You are witnesses, and so is God, to our behaviour among you believers, how pious and upright and blameless it was,

Why, you, you are our glory and joy!

to prevent anyone being disturbed by these troubles. (Troubles are our lot, you know that well;

for we told you beforehand, when we were with you, that "we Christians are to have trouble" ??and, as you know, it has been so.)

Finally, brothers, we beg and beseech you in the Lord Jesus to follow our instructions about the way you are to live so as to satisfy God; you are leading that life, but you are to excel in it still further.

You need no one to write you upon brotherly love, for you are yourselves taught by God to love one another,

We would like you, brothers, to understand about those who are asleep in death. You must not grieve for them, like the rest of men who have no hope.

For we tell you, as the Lord has told us, that we the living, who survive till the Lord comes, are by no means to take precedence of those who have fallen asleep.

when 'all's well' and 'all is safe' are on the lips of men, then all of a sudden Destruction is upon them, like pangs on a pregnant woman ??escape there is none.

But, brothers, you are not in the darkness for the Day to surprise you like thieves;

you are all sons of the Light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness.

for sleepers sleep by night and drunkards are drunk by night,

Encourage one another, therefore, and let each edify the other ??as indeed you are doing.

Brothers, we beg you to respect those who are working among you, presiding over you in the Lord and maintaining discipline;