I want you to know how hard I am working for you. I’m concerned for those who are in Laodicea. I’m also concerned for everyone who has not met me in person.

我愿意你们晓得，我为你们和老底嘉人，并一切没有与我亲自见面的人，是何等地尽心竭力；

我要你们知道，我为你们和老底嘉人，和所有没有与我见过面的人，是何等地勤奋；

我要你们知道，我为你们和老底嘉人，和所有没有与我见过面的人，是何等地勤奋；

我希望你们知道，为了你们和老底嘉人，以及许多从未和我见过面的人，我是怎样努力奋斗的，

我愿意你们知道，我为你们和在老底嘉的人，以及所有没有跟我见过面的人，是怎样竭力奋斗，

我希望你们知道，我为你们和那些在劳迪西亚的人，以及一切没有亲自看到我面的人，有多么大的争战，

我願意你們曉得，我為你們和老底嘉人，並一切沒有與我親自見面的人，是何等地盡心竭力；

我要你們知道，我為你們和老底嘉人，和所有沒有與我見過面的人，是何等地勤奮；

我要你們知道，我為你們和老底嘉人，和所有沒有與我見過面的人，是何等地勤奮；

我希望你們知道，為了你們和老底嘉人，以及許多從未和我見過面的人，我是怎樣努力奮鬥的，

我願意你們知道，我為你們和在老底嘉的人，以及所有沒有跟我見過面的人，是怎樣竭力奮鬥，

我願意你們知道、我為你們和那些在老底嘉的、跟所有在肉身上沒有見過我面的人、是有多麼大的奮鬥；

我希望你們知道，我為你們和那些在勞迪西亞的人，以及一切沒有親自看到我面的人，有多麼大的爭戰，

蓋我欲爾知、我為爾與在老底嘉、及凡未覿我面者、如何盡力、

我欲爾知我為爾及老底嘉人、與未嘗覿面者、多竭心思、

我願爾知我為爾曹及老底嘉人、與凡未見我面者、如何心切、

爾等應知予為爾等及老底嘉同人之故、且為未曾睹面者之故、如何勞心焦思、而為之努力奮鬥也。予之為此、亦欲有以鼓勵同人之心、

I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally.

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face,

I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally.

For I want you to know how greatly I am struggling for you, for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me in person.

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have in your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face,

For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh,

For I would have you know how greatly I strive for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you, for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me in person.

For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and[ for] them at Laodicea, and[ for] as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for those who have not met me face to face.

For I desire to have you know how greatly I struggle for you, and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

That’s what I’m working for. I work hard with all the strength of Christ. His strength works powerfully in me.

Epaphras sends greetings. He is one of you. He serves Christ Jesus. He is always praying hard for you. He prays that you will hold on tightly to all that God has in mind for us. He prays that you will keep growing in your knowledge of what God wants. He also prays that you will be completely sure about it.I am happy to tell you that he is working very hard for you. He is also working hard for everyone in Laodicea and Hierapolis.

You are going through the same struggle you saw me go through. As you have heard, I am still struggling.

The voice said,“ Write on a scroll what you see. Send it to the seven churches in Asia Minor. They are Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”

I am happy because of what I am suffering for you. My suffering joins with and continues the sufferings of Christ. I suffer for his body, which is the church.

Even before Jacob was born, he was holding on to his brother’s heel. When he became a man, he struggled with God.At Peniel he struggled with the angel and won. Jacob wept and begged for his blessing. God also met with him at Bethel. He talked with him there.

Paul had said that they would never see him again. That’s what hurt them the most. Then they went with him to the ship.

Even though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not see him now, you believe in him. You are filled with a glorious joy that can’t be put into words.

My dear children, I am in pain for you like I was when we first met. I have pain like a woman giving birth. And my pain will continue until Christ makes you like himself.

So even though I am away from you in body, I am with you in spirit. And I am glad to see that you are controlling yourselves. I am happy that your faith in Christ is so strong.

Because he was very sad and troubled, he prayed even harder. His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

“ I have spent time with you preaching about the kingdom. I know that none of you will ever see me again.

You know what happened earlier in the city of Philippi. We suffered, and people treated us very badly there. But God gave us the boldness to tell you his good news. We preached to you even when people strongly opposed us.

“ Here is what I command you to write to the church in Laodicea. Here are the words of Jesus, who is the Amen. What he speaks is faithful and true. He rules over what God has created. He says,‘ I know what you are doing. I know you aren’t cold or hot. I wish you were either one or the other!But you are lukewarm. You aren’t hot or cold. So I am going to spit you out of my mouth.You say,“ I am rich. I’ve become wealthy and don’t need anything.” But you don’t realize how pitiful and miserable you have become. You are poor, blind and naked.So here’s my advice. Buy from me gold made pure by fire. Then you will become rich. Buy from me white clothes to wear. Then you will be able to cover the shame of your naked bodies. And buy from me healing lotion to put on your eyes. Then you will be able to see.‘ I warn and correct those I love. So be sincere, and turn away from your sins.Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in. I will eat with that person, and they will eat with me.‘ Here is what I will do for anyone who has victory over sin. I will give that person the right to sit with me on my throne. In the same way, I had victory. Then I sat down with my Father on his throne.Whoever has ears should listen to what the Holy Spirit says to the churches.’ ”

So Jacob was left alone. A man wrestled with him until morning.The man saw that he couldn’t win. So he touched the inside of Jacob’s hip. As Jacob wrestled with the man, Jacob’s hip was twisted.Then the man said,“ Let me go. It is morning.” But Jacob replied,“ I won’t let you go unless you bless me.”The man asked him,“ What is your name?”“ Jacob,” he answered.Then the man said,“ Your name will not be Jacob anymore. Instead, it will be Israel. You have wrestled with God and with people. And you have won.”Jacob said,“ Please tell me your name.” But he replied,“ Why do you want to know my name?” Then he blessed Jacob there.So Jacob named the place Peniel. He said,“ I saw God face to face. But I’m still alive!”

Jesus prayed while he lived on earth. He made his appeal with sincere cries and tears. He prayed to the God who could save him from death. God answered Jesus because he truly honored God.

Then Rachel said,“ I’ve had a great struggle with my sister. Now I’ve won.” So she named him Naphtali.

Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters in Laodicea. Also give my greetings to Nympha and the church that meets in her house.After this letter has been read to you, send it on. Be sure that it is also read to the church in Laodicea. And be sure that you read the letter from Laodicea.