1 Thessalonians 4

1 Finally, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus to live in a way that is pleasing to God, just as you have received from us. This is how you already live, so you should do so all the more.

1 最后，弟兄姊妹，既然你们领受了我们的教导，知道怎样行才能讨上帝的喜悦，如你们现在所行的，我们靠着主耶稣恳求、劝勉你们要更加努力。

2 For you know the instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

2 你们都知道我们靠着主耶稣给你们的教导。

3 For it is God’s will that you should be holy: You must abstain from sexual immorality;

3 上帝的旨意是要你们圣洁，远避淫乱的事，

4 each of you must know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,

4 要你们人人都知道持守身体的圣洁和尊贵，

5 not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God;

5 不可荒淫纵欲，像那些不认识上帝的外族人一样。

6 and no one should ever violate or exploit his brother in this regard, because the Lord will avenge all such acts, as we have already told you and solemnly warned you.

6 你们在这种事上不可越轨，亏负弟兄姊妹。我们曾经对你们说过，并且郑重地警告过你们，主必惩治犯这种罪的人。

7 For God has not called us to impurity, but to holiness.

7 因为上帝呼召我们不是要我们沾染污