knowing, brothers [dearly] loved by God, {that he has chosen you},

but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, thus we speak, not as pleasing people but God, who examines our hearts.

For you remember, brothers, our labor and hardship: working by night and day in order not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.

hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles in order that they may be saved, so that [they] always fill up their sins. But wrath has come upon them to the end.

But [when] we were made orphans by separation from you, brothers, for {a short time} (in face, not in heart), [we were] even more eager with great desire to see your face,

Therefore [when we] could bear [it] no longer, we determined to be left behind in Athens alone,

[so that] no one would be shaken by these afflictions. For [you] yourselves know that we are appointed for this,

for indeed when we were with you we told you beforehand that we were about to be afflicted, just as indeed it happened, and you know.

Because of this, I also, [when I] could endure [it] no longer, sent in order to know your faith, lest somehow the tempter tempted you and our labor should be in vain.

so that your hearts may be established blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

But concerning brotherly love, I do not have need to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another,

Now we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you will not grieve as also the rest, who have no hope.

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who remain until the Lord's coming, will not possibly precede those who have fallen asleep.

Then we who are alive, who remain, will be snatched away at the same time together with them in the clouds for a meeting with the Lord in the air, and thus we will be together with the Lord always.

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need [of anything] to be written to you,

So then, we must not sleep like the rest, but must be on the alert and be self-controlled.

But [because] we are of the day, we must be sober, [by] putting on the breastplate of faith and love and [as] a helmet the hope of salvation,

and to esteem them beyond all measure in love, because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

And we urge you, brothers, admonish the disorderly, console the discouraged, help the sick, be patient toward all [people].

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your spirit and soul and body be kept complete, blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I adjure you by the Lord, have this letter read aloud to all the brothers.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you.