< 帖撒羅尼迦前書 4 >

1 此外，弟兄們，我們在主耶穌禸請求和勸勉你們：你們既由我們學會了應怎樣行事，為中悅天主，你們就該怎樣行事，還要更向前邁進。
As to what remains, then, brethren, we beseech and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as you have received from us, how you ought to walk, and please God, you would more abound in it.
2 你們原來知道：我們因主耶穌給了你們什麼誡命。
For you know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus;
3 天主的旨意就是要你們成聖，要你們戒絕邪淫，
for this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that you should abstain from whoredom--
4 要你們每一個人明瞭，因以聖和敬意持守自己的肉體，
that every one of you should know how to possess his own body in sanctification and honor--
5 不要放縱邪淫之情，像那些不認識天主的外邦人一樣；
not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles who know not God.
6 在這樣的事上，不要損害自己的弟兄，因為主對這一切是要報復的，就如我們先前已說過：
That no man should go beyond bounds, or defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger of all such;
7 因為天主召叫我們不是為不潔，而是為成聖。
for God has not called us to impurity, but to holiness.
8 所以，凡輕視這誡命的，不是輕視人，而是輕視那將自己的聖神賦你們身上的天主。
Therefore, indeed, he who despises not man, but God, who certainly has given to us his Holy Spirit.
9 關於弟兄的友愛，不需要給你們寫什麼，因為你們自己由天主受了彼此相愛[的教訓
But, concerning brotherly love, you have no need that I write to you, for you yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
10 你們對全馬其頓的眾弟兄已實行了這事；不過，弟兄們，我們勸你們更向前邁進。
And, indeed, you do it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia: but we exhort you, brethren, still to abound,
11 你們要以過安定的生活，專務己業，親手勞作為光榮，就如我們所吩咐過你們的，
and earnestly study to be quiet; and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you:
12 好叫在外邦人前來往時有光榮，不仰仗任何人。
that you may walk decently toward them who are without, and may have need of nothing.
13 弟兄們，關於亡者，我們不願意你們不知道，以免你們憂慮，像其他沒有望德的人一樣
Now, I would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them who sleep; that you may not be grieved, even as the others, who have no hope.
14 因為我們若是信耶穌死了，也復活了，同樣也必信天主要那裏死於耶穌內的人同衪一起來。
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again; so, also, them who sleep, will God, through Jesus, bring with him.
15 我們照主的話告訴你們這件事：我們這些活著存留到主來臨時的人，決不會在已死的人以前。
Besides, this we affirm to you, by the word of the Lord, that we, the living, who remain at the coming of the Lord, shall not anticipate them who are asleep:
16 因為在發命時，在總領天使吶喊和天主的號聲響時，主要親自由天降來，那些死於基督內的人先要復活，
for the Lord himself will descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the Arch Angel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first;
17 然後我們這些活著還存留的人，同起與衪一起要被提到雲彩上，到空中迎接主：這樣，我們就時常同主在一起
afterward we, the living, who remain, shall, at the same time with them, be instantly taken up in clouds, to join the Lord in the air; and so we shall be for ever with the Lord.
18 為此，你們要常用這些話彼此安慰。
Wherefore, comfort one another with these words.

< 帖撒羅尼迦前書 4 >