1 Thessalonians

The first epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Thessalonians, chapter 4, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 4 New English Translation

A Life Pleasing to God

   1 Finally then, brothers and sisters, we ask you and urge you in the LORD Jesus, that as you received instruction from us about how you must live and please God (as you are in fact living) that you do so more and more. 2 For you know what commands we gave you through the LORD Jesus. 3 For this is God's will: that you become holy, that you keep away from sexual immorality, 4 that each of you know how to possess his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God. 6 In this matter no one should violate the rights of his brother or take advantage of him, because the LORD is the avenger in all these cases, as we also told you earlier and warned you solemnly. 7 For God did not call us to impurity but in holiness. 8 Consequently the one who rejects this is not rejecting human authority but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
   9 Now on the topic of brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another. 10 And indeed you are practicing it toward all the brothers and sisters in all of Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, 11 to aspire to lead a quiet life, to attend to your own business, and to work with your hands, as we commanded you. 12 In this way you will live a decent life before outsiders and not be in need.

The LORD Returns for Believers

   13 Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also we believe that God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep as Christians. 15 For we tell you this by the word of the LORD, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the LORD, will surely not go ahead of those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the LORD himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be suddenly caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the LORD in the air. And so we will always be with the LORD. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

King James Version

   1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
   2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
   3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
   4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
   5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
   6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
   7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
   8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.
   9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
   10 And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;
   11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
   12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
   13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
   14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
   15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
   16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
   17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
   18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.