1 Thessalonians 4

1 Finally then, brethren, we beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as ye received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, even as ye do walk, —that ye abound more and more.

Finally then, my brothers, I continue to beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as you learned of me how to walk so as to please God - and you are actually doing so - that you abound in it yet more and more.

2 For ye know what charge we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

For you know what charges I laid upon you through the Lord Jesus.

3 For this is the will of God, [even] your sanctification, that ye abstain from fornication;

For this is God’s will, even your sanctification; that you should abstain from sexual vice.

4 that each one of you know how to possess himself of his own vessel in sanctification and honour,

That each one should learn how to take a wife in purity and honor.

5 not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles which know not God;

Not in the passion of lust, like the Gentiles who know not God.

6 that no man transgress, and wrong his brother in the matter: because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we forewarned you and testified.

That no man overreach or take advantage of his brother in such matters, because "the Lord takes vengeance" in all these things, as also I repeatedly forewarned you and testified to you.

7 For God called us not for uncleanness, but in sanctification.

For God has not called us for uncleanness, but in holiness.

8 Therefore he that rejecteth, rejecteth not man, but God, who giveth his Holy Spirit unto you.

So that he who rejects this is not rejecting man, but the God who gave you his Holy Spirit.

9 But concerning love of the brethren ye have no need that one write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another;

It is not needed that I should write to you about brotherly love; for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.

10 for indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia. But we exhort you, brethren, that ye abound more and more;

As indeed you do love all the brothers in Macedonia. But I exhort you, brothers, to abound in this yet more.

11 and that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your hands, even as we charged you;

Also, that you endeavor to live quietly and to mind your own business, and to work with your hands (as I charged you).

12 that ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and may have need of nothing.

So that your conduct may be seemly toward those that are without, and that you may not need help from any man.

13 But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that fall asleep; that ye sorrow not, even as the rest, which have no hope.

But I would not have you ignorant, brothers, about those who are falling asleep. You must not sorrow like other men, who have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

For if we really believe that Jesus died and rose again, so even so will God through Jesus bring with him those also who have fallen asleep.

15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that are left unto the coming of the Lord, shall in no wise precede them that are fallen asleep.

For this I tell you by the word of the Lord, that we who are living, who survive unto the coming of the Lord, will in no wise precede those who have fallen asleep.

16 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:

For the Lord himself with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God will descend from heaven. Then the dead in Christ will rise first.

17 then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

And afterwards we who are alive, who 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 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

So comfort one another with these words.