^{1 Ref} Finally then, brothers, we beg and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, that you abound more and more.

^{2 Ref} For you know what charge we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

^{3 Ref} For this is the will of God: your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality,

^{4 Ref} that each one of you know how to possess himself of his own vessel in sanctification and honor,

^{5 Ref} not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles who don't know God;

^{6 Ref} that no one should take advantage of and wrong a brother or sister in this matter; because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we forewarned you and testified.

^{7 Ref} For God called us not for uncleanness, but in sanctification.

^{8 Ref} Therefore he who rejects doesn't reject man, but God, who has also given his Holy Spirit to you.

^{9 Ref} But concerning brotherly love, you have no need that one write to you. For you yourselves are taught by God to love one another,

^{10 Ref} for indeed you do it toward all the brothers who are in all Macedonia. But we exhort you, brothers, that you abound more and more;

^{11 Ref} and that you make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, even as we charged you;

^{12 Ref} that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and may have need of nothing.

^{13 Ref} But we don't want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you don't grieve like the rest, who have no hope.

^{14 Ref} For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so those who have fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

^{15 Ref} For this we tell you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left to the coming of the Lord, will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep.

^{16 Ref} For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with God's trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first,

^{17 Ref} then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever.

^{18 Ref} Therefore comfort one another with these words.

^{1 Ref} Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

^{2 Ref} For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.

^{3 Ref} For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

^{4 Ref} That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;

^{5 Ref} Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:

^{6 Ref} That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.

^{7 Ref} For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

^{8 Ref} He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

^{9 Ref} But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

^{10 Ref} And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;

^{11 Ref} And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

^{12 Ref} That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

^{13 Ref} But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

^{14 Ref} For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

^{15 Ref} For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

^{16 Ref} For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

^{17 Ref} Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

^{18 Ref} Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

^{1 Ref} And 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.

^{2 Ref} Because you have in mind the orders we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

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

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

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

^{6 Ref} And 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.

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

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

^{9 Ref} But 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;

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

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

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

^{13 Ref} But 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.

^{14 Ref} For 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.

^{15 Ref} For 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.

^{16 Ref} Because 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;

^{17 Ref} Then 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.

^{18 Ref} So then, give comfort to one another with these words.