Warnings and Instructions

29 A person [a]often (A)rebuked who [b]becomes obstinate
Will (B)suddenly be broken [c]beyond remedy.
When the (C)righteous [d]increase, the people rejoice,
But when a wicked person rules, people groan.
A man who (D)loves wisdom makes his father glad,
But he who (E)involves himself with prostitutes wastes his wealth.
The (F)king gives stability to the land by justice,
But a person who takes bribes ruins it.
A man who (G)flatters his neighbor
Is spreading a net for his steps.
By wrongdoing an evil person is (H)ensnared,
But the righteous (I)sings and rejoices.
The (J)righteous [e]is concerned for the rights of the poor;
The wicked does not understand such [f]concern.
Arrogant people (K)inflame a city,
But (L)wise people turn away anger.
When a wise person has a controversy with a foolish person,
[g]The foolish person either rages or laughs, and there is no rest.
10 People of (M)bloodshed hate the blameless person,
But the upright [h]are concerned for his life.
11 A (N)fool [i]always loses his temper,
But a (O)wise person holds it back.
12 If a (P)ruler pays attention to falsehood,
All his ministers become wicked.
13 The (Q)poor person and the oppressor [j]have this in common:
The Lord gives (R)light to the eyes of both.
14 If a (S)king judges the poor with truth,
His (T)throne will be established forever.
15 The (U)rod and a rebuke give wisdom,
But a child [k]who gets his own way (V)brings shame to his mother.
16 When the wicked [l]increase, wrongdoing increases;
But the (W)righteous will see their downfall.
17 (X)Correct your son, and he will give you comfort;
He will also [m](Y)delight your soul.
18 Where there is (Z)no [n]vision, the people (AA)are unrestrained,
But (AB)happy is one who keeps the Law.
19 A slave will not be instructed by words alone;
For though he understands, there will be no response.
20 Do you see a person who is (AC)hasty with his words?
There is (AD)more hope for a fool than for him.
21 One who pampers his slave from childhood
Will in the end find him to be rebellious.
22 An (AE)angry person stirs up strife,
And a hot-tempered person abounds in wrongdoing.
23 A person’s (AF)pride will bring him low,
But a (AG)humble spirit will obtain honor.
24 One who is a partner with a thief hates his own life;
He (AH)hears the oath but tells nothing.
25 The (AI)fear of man [o]brings a snare,
But one who (AJ)trusts in the Lord will be protected.
26 (AK)Many seek the ruler’s [p]favor,
But (AL)justice for mankind comes from the Lord.
27 An (AM)unjust person is an abomination to the righteous,
And one who is (AN)upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.

The Words of Agur

30 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the pronouncement.

The man declares to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:

I am certainly more (AO)stupid than any man,
And I do not have the understanding of a man;
Nor have I learned wisdom,
Nor do I have the (AP)knowledge of the Holy One.
Who has (AQ)ascended into heaven and descended?
Who has gathered the (AR)wind in His fists?
Who has (AS)wrapped the waters in [q]His garment?
Who has (AT)established all the ends of the earth?
What is His (AU)name or His [r]Son’s name?
Surely you know!

Every (AV)word of God is [s]pure;
He is a (AW)shield to those who take refuge in Him.
(AX)Do not add to His words
Or He will rebuke you, and you will be proved a liar.

Two things I have asked of You;
Do not refuse me before I die:
Keep deception and [t]lies far from me,
Give me neither poverty nor riches;
Feed me with the (AY)food that is my portion,
So that I will not be (AZ)full and deny (BA)You and say, “Who is the Lord?”
And that I will not become (BB)impoverished and steal,
And (BC)profane the name of my God.

10 Do not slander a slave to his master,
Or he will (BD)curse you and you will be found guilty.

11 There is a [u]kind of person who (BE)curses his father
And does not bless his mother.
12 There is a [v]kind who is (BF)pure in his own eyes,
Yet is not washed from his filthiness.
13 There is a [w]kind—oh how (BG)lofty are his eyes!
And his eyelids are raised in arrogance.
14 There is a [x]kind of person whose (BH)teeth are like swords
And his (BI)jaw teeth like knives,
To (BJ)devour the poor from the earth
And the needy from among mankind.

15 The leech has two daughters:
“Give” and “Give.”
There are three things that will not be satisfied,
Four that will not say, “Enough”:
16 [y](BK)Sheol, the (BL)infertile womb,
Earth that is never satisfied with water,
And fire that never says, “Enough.”
17 The eye that (BM)mocks a father
And [z](BN)scorns a mother,
The (BO)ravens of the valley will pick it out,
And the young (BP)eagles will eat it.

