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4 ¶ It is in order then, brethren, that we beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that in the manner ye were taught of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would continue to grow.

² For ye already know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.

³ For the will of God is your sanctification, that ye should separate yourselves from fornication,

⁴ that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honesty,

⁵ not with affection of lust, as the Gentiles who do not know God,

⁶ that no one oppress and defraud his brother in any matter because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.

⁷ For God has not called us unto uncleanness, but unto sanctification.

⁸ He therefore that despises us, does not despise man, but God, who has also given unto us his Holy Spirit.

⁹ ¶ But as touching love among the brethren, ye need not that I write unto you, for ye yourselves have learned of God that ye are to show charity to one another.

¹⁰ And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia, but we beseech you, brethren, that ye continue to grow

¹¹ and that ye procure to be quiet and to do your business and to work with your hands, as we commanded you,

¹² that ye may walk honestly toward those that are without, and that ye may desire nothing from any one.

¹³ ¶ But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as the others who have no hope.

¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so those who sleep in Jesus will God also bring with him.

¹⁵ For this, we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not precede those who are asleep.

¹⁶ For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first;

¹⁷ then we who 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 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

5 ¶ But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.

² For ye know well that the day of the Lord shall come as a thief in the night.

³ For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction shall come upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

⁴ But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should take you as a thief.

⁵ Ye are all the sons of light, and the sons of the day; we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

⁶ ¶ Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

⁷ For those that sleep sleep in the night, and those that are drunken are drunken in the night.

⁸ But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and charity, and for a helmet, the hope of saving health.

⁹ For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain saving health by our Lord Jesus Christ,

¹⁰ who died for us, that whether we watch or sleep, we should live together with him.

¹¹ ¶ Therefore comfort and edify one another, even as ye do.

¹² And we beseech you, brethren, to recognize those who labour among you and preside over you in the Lord and admonish you

¹³ and that you express greater charity unto them for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

¹⁴ We also exhort you, brethren, that you warn those that are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, support the weak, be patient with everyone.

¹⁵ See that no one renders evil for evil unto anyone, but always follow that which is good, both among yourselves and to all men.

¹⁶ ¶ Always rejoice.

¹⁷ Pray without ceasing.

¹⁸ In every thing give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

¹⁹ Quench not the Spirit.

²⁰ Despise not prophecies.

²¹ Examine all things; retain that which is good.

²² Separate yourselves from all appearance of evil.

²³ ¶ And the very God of peace sanctify you completely, that your spirit, soul, and body be preserved whole without reprehension for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

²⁴ Faithful is he that has called you, who will also do it.

²⁵ Brethren, pray for us.

²⁶ Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.

²⁷ I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.

²⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.