1Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us [instruction] as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more.
1弟兄們，我還有話說：我們靠著主耶穌求你們，勸你們，你們既然受了我們的教訓，知道該怎樣行可以討神的喜悅，就要照你們現在所行的更加勉勵。
2For you know what commandments we gave you by [the authority of] the Lord Jesus.
2你們原曉得我們憑主耶穌傳給你們甚麼命令。
3For this is the will of God, your sanctification; [that is], that you abstain from sexual immorality;
3神的旨意就是要你們成為聖潔，遠避淫行；
4that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,
4要你們各人曉得怎樣用聖潔、尊貴守著自己的身體。
5not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God;
5不放縱私慾的邪情，像那不認識神的外邦人。
6[and] that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is [the] avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned [you].
6不要一個人在這事上越分，欺負他的弟兄；因為這一類的事，主必報應，正如我預先對你們說過，又切切囑咐你們的。
7For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification.
7神召我們，本不是要我們沾染污穢，乃是要我們成為聖潔。
8So, he who rejects [this] is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.
8所以那棄絕的，不是棄絕人，乃是棄絕那賜聖靈給你們的神。
9Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for [anyone] to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;
9論到弟兄們相愛，不用人寫信給你們；因為你們自己蒙了神的教訓，叫你們彼此相愛。
10for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more,
10你們向馬其頓全地的眾弟兄固然是這樣行，但我勸弟兄們要更加勉勵。
11and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you,
11又要立志作安靜人，辦自己的事，親手做工，正如我們從前所吩咐你們的，
12so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.
12叫你們可以向外人行事端正，自己也就沒有甚麼缺乏了。
13But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.
13論到睡了的人，我們不願意弟兄們不知道，恐怕你們憂傷，像那些沒有指望的人一樣。
14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.
14我們若信耶穌死而復活了，那已經在耶穌裡睡了的人，神也必將他與耶穌一同帶來。
15For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.
15我們現在照主的話告訴你們一件事：我們這活著還存留到主降臨的人，斷不能在那已經睡了的人之先。
16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of [the] archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
16因為主必親自從天降臨，有呼叫的聲音和天使長的聲音，又有神的號吹響；那在基督裡死了的人必先復活。
17Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.
17以後我們這活著還存留的人必和他們一同被提到雲裡，在空中與主相遇。這樣，我們就要和主永遠同在。
18Therefore comfort one another with these words.
18所以，你們當用這些話彼此勸慰。