For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit.

For I do not wish to see you now by the way; for I hope to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit.

For I will not see you now by the way, for I trust that I shall abide with you some time, if the Lord permit.

For I will not see you now in passing, for I hope to remain a certain time with you, if the Lord permit.

For I do not wish to see you on this occasion merely in passing; but if the Lord permits, I hope to remain some time with you.

For it is not my desire to see you now, on my way; because it is my hope to be with you for some time, if that is the Lord's pleasure.

For I am not willing to see you now only in passing, since I hope that I may remain with you for some length of time, if the Lord permits.

I do not propose to pay you a visit in passing now, for I hope to stay with you for some time, if the Lord permits.

For I will not see you now by the way - On the way to Macedonia. Something had occurred to change his mind, and to induce him to go to Macedonia by another way.
But I trust to tarry a while with you - That is, on my return from Macedonia, 1-Corinthians 16:5. Greek, "I hope to remain with you a little while.
If the Lord permit - The apostle did not use the language of certainty and of confidence. He felt his dependence on God, and regarded all as under his direction; see the same form of expression in 1-Corinthians 4:19, and the note on that place.

I will not see you now by the way - From Ephesus to Corinth was merely across the Aegean Sea, and comparatively a short passage.

For I will not see you now by the way,.... Just to look upon them, and be gone, be like a wayfaring man that tarries but for a night:
but I trust to tarry a while with you; the whole winter season:
if the Lord permit; submitting all to the will of God, at whose sovereign disposal he always was, and at whose beck and command he desired to be, and to do nothing, or be any where, but what was agreeable to the will of God.

I will not see you now by the way--literally, "I do not wish to see you this time in passing"; that is, to pay you now what would have to be a merely passing visit as I did in the second visit (2-Corinthians 12:14). In contrast to "a while," that is, some time, as the Greek might better be translated.
but--The oldest manuscripts read "for."

I will not see you now - Not till I have been in Macedonia.