1 Finally then, brothers, we urge and exhort you{+} in the Lord Jesus, that, as you{+} received of us how you{+} ought to walk and to please God, even as you{+} do walk, --that you{+} abound more and more.

2 For you{+} know what charge we gave you{+} through the Lord Jesus.

3 For this is the will of God, [even] your{+} sanctification, that you{+} abstain from fornication;

4 that each of you{+} know how to possess himself of his own vessel in sanctification and honor,

5 not by immoral sexual passion, even as the Gentiles who don't know God;

6 that no man transgress and take advantage of his brother in this matter: because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we forewarned you{+} and testified.

7 For God called us not for impurity, but in sanctification.

8 Therefore he who rejects, rejects not man, but God, who also gives his Holy Spirit to you{+}.

9 But concerning love of the brothers you{+} have no need that one write to you{+}: for you{+} yourselves are taught of God to love one another;

10 for indeed you{+} do it toward all the brothers who are in all Macedonia. But we exhort you{+}, brothers, that you{+} abound more and more;

11 and that you{+} make it your aim to be quiet, and to participate in your{+} own [things], and to work with your{+} own hands, even as we charged you{+};

12 that you{+} may walk becomingly toward those who are outside, and may have need of nothing.

13 But we would not have you{+} ignorant, brothers, concerning those who fall asleep; that you{+} do not sorrow, even as the rest, who have no hope.

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

15 For this we say to you{+} by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left to the coming of the Lord, will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep.

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

17 then we who are alive, who are left, will together with them be caught up 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.