Epistula I ad Thessalonicenses, 4

1. de cetero ergo fratres rogamus vos et obsecramus in Domino Jesu ut quemadmodum accepistis a nobis quomodo vos oporteat ambulare et placere Deo sicut et ambulatis ut abundetis magis

1. For the rest therefore, brethren, we pray and beseech you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received from us, how you ought to walk, and to please God, so also you would walk, that you may abound the more.

2. scitis enim quæ præcepta dederimus vobis per Dominum Jesum

2. For you know what precepts I have given to you by the Lord Jesus.

3. hæc est enim voluntas Dei sanctificatio vestra

3. For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that you should abstain from fornication;

4. ut abstineatis vos a fornicatione ut sciat unusquisque vestrum suum vas possidere in sanctificatione et honore

4. That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour:

5. non in passione desiderii sicut et gentes quæ ignorant Deum

5. Not in the passion of lust, like the Gentiles that know not God:

6. ut ne quis supergrediatur neque circumveniat in negotio fratrem suum quoniam vindex est Dominus de his omnibus sicut et prædiximus vobis et testificati sumus

6. And that no man overreach, nor circumvent his brother in business: because the Lord is the avenger of all these things, as we have told you before, and have testified.

7. non enim vocavit nos Deus in inmunditia sed in sanctificatione

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

8. itaque qui spernit non hominem spernit sed Deum qui etiam dedit Spiritum suum Sanctum in vobis

8. Therefore, he that despiseth these things, despiseth not man, but God, who also hath given his holy Spirit in us.

9. de caritate autem fraternitatis non necesse habemus scribere vobis ipsi enim vos a Deo didicistis ut diligatis invicem

9. But as touching the charity of brotherhood, we have no need to write to you: for yourselves have learned of God to love one another.

10. etenim facitis illud in omnes fratres in universa Macedonia rogamus autem vos fratres ut abundetis magis

10. For indeed you do it towards all the brethren in all Macedonia. But we entreat you, brethren, that you abound more:

11. et operam detis ut quieti sitis et ut vestrum negotium agatis et operemini manibus vestris sicut præcepimus vobis

11. And that you use your endeavour to be quiet, and that you do your own business, and work with your own hands, as we commanded you: and that you walk honestly towards them that are without; and that you want nothing of any man's.

12. et ut honeste ambuletis ad eos qui foris sunt et nullius aliquid desideretis

12. And we will not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that are asleep, that you be not sorrowful, even as others who have no hope.

13. nolumus autem vos ignorare fratres de dormientibus ut non contristemini sicut et ceteri qui spem non habent

13. For if we believe that Jesus died, and rose again; even so them who have slept through Jesus, will God bring with him.

14. si enim credimus quod Jesus mortuus est et resurrexit ita et Deus eos qui dormierunt per Jesum adducet cum eo

14. For this we say unto you in the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them who have slept.

15. hoc enim vobis dicimus in verbo Domini quia nos qui vivimus qui residui sumus in adventum Domini non præveniemus eos qui dormierunt

15. For the Lord himself shall come down from heaven with commandment, and with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God: and the dead who are in Christ, shall rise first.

16. quoniam ipse Dominus in jussu et in voce archangeli et in tuba Dei descendet de cælo et mortui qui in Christo sunt resurgent primi

16. Then we who are alive, who are left, shall be taken up together with them in the clouds to meet Christ, into the air, and so shall we be always with the Lord.

17. deinde nos qui vivimus qui relinquimur simul rapiemur cum illis in nubibus obviam Domino in æra et sic semper cum Domino erimus

17. Wherefore, comfort ye one another with these words.

18. itaque consolamini invicem in verbis istis

18.