1 Thessalonians 2:5,7
1 Thessalonians 2:3-5 The Message (MSG)
God tested us thoroughly to make sure we were qualified to be trusted with this Message. Be assured that when we speak to you we’re not after crowd approval—only God approval. Since we’ve been put through that battery of tests, you’re guaranteed that both we and the Message are free of error, mixed motives, or hidden agendas. We never used words to butter you up. No one knows that better than you. And God knows we never used words as a smoke screen to take advantage of you.
1 Thessalonians 2:6-8 The Message (MSG)
Even though we had some standing as Christ’s apostles, we never threw our weight around or tried to come across as important, with you or anyone else. We weren’t standoffish with you. We took you just as you were. We were never patronizing, never condescending, but we cared for you the way a mother cares for her children. We loved you dearly. Not content to just pass on the Message, we wanted to give you our hearts. And we did.
1 Thessalonians 2:5 King James Version (KJV)
For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness
1 Thessalonians 2:7 King James Version (KJV)
But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children
1 Thessalonians 2:5 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness
1 Thessalonians 2:7 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children.
1 Thessalonians 2:5 New Century Version (NCV)
You know that we never tried to influence you by saying nice things about you. We were not trying to get your money; we had no selfishness to hide from you. God knows that this is true.
1 Thessalonians 2:7 New Century Version (NCV)
even though as apostles of Christ we could have used our authority over you. But we were very gentle with you, like a mother caring for her little children.
1 Thessalonians 2:5 American Standard Version (ASV)
For neither at any time were we found using words of flattery, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness, God is witness
1 Thessalonians 2:7 American Standard Version (ASV)
But we were gentle in the midst of you, as when a nurse cherisheth her own children
1 Thessalonians 2:5 New International Version (NIV)
You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness.
1 Thessalonians 2:7 New International Version (NIV)
Instead, we were like young children among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children
1 Thessalonians 2:5 New King James Version (NKJV)
For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness.
I Thessalonians 2:7 New King James Version (NKJV)
But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.
1 Thessalonians 2:5 Amplified Bible (AMP)
For as you well know, we never came with words of flattery nor with a pretext for greed—God is our witness
1 Thessalonians 2:7 Amplified Bible (AMP)
But we behaved gently when we were among you, like a devoted mother tenderly caring for her own children.
1 Thessalonians 2:5 New Living Translation (NLT)
Never once did we try to win you with flattery, as you well know. And God is our witness that we were not pretending to be your friends just to get your money!
1 Thessalonians 2:7 New Living Translation (NLT)
As apostles of Christ we certainly had a right to make some demands of you, but instead we were like children among you. Or we were like a mother feeding and caring for her own children.
1 Thessalonians 2:5 The Passion Translation (TPT)
God is our witness that when we came to encourage you, we never once used cunning compliments as a pretext for greed
1 Thessalonians 2:7 The Passion Translation (TPT)
Even though we could have imposed upon you our demands as apostles of Christ, instead we showed you kindness and were gentle among you. We cared for you in the same way a nursing mother cares for her own children.