18 There are three things which are too wonderful for me,
Four which I do not understand:
19 The way of the (BQ)eagle in the sky,
The way of a snake on a rock,
The way of a ship in the middle of the sea,
And the way of a man with a [aa]virgin.
20 This is the way of an (BR)adulterous woman:
She eats and wipes her mouth,
And says, “I have done no wrong.”

21 Under three things the earth quakes,
And under four, it cannot endure:
22 Under a (BS)slave when he becomes king,
And a fool when he is satisfied with food,
23 Under an unloved woman when she gets a husband,
And a female servant when she dispossesses her mistress.

24 Four things are small on the earth,
But they are exceedingly wise:
25 The (BT)ants are not a strong people,
But they prepare their food in the summer;
26 The (BU)rock hyraxes are not a mighty people,
Yet they make their houses in the rocks;
27 The locusts have no king,
Yet all of them go out in (BV)ranks;
28 The lizard you may grasp with the hands,
Yet it is in kings’ palaces.

29 There are three things which are stately in their march,
Even four which are stately when they walk:
30 The lion, which is (BW)mighty among animals
And does not [ab](BX)retreat from anything,
31 The [ac]strutting rooster or the male goat,
And a king when his army is with him.

32 If you have been foolish in exalting yourself,
Or if you have plotted evil, (BY)put your hand on your mouth.
33 For the [ad]churning of milk produces butter,
And pressing the nose produces blood;
So the [ae]churning of (BZ)anger produces strife.

The Words of Lemuel

31 The words of King Lemuel, the pronouncement which his mother taught him:

What, my son?
And what, (CA)son of my womb?
And what, son of my (CB)vows?
(CC)Do not give your strength to women,
Or your ways to that which (CD)destroys kings.
It is not for (CE)kings, Lemuel,
It is not for kings to (CF)drink wine,
Or for rulers to desire intoxicating drink,
Otherwise they will drink and forget what is decreed,
And (CG)pervert the [af]rights of all the [ag]needy.
Give intoxicating drink to one who is (CH)perishing,
And wine to one [ah](CI)whose life is bitter.
Let him drink and forget his poverty,
And remember his trouble no more.
(CJ)Open your mouth for the people who cannot speak,
For the [ai]rights of all the [aj]unfortunate.
Open your mouth, (CK)judge righteously,
And [ak]defend the (CL)rights of the poor and needy.

Description of a Worthy Woman

10 An (CM)excellent wife, who can find her?
For her worth is far (CN)above jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
13 She looks for wool and linen,
And works with her [al]hands [am]in delight.
14 She is like (CO)merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.
15 And she (CP)rises while it is still night
And (CQ)gives food to her household,
And [an]portions to her attendants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
From [ao]her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She (CR)surrounds her waist with strength
And makes her arms strong.
18 She senses that her profit is good;
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the [ap]distaff,
And her [aq]hands grasp the spindle.
20 She [ar](CS)extends her hand to the poor,
And she stretches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
For all her household are (CT)clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes (CU)coverings for herself;
Her clothing is (CV)fine linen and (CW)purple.
23 Her husband is known (CX)in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes (CY)linen garments and sells them,
And [as]supplies belts to the [at]tradesmen.
25 Strength and (CZ)dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the [au]future.
26 She (DA)opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the [av]teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the activities of her household,
And does not eat the (DB)bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
29 “Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who [aw](DC)fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her the [ax]product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:1 Lit of rebukes who
  2. Proverbs 29:1 Lit hardens his neck
  3. Proverbs 29:1 Lit and there is no remedy
  4. Proverbs 29:2 Or become great
  5. Proverbs 29:7 Lit knows the cause
  6. Proverbs 29:7 Lit knowledge
  7. Proverbs 29:9 Lit He
  8. Proverbs 29:10 Lit seek his soul
  9. Proverbs 29:11 Lit sends forth all his spirit
  10. Proverbs 29:13 Lit meet together
  11. Proverbs 29:15 Lit left to himself
  12. Proverbs 29:16 Or become great
  13. Proverbs 29:17 Lit give delight to
  14. Proverbs 29:18 Or revelation
  15. Proverbs 29:25 Lit gives
  16. Proverbs 29:26 Lit face
  17. Proverbs 30:4 Lit the
  18. Proverbs 30:4 Or son’s
  19. Proverbs 30:5 Lit refined
  20. Proverbs 30:8 Lit words of falsehood
  21. Proverbs 30:11 Or generation
  22. Proverbs 30:12 Or generation
  23. Proverbs 30:13 Or generation
  24. Proverbs 30:14 Or generation
  25. Proverbs 30:16 I.e., The netherworld
  26. Proverbs 30:17 Lit despises to obey
  27. Proverbs 30:19 Lit young unmarried woman
  28. Proverbs 30:30 Lit turn back
  29. Proverbs 30:31 Lit girt in the loins
  30. Proverbs 30:33 Lit pressing
  31. Proverbs 30:33 Lit pressing
  32. Proverbs 31:5 Lit judgment
  33. Proverbs 31:5 Lit sons of affliction
  34. Proverbs 31:6 Lit bitter of soul
  35. Proverbs 31:8 Lit judgment
  36. Proverbs 31:8 Lit sons of passing away
  37. Proverbs 31:9 Lit judge the afflicted
  38. Proverbs 31:13 Lit palms
  39. Proverbs 31:13 Or willingly
  40. Proverbs 31:15 Or prescribed tasks
  41. Proverbs 31:16 Lit the fruit of her palms
  42. Proverbs 31:19 I.e., the staff that holds the textile fibers for spinning
  43. Proverbs 31:19 Lit palms
  44. Proverbs 31:20 Lit spreads out her palm
  45. Proverbs 31:24 Lit gives
  46. Proverbs 31:24 Lit Canaanite
  47. Proverbs 31:25 Lit latter days
  48. Proverbs 31:26 Or law
  49. Proverbs 31:30 Or reveres
  50. Proverbs 31:31 Lit fruit

