Now about your love for one another(A) we do not need to write to you,(B) for you yourselves have been taught by God(C) to love each other.(D) 10 And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia.(E) Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more,(F) 11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands,(G) just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders(H) and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

Believers Who Have Died

13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed(I) about those who sleep in death,(J) so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.(K) 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again,(L) and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.(M) 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord,(N) will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.(O) 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven,(P) with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel(Q) and with the trumpet call of God,(R) and the dead in Christ will rise first.(S) 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left(T) will be caught up together with them in the clouds(U) to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord(V) forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another(W) with these words.

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Reuben

The sons of Reuben(A) the firstborn of Israel (he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father’s marriage bed,(B) his rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph(C) son of Israel;(D) so he could not be listed in the genealogical record in accordance with his birthright,(E) and though Judah(F) was the strongest of his brothers and a ruler(G) came from him, the rights of the firstborn(H) belonged to Joseph)— the sons of Reuben(I) the firstborn of Israel:

Hanok, Pallu,(J) Hezron(K) and Karmi.

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