Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily, and justly, and unblamably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:

For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things from your own countrymen, even as they have from the Jews:

Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:

For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

For ye are our glory and joy.

That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed to it.

But concerning brotherly love ye need not that I write to you: for ye yourselves are taught by God to love one another.

And indeed ye do it towards all the brethren who are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;

That ye may walk honestly towards them that are without, and that ye may have need of nothing.

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them who are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others who have no hope.

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain to the coming of the Lord shall not precede them who are asleep.

Then we who are alive and 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.

But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

Ye are all children of light, and children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that are drunken, are drunken in the night.

But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breast-plate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.

And we beseech you, brethren, to know them who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;

Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are disorderly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, be patient towards all men.