Happy Is He Who Keeps the Law

29 He(A) who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck,
Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

When the righteous [a]are in authority, the (B)people rejoice;
But when a wicked man rules, (C)the people groan.

Whoever loves wisdom makes his father rejoice,
But a companion of harlots wastes his wealth.

The king establishes the land by justice,
But he who receives bribes overthrows it.

A man who (D)flatters his neighbor
Spreads a net for his feet.

By transgression an evil man is snared,
But the righteous sings and rejoices.

The righteous (E)considers the cause of the poor,
But the wicked does not understand such knowledge.

Scoffers (F)set a city aflame,
But wise men turn away wrath.

If a wise man contends with a foolish man,
(G)Whether the fool rages or laughs, there is no peace.

10 (H)The bloodthirsty hate the blameless,
But the upright seek his [b]well-being.

11 A fool vents all his (I)feelings,[c]
But a wise man holds them back.

12 If a ruler pays attention to lies,
All his servants become wicked.

13 The poor man and the oppressor have this in common:
(J)The Lord gives light to the eyes of both.

14 The king who judges the (K)poor with truth,
His throne will be established forever.

15 The rod and rebuke give (L)wisdom,
But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.

16 When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increases;
But the righteous will see their (M)fall.

17 Correct your son, and he will give you rest;
Yes, he will give delight to your soul.

18 (N)Where there is no [d]revelation, the people cast off restraint;
But (O)happy is he who keeps the law.

19 A servant will not be corrected by mere words;
For though he understands, he will not respond.

20 Do you see a man hasty in his words?
(P)There is more hope for a fool than for him.

21 He who pampers his servant from childhood
Will have him as a son in the end.

22 (Q)An angry man stirs up strife,
And a furious man abounds in transgression.

23 (R)A man’s pride will bring him low,
But the humble in spirit will retain honor.

24 Whoever is a partner with a thief hates his own life;
(S)He [e]swears to tell the truth, but reveals nothing.

25 (T)The fear of man brings a snare,
But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be [f]safe.

26 (U)Many seek the ruler’s [g]favor,
But justice for man comes from the Lord.

27 An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous,
And he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.

The Wisdom of Agur

30 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, his utterance. This man declared to Ithiel—to Ithiel and Ucal:

(V)Surely I am more stupid than any man,
And do not have the understanding of a man.
I neither learned wisdom
Nor have (W)knowledge of the Holy One.

(X)Who has ascended into heaven, or descended?
(Y)Who has gathered the wind in His fists?
Who has bound the waters in a garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is His name, and what is His Son’s name,
If you know?

(Z)Every word of God is [h]pure;
(AA)He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.
(AB)Do not add to His words,
Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.

