the oppressor.^(E)
⁵May he endure^[a]^(F) as long as the sun,
    as long as the moon, through all generations.^(G)
⁶May he be like rain^(H) falling on a mown field,
    like showers watering the earth.
⁷In his days may the righteous flourish^(I)
    and prosperity abound till the moon is no more.

⁸May he rule from sea to sea
    and from the River^[b]^(J) to the ends of the earth.^(K)
⁹May the desert tribes bow before him
    and his enemies lick the dust.
¹⁰May the kings of Tarshish^(L) and of distant shores^(M)
    bring tribute to him.
May the kings of Sheba^(N) and Seba
    present him gifts.^(O)
¹¹May all kings bow down^(P) to him
    and all nations serve^(Q) him.

¹²For he will deliver the needy who cry out,
    the afflicted who have no one to help.
¹³He will take pity^(R) on the weak and the needy
    and save the needy from death.
¹⁴He will rescue^(S) them from oppression and violence,
    for precious^(T) is their blood in his sight.

¹⁵Long may he live!
    May gold from Sheba^(U) be given him.
May people ever pray for him
    and bless him all day long.^(V)
¹⁶May grain^(W) abound throughout the land;
    on the tops of the hills may it sway.
May the crops^(X) flourish like Lebanon^(Y)
    and thrive^[c] like the grass of the field.^(Z)
¹⁷May his name endure forever;^(AA)
    may it continue as long as the sun.^(AB)

Then all nations will be blessed through him,^[d]
and they will call him blessed.^(AC)

¹⁸Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel,^(AD)
who alone does marvelous deeds.^(AE)
¹⁹Praise be to his glorious name^(AF) forever;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory.^(AG)
Amen and Amen.^(AH)

²⁰This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse.^(AI)

Footnotes

Psalm 72:5 Septuagint; Hebrew You will be feared
Psalm 72:8 That is, the Euphrates
Psalm 72:16 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text Lebanon, / from the city
Psalm 72:17 Or will use his name in blessings (see Gen. 48:20)