PAUL and Sylvanus [Silas] and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be to you and peace.

knowing, brothers beloved by God, your election,

but as we were judged worthy by God to be intrusted with the gospel so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tries our hearts.

For you remember, brothers, our labor and weariness; that working night and day not to be burdensome to any one of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

forbidding us to speak to the gentiles that they may be saved, that they may fill up their sins always; and the wrath has come on them to the utmost.

When therefore we could no longer refrain, we thought it best to be left alone at Athens,

that no one should be moved by these afflictions. For you know that we are appointed for this;

For this reason, being no longer able to forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest in some way the tempter should have tempted you, and our labor be in vain.

therefore we were comforted, brothers, on your account in all our affliction and distress by your faith,

and the Lord cause you to be full and abound with love one to another and to all men, as we also to you,

FINALLY, therefore, brothers, we beseech and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, as you have received from us how you ought to walk and please God, that you abound still more.

For you know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.

But concerning brotherly love, you have no need that I should write to you; for you are taught by God to love one another;

and strive to be quiet and pursue your own business, and work with your hands, as we charged you,

And we wish you not to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those that have fallen asleep, that you may not grieve as others who have no hope.

For we tell you this by the word of the Lord, that we who live and remain till the coming of the Lord, shall not anticipate those that have fallen asleep,

then we the living who remain shall be caught up together with them in clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall be always with the Lord.

Therefore let us not sleep as others, but let us watch and be sober.

but let us who are of day be sober, putting on a cuirass of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation,

for God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

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

And we exhort you, brothers, admonish the disorderly, comfort the dispirited, assist the sick, be of long suffering towards all men.

And may the God of peace himself purify you wholly, and your whole spirit, and soul, and body, be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brothers.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.