Two things I request of You
(Deprive me not before I die):
Remove falsehood and lies far from me;
Give me neither poverty nor riches—
(AC)Feed me with the food allotted to me;
(AD)Lest I be full and deny You,
And say, “Who is the Lord?”
Or lest I be poor and steal,
And profane the name of my God.

10 Do not malign a servant to his master,
Lest he curse you, and you be found guilty.

11 There is a generation that curses its (AE)father,
And does not bless its mother.
12 There is a generation (AF)that is pure in its own eyes,
Yet is not washed from its filthiness.
13 There is a generation—oh, how (AG)lofty are their eyes!
And their eyelids are [i]lifted up.
14 (AH)There is a generation whose teeth are like swords,
And whose fangs are like knives,
(AI)To devour the poor from off the earth,
And the needy from among men.

15 The leech has two daughters—
Give and Give!

There are three things that are never satisfied,
Four never say, “Enough!”:
16 (AJ)The[j] grave,
The barren womb,
The earth that is not satisfied with water—
And the fire never says, “Enough!”

17 (AK)The eye that mocks his father,
And scorns obedience to his mother,
The ravens of the valley will pick it out,
And the young eagles will eat it.

18 There are three things which are too wonderful for me,
Yes, four which I do not understand:
19 The way of an eagle in the air,
The way of a serpent on a rock,
The way of a ship in the [k]midst of the sea,
And the way of a man with a virgin.

20 This is the way of an adulterous woman:
She eats and wipes her mouth,
And says, “I have done no wickedness.”

21 For three things the earth is perturbed,
Yes, for four it cannot bear up:
22 (AL)For a servant when he reigns,
A fool when he is filled with food,
23 A [l]hateful woman when she is married,
And a maidservant who succeeds her mistress.

24 There are four things which are little on the earth,
But they are exceedingly wise:
25 (AM)The ants are a people not strong,
Yet they prepare their food in the summer;
26 (AN)The [m]rock badgers are a feeble folk,
Yet they make their homes in the crags;
27 The locusts have no king,
Yet they all advance in ranks;
28 The [n]spider skillfully grasps with its hands,
And it is in kings’ palaces.

29 There are three things which are majestic in pace,
Yes, four which are stately in walk:
30 A lion, which is mighty among beasts
And does not turn away from any;
31 A [o]greyhound,
A male goat also,
And [p]a king whose troops are with him.

32 If you have been foolish in exalting yourself,
Or if you have devised evil, (AO)put your hand on your mouth.
33 For as the churning of milk produces butter,
And wringing the nose produces blood,
So the forcing of wrath produces strife.

The Words of King Lemuel’s Mother

31 The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him:

What, my son?
And what, son of my womb?
And what, (AP)son of my vows?
(AQ)Do not give your strength to women,
Nor your ways (AR)to that which destroys kings.

(AS)It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
It is not for kings to drink wine,
Nor for princes intoxicating drink;
(AT)Lest they drink and forget the law,
And pervert the justice of all [q]the afflicted.
(AU)Give strong drink to him who is perishing,
And wine to those who are bitter of heart.
Let him drink and forget his poverty,
And remember his misery no more.

(AV)Open your mouth for the speechless,
In the cause of all who are [r]appointed to die.
Open your mouth, (AW)judge righteously,
And (AX)plead the cause of the poor and needy.

The Virtuous Wife

10 (AY)Who[s] can find a [t]virtuous wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
She brings her food from afar.
15 (AZ)She also rises while it is yet night,
And (BA)provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
From [u]her profits she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle.
20 (BB)She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes tapestry for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 (BC)Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies sashes for the merchants.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:2 become great
  2. Proverbs 29:10 Lit. soul or life
  3. Proverbs 29:11 Lit. spirit
  4. Proverbs 29:18 prophetic vision
  5. Proverbs 29:24 Lit. hears the adjuration or oath
  6. Proverbs 29:25 secure, lit. set on high
  7. Proverbs 29:26 Lit. face
  8. Proverbs 30:5 tested, refined, found pure
  9. Proverbs 30:13 In arrogance
  10. Proverbs 30:16 Or Sheol
  11. Proverbs 30:19 Lit. heart
  12. Proverbs 30:23 Or hated
  13. Proverbs 30:26 rock hyraxes
  14. Proverbs 30:28 Or lizard
  15. Proverbs 30:31 Or perhaps strutting rooster, lit. girded of waist
  16. Proverbs 30:31 A Jewish tradition a king against whom there is no uprising
  17. Proverbs 31:5 Lit. sons of affliction
  18. Proverbs 31:8 Lit. sons of passing away
  19. Proverbs 31:10 Vv. 10–31 are an alphabetic acrostic in Hebrew; cf. Ps. 119
  20. Proverbs 31:10 Lit. a wife of valor, in the sense of all forms of excellence
  21. Proverbs 31:16 Lit. the fruit of her hands

