帖撒罗尼迦前书 4
1 弟兄们，我还有话说：我们靠着主耶稣求你们，劝你们，你们既然受了我们的教训，知道该怎样行可以讨 神的喜悦，就要照你们现在所行的更加勉励。
A few more things: Brothers and sisters, we plead with you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to behave in ways that please God, just as we instructed you. Of course you're already doing this, just do it more and more!
2 你们原晓得，我们凭主耶稣传给你们什么命令。
You remember the instructions we gave you on behalf of the Lord Jesus.
3 神的旨意就是要你们成为圣洁，远避淫行；
What God wants is for you to live holy lives. So stay away from sexual immorality
4 要你们各人晓得怎样用圣洁、尊贵守着自己的身体，
in order that each of you may control yourselves in a way that is holy and respectful,
5 不放纵私欲的邪情，像那不认识 神的外邦人。
not indulging passionate lust like the heathen who have no knowledge of God.
6 不要一个人在这事上越分，欺负他的弟兄；因为这一类的事，主必报应，正如我预先对你们说过、又切切嘱咐你们的。
Don't cheat or take advantage of another Christian in these matters, for the Lord is the one who executes justice in all such things, as we've already clearly explained to you, and warned you about.
7 神召我们，本不是要我们沾染污秽，乃是要我们成为圣洁。
For God did not call us to live impure lives, but holy lives.
8 所以，那弃绝的，不是弃绝人，乃是弃绝那赐圣灵给你们的 神。
So anyone who rejects this position isn't just rejecting what a human being is saying; they are rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
9 论到弟兄们相爱，不用人写信给你们；因为你们自己蒙了 神的教训，叫你们彼此相爱。
We certainly don't need to write and tell you to love fellow believers, because God teaches you to love one another—
10 你们向马其顿全地的众弟兄固然是这样行，但我劝弟兄们要更加勉励。
and in fact you are demonstrating this love to all the believers throughout Macedonia. Even so we want to encourage you, brothers and sisters, to love more and more.
11 又要立志作安静人，办自己的事，亲手做工，正如我们从前所吩咐你们的，
Try to live a quiet life, minding your own business, doing your own work, as we've already explained to you,
12 叫你们可以向外人行事端正，自己也就没有什么缺乏了。
so that your way of life may be respected by non-Christians and you won't have to rely on anyone to provide what you need.
13 论到睡了的人，我们不愿意弟兄们不知道，恐怕你们忧伤，像那些没有指望的人一样。
We don't want you to be confused about what happens when people die, brothers and sisters, so that you won't grieve like others who don't have any hope.
14 我们若信耶稣死而复活了，那已经在耶稣里睡了的人， 神也必将他们与耶稣一同带来。
Since we're convinced that Jesus died and rose again, we're also sure that God will bring with Jesus those who have died trusting in him.
15 我们现在照主的话告诉你们一件事：我们这活着还存留到主降临的人，断不能在那已经睡了的人之先。
What we're telling you comes from the Lord: those of us who are alive and still here when the Lord comes certainly won't precede those who have died.
16 因为主必亲自从天降临，有呼叫的声音和天使长的声音，又有 神的号吹响；那在基督里死了的人必先复活。
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the cry of the archangel, and with the sound of God's trumpet, and those who have died in Christ will rise first.
17 以后我们这活着还存留的人必和他们一同被提到云里，在空中与主相遇。这样，我们就要和主永远同在。
Then those of us who are alive and still here will be carried up together with them into the clouds, and we shall meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever!
18 所以，你们当用这些话彼此劝慰。
So encourage one another with these words.
