A comparison between Revised Standard Version and Good News Bible indicates two ways of punctuating the Greek text. The question is: does the expression night and day go with “prayers” in verse 3 or with long to see you in verse 4? The latter position is depicted in Revised Standard Version, which is achieved by putting a full stop after “prayers,” thus taking night and day with verse 4 rather than with verse 3. The former position, which seems more likely, takes night and day to refer backward to “prayers” in verse 3; this is followed in Good News Translation and many other translations (see, for example, New International Version, New English Bible, Jerusalem Bible, New Revised Standard Version). The expression itself should not be taken literally but indicates continuing activity; the meaning therefore is similar to that of “constantly” in verse 3. One further note: in some languages it is more natural to reverse the order, hence “day and night.”

The words for remember and tears occur only here in the Pastoral Letters. Remember is synonymous with that found in the previous verse, except that the focus here is on recalling information. Tears may have had some connection with Timothy’s suffering, or with the sadness that Timothy felt when he and Paul said good-by to one another. Other ways to translate this are “I remember how you wept (or, cried)” or “I remember how sad you were.”

Long translates a present participle of a compound verb that means “to long after,” and in a negative way “to lust” or “to harbor a forbidden desire for something.” The focus here of course is on the positive sense, so Good News Translation “I want to see you very much.”

I may be filled translates an aorist passive of the verb that is usually translated “to fulfill.” It is used here to describe the completeness of the joy that Paul will experience in being reunited with Timothy. Filled with joy may also be expressed as “may have complete joy,” “may be completely happy,” or “my heart may be filled with joy.”

An alternative translation model for this verse is:
• I remember how you wept (or, cried), and I want to see you very much, because that will make me completely happy.

Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1995. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .