For I know, O brothers, beloved of God, that he has chosen you;

For the word of the Lord has been sounded forth from you, and its sound has been heard not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place where the tidings of your faith toward God have been spread abroad, so that I have no need to speak of it.

For you yourselves know, brothers, that my visit to you did not fail of its purpose;

for you remember that although I had already borne ill-treatment and insult at Philippi, I took courage in my God to tell you the gospel of God, in the face of much opposition.

For that reason I would fain have visited you??, Paul, again and again??ut Satan hindered me.

So that no one should be shaken by these troubles??or you know well that we are appointed to troubles.

For even when I was with you I used to tell you beforehand that I was to suffer affliction; and so it proved, as you know.

So, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to find out about your faith, fearing that the tempter had tempted you and that my labor had been in vain.

But now that Timothy has returned from you to me, and has brought good news of your faith and love, and that you are still holding me in affectionate remembrance, always longing to see me as I also am longing to see you.

Night and day I am praying earnestly that I may see you face to face, and may perfect whatever is yet lacking in your faith.

Finally then, my brothers, I continue to beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as you learned of me how to walk so as to please God??nd you are actually doing so??hat you abound in it yet more and more.

For this is God's will, even your sanctification; that you should abstain from sexual vice.

That each one should learn how to take a wife in purity and honor.

That no man overreach or take advantage of his brother in such matters, because "the Lord takes vengeance" in all these things, as also I repeatedly forewarned you and testified to you.

So that he who rejects this is not rejecting man, but the God who gave you his Holy Spirit.

It is not needed that I should write to you about brotherly love; for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.

Also, that you endeavor to live quietly and to mind your own business, and to work with your hands (as I charged you).

So that your conduct may be seemly toward those that are without, and that you may not need help from any man.

For if we really believe that Jesus died and rose again, so even so will God through Jesus bring with him those also who have fallen asleep.

For this I tell you by the word of the Lord, that we who are living, who survive unto the coming of the Lord, will in no wise precede those who have fallen asleep.

Now as to the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that anything be written to you.

You yourselves know perfectly that the Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night.

But you, brothers, are not in darkness, that "the Day" should come upon you like a bandit.

He died for us, in order that whether we are keeping vigil in life or sleeping in death we may ever be living together with him.

Take care that none of you ever return evil for evil, but always pursue what is kind to one another and to all.