no, we behaved gently when we were among you, like a nursing mother cherishing her own children,

not to gratify sensual passion like the Gentiles in their ignorance of God ??6 no one is to defraud or overreach his brother in this matter, for the Lord avenges all these sins, as we told you already in our solemn protest against them.

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.

You know perfectly well that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night;

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;

Well then, we must not sleep like the rest of men, but be wakeful and sober;