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, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to live and to please God, even as you are living, that you excel more and more.

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

For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

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

For this is the will of God: your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality,

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

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

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

not in the passion of lust, even as the nations who do not know 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 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 For God called us not for uncleanness, but in sanctification.

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

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

Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given his Holy Spirit to you.

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;

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

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

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 instructed you;

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

that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and may have need of nothing.

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

But we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you do not grieve like the rest, 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 believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.

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 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 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 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 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.

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 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Therefore comfort one another with these words.