1 Thessalonians 4:9–18

9 Now as to the alove of the brethren, you bhave no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are ctaught by God to love one another;

10 for indeed ayou do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to bexcel still more,

11 and to make it your ambition ato lead a quiet life and battend to your own business and cwork with your hands, just as we commanded you,

12 so that you will 1abehave properly toward boutsiders and 2cnot be in any need.

Those Who Died in Christ

13 But awe do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who bare asleep, so that you will not grieve as do cthe rest who have dno hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, aeven so God will bring with Him bthose who have fallen asleep 1in Jesus.

15 For this we say to you aby the word of the Lord, that bwe who are alive 1and remain until cthe coming of the Lord, will not precede dthose who have fallen asleep.

16 For the Lord aHimself bwill descend from heaven with a 1cshout, with the voice of dthe archangel and with the etrumpet of God, and fthe dead in Christ will rise first.

17 Then awe who are alive 1and remain will be bcaught up together with them cin the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always dbe with the Lord.

18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.