Paul and Silvanus and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be to you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God.

but as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, who trieth our hearts.

For ye remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for working night and day, that we might not be burthensome to any of you, we preached among you the gospel of God.

forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, thus going on to fill up their sins perpetually: but wrath is coming upon them to extremity.

Wherefore being able to contain no longer, we were content to be left alone at Athens,

that no one might be shaken by these afflictions: for ye yourselves know that we are appointed hereunto.

For when we were with you, we told you before that we should be afflicted, as it came to pass, and ye know.

by this we were comforted in you, my brethren, under all our affliction and distress, because of your faith:

that your hearts may be established unblameable in holiness, before God even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, with all his saints.

As to what remains therefore, my brethren, we intreat and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received instructions from us, how ye ought to walk and to please God, ye would abound therein more and more.

and endeavour to be quiet, and mind your own affairs, and work with your own hands,

But I would not have you ignorant, my brethren, concerning those that are fallen asleep, that ye may not be grieved like others who have no hope:

For this we tell you in the word of the Lord, that we who shall be living and remain to the coming of the Lord, shall not be before those that are asleep.

then we who are living and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we for ever be with the Lord.

Therefore let us not sleep like others, but let us watch and be sober:

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

For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to the obtaining of salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

who died for us, that whether we be awake, or asleep, we may live together with Him.

and to esteem them very highly in love, on account of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

And admonish the disorderly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, be of a patient spirit towards all.

Be always joyful.

In every circumstance be thankful; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly: and grant that your whole frame, spirit, soul, and body may be kept blameless to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I adjure you by the Lord, that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.