1 Thessalonians 4

1For the rest therefore, brethren, pray and beseech you in the Lord Jesus that, as you have received from us, how you ought to walk and to please God, so also you would walk, that you may abound the more.

1And last of all, the prayer which we make to you from our heart and in the name of the Lord Jesus, is this: that as we made clear to you what sort of behaviour is pleasing to God, as in fact you are doing now, so you will go on in these ways, but more and more.

2For you know what precepts I have given to you by the Lord Jesus.

2Because you have in mind the orders we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

3For this is the will of God, your sanctification: That you should abstain from fornication:

3For the purpose of God for you is this: that you may be holy, and may keep yourselves from the desires of the flesh;

4That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour,

4So that every one of you may keep his body holy and in honour;

5Not in the passion of lust, like the Gentiles that know not God:

5Not in the passion of evil desires, like the Gentiles, who have no knowledge of God;

6And that no man overreach nor circumvent his brother in business: because the Lord is the avenger of all these things, as we have told you before and have testified.

6And that no man may make attempts to get the better of his brother in business: for the Lord is the judge in all these things, as we said to you before and gave witness.

7For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto sanctification.

7Because it is God's purpose that our way of life may be not unclean but holy.

8Therefore, he that despiseth these things, despiseth not man, but God, who also hath given his holy Spirit in us.

8Whoever, then, goes against this word, goes against not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

9But as touching the charity of brotherhood, we have no need to write to you: for yourselves have learned of God to love one another.

9But about loving the brothers, there is no need for me to say anything to you in this letter: for you have the teaching of God that love for one another is right and necessary;

10For indeed you do it towards all the brethren in all Macedonia. But we entreat you, brethren, that you abound more:

10And, truly, you are lovers of all the brothers in Macedonia; but it is our desire that your love may be increased still more;

11And that you use your endeavour to be quiet: and that you do your own business and work with your own hands, as we commanded you: and that you walk honestly towards them that are without: and that you want nothing of any man's.

11And that you may take pride in being quiet and doing your business, working with your hands as we gave you orders;

12And we will not have you ignorant brethren, concerning them that are asleep, that you be not sorrowful, even as others who have no hope.

12That you may be respected by those who are outside, and may have need of nothing.

13For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again: even so them who have slept through Jesus, will God bring with him.

13But it is our desire, brothers, that you may be certain about those who are sleeping; so that you may have no need for sorrow, as others have who are without hope.

14For this we say unto you in the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them who have slept.

14For if we have faith that Jesus underwent death and came back again, even so those who are sleeping will come again with him by God's power.

15For the Lord himself shall come down from heaven with commandment and with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God: and the dead who are in Christ shall rise first.

15For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are still living at the coming of the Lord, will not go before those who are sleeping.

16Then we who are alive, who are left, shall be taken up together with them in the clouds to meet Christ, into the air: and so shall we be always with the Lord.

16Because the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a word of authority, with the voice of the chief angel, with the sound of a horn: and the dead in Christ will come to life first;

17Wherefore, comfort ye one another with these words.

17Then we who are still living will be taken up together with them into the clouds to see the Lord in the air: and so will we be for ever with the Lord.

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18So then, give comfort to one another with these words.