Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians, who believe in God the father, and in our Lord Jesus Christ. grace and peace be with you from God our father, and from Jesus Christ our Lord.

Brothers whom God loves, we know that he has chosen you,

so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

For they themselves report about us, telling what kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,

And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

but even as we have been approved of God to be intrusted with the gospel, so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God who proveth our hearts.

we behav'd to you with a tender regard, even as a mother, who nurses her own children.

ye are witnesses -- God also -- how kindly and righteously, and blamelessly to you who believe we became,

That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

And for this cause we also give thanks to God unceasingly that, having received the word of the report of God by us, ye accepted, not men's word, but, even as it is truly, God's word, which also works in you who believe.

For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, because you too suffered the same [kind of] persecution from your own countrymen, as they did from the Jews,

Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:

Who, to make the measure of their sins complete, kept us from giving the word of salvation to the Gentiles: but the wrath of God is about to come on them in the fullest degree.

But we, brothers, who were orphaned from you for the time of an hour, in presence not in heart, hastened more earnestly to see your face, with much desire.

For who [is] our hope or joy or crown of boasting? [Is it] not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at his coming?

and send Timothy, our brother who works with us for God in the gospel of the Messiah, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,

because of this also, I, no longer forbearing, did send to know your faith, lest he who is tempting did tempt you, and in vain might be our labour.

Then your hearts will be strong, blameless, and holy in the presence of God, who is our Father, when our Lord Jesus appears with all his saints.

that each man among you shall know how to procure a wife who shall be his own in purity and honour;

not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles who know not God;

not to transgress and to exploit his brother in the matter, because the Lord [is] the one who avenges concerning all these [things], just as also we told you beforehand and testified solemnly.

He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

for ye do it also to all the brethren who are in all Macedonia; and we call upon you, brethren, to abound still more,

that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and may have need of nothing.

But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that fall asleep; that ye sorrow not, even as the rest, who have no hope.

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

(For this we say to you in the word of the Lord, that we, the living, who remain to the coming of the Lord, are in no way to anticipate those who have fallen asleep;

For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel and with the [blast of the] trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

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

for when they may say, Peace and surety, then sudden destruction doth stand by them, as the travail doth her who is with child, and they shall not escape;

For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night.

But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

For God destined us, not for Wrath, but to win Salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us,

Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

But we beg you, brethren, to know those who labour among you, and take the lead among you in the Lord, and admonish you,

We [earnestly] urge you, believers, admonish those who are out of line [the undisciplined, the unruly, the disorderly], encourage the timid [who lack spiritual courage], help the [spiritually] weak, be very patient with everyone [always controlling your temper].

Make sure that no one does anything wrong to someone who wrongs him, but always look for something good you can do for one another and for everyone.

in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

And may God Himself who gives peace, make you entirely holy; and may your spirits, souls and bodies be preserved complete and be found blameless at the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.