1 Thessalonians 4

¹And last of all, the prayer which we make to you from our heart and in the name of the Lord Jesus, is this: that as we made clear to you what sort of behaviour is pleasing to God, as in fact you are doing now, so you will go on in these ways, but more and more.

²Because you have in mind the orders we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

³For the purpose of God for you is this: that you may be holy, and may keep yourselves from the desires of the flesh;

⁴So that every one of you may keep his body holy and in honour;

⁵Not in the passion of evil desires, like the Gentiles, who have no knowledge of God;

⁶And that no man may make attempts to get the better of his brother in business: for the Lord is the judge in all these things, as we said to you before and gave witness.

⁷Because it is God's purpose that our way of life may be not unclean but holy.

⁸Whoever, then, goes against this word, goes against not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

⁹But about loving the brothers, there is no need for me to say anything to you in this letter: for you have the teaching of God that love for one another is right and necessary;

¹⁰And, truly, you are lovers of all the brothers in Macedonia; but it is our desire that your love may be increased still more;

¹¹And that you may take pride in being quiet and doing your business, working with your hands as we gave you orders;

¹²That you may be respected by those who are outside, and may have need of nothing.