1 Thessalonians 2:4

Paul’s Ministry

3For our appeal does not arise from deceit or ulterior motives or trickery.4Instead, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, not in order to please men but God, who examines our hearts.5As you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness!

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Berean Standard Bible
Instead, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, not in order to please men but God, who examines our hearts.
American Standard Version (1901)
but even as we have been approved of God to be intrusted with the gospel, so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God who proveth our hearts.
Bible in Basic English
But even as the good news was given to us by the approval of God, so we give it out; not as pleasing men, but God by whom our hearts are tested.
Douay-Rheims 1899
But as we were approved by God that the gospel should be committed to us: even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, who proveth our hearts.
Free Bible Version
On the contrary, we have God's approval for what we say—he's entrusted us with sharing the good news. We don't set out to please people, but God. He's the one who judges our motives.
Geneva Bible 1599
But as we were allowed of God, that the Gospel should be committed vnto vs, so we speake, not as they that please men, but God, which approoueth our hearts.
King James (Authorized) Version
But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
Plain English Version
No way. You see, it was God that sent us. He knew us, and he trusted us to tell people his message. So we only say what he wants us to say. We don’t try to make people happy. We only try to make God happy.
Translation for Translators
On the contrary, we tell God’s message because he trusted us to do that, because he examined us and considered us to be acceptable to tell people the message about Christ. As we teach people, we do not say what they like to hear. Instead, we say what God wants us to say, because he examines everything that we think and what we desire.
Unlocked Literal Bible
Instead, just as we have been approved by God to be trusted with the gospel, so we speak. We speak, not to please men, but to please God. He is the one who examines our hearts.
Noah Webster Bible
But as we were allowed by God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, who trieth our hearts.
World English Bible
But even as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News, so we speak—not as pleasing men, but God, who tests our hearts.
Young's Literal Translation
but as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the good news, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, who is proving our hearts,