Sanctification and Love

(A)Finally then, (B)brothers and sisters, we request and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received instruction from us as to how you ought to [a](C)walk and (D)please God (just as you actually do [b]walk), that you (E)excel even more. For you know what instructions we gave you [c]by the authority of the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you (F)abstain from sexual immorality; that (G)each of you know how to [d]possess his own [e](H)vessel in sanctification and (I)honor, not in [f](J)lustful passion, like the Gentiles who (K)do not know God; and that no one violate the rights and (L)take advantage of his brother or sister (M)in the matter, because (N)the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also (O)told you previously and solemnly warned you. For (P)God has not called us for [g](Q)impurity, but in sanctification. Therefore, the one who rejects this is not rejecting man, but the God who (R)gives His Holy Spirit to you.

Now as to the (S)love of the brothers and sisters, you (T)have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are (U)taught by God to love one another; 10 for indeed (V)you practice it toward all the brothers and sisters who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers and sisters, to (W)excel even more, 11 and to make it your ambition (X)to lead a quiet life and (Y)attend to your own business and (Z)work with your hands, just as we instructed you, 12 so that you will [h](AA)behave properly toward (AB)outsiders and [i](AC)not be in any need.

Those Who Died in Christ

13 But (AD)we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who [j](AE)are asleep, so that you will not grieve as indeed (AF)the rest of mankind do, who have (AG)no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose from the dead, (AH)so also God will bring with Him (AI)those who have fallen asleep [k]through Jesus. 15 For we say this to you (AJ)by the word of the Lord, that (AK)we who are alive [l]and remain until (AL)the coming of the Lord will not precede (AM)those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord (AN)Himself (AO)will descend from heaven with a [m](AP)shout, with the voice of (AQ)the archangel and with the (AR)trumpet of God, and (AS)the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then (AT)we who are alive, who remain, will be (AU)caught up together with them (AV)in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always (AW)be with the Lord. 18 Therefore, [n]comfort one another with these words.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 4:1 Or conduct yourselves
  2. 1 Thessalonians 4:1 Or conduct yourselves
  3. 1 Thessalonians 4:2 Lit through the Lord
  4. 1 Thessalonians 4:4 Or acquire
  5. 1 Thessalonians 4:4 I.e., body; or wife
  6. 1 Thessalonians 4:5 Lit passion of lust
  7. 1 Thessalonians 4:7 I.e., moral corruption
  8. 1 Thessalonians 4:12 Lit walk
  9. 1 Thessalonians 4:12 Lit have need of nothing
  10. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 I.e., have died
  11. 1 Thessalonians 4:14 I.e., as believers
  12. 1 Thessalonians 4:15 Lit who
  13. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 Or cry of command
  14. 1 Thessalonians 4:18 Or encourage

Plea for Purity

Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus (A)that you should abound more and more, (B)just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

For this is (C)the will of God, (D)your sanctification: (E)that you should abstain from sexual immorality; (F)that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, (G)not in passion of lust, (H)like the Gentiles (I)who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord (J)is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, (K)but in holiness. (L)Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, (M)who[a] has also given us His Holy Spirit.

A Brotherly and Orderly Life

But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for (N)you yourselves are taught by God (O)to love one another; 10 and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, (P)that you increase more and more; 11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, (Q)to mind your own business, and (R)to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 (S)that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.

The Comfort of Christ’s Coming

13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen [b]asleep, lest you sorrow (T)as others (U)who have no hope. 14 For (V)if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him (W)those who [c]sleep in Jesus.

15 For this we say to you (X)by the word of the Lord, that (Y)we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are [d]asleep. 16 For (Z)the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with (AA)the trumpet of God. (AB)And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 (AC)Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them (AD)in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus (AE)we shall always be with the Lord. 18 (AF)Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 4:8 NU who also gives
  2. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 Died
  3. 1 Thessalonians 4:14 Or through Jesus sleep
  4. 1 Thessalonians 4:15 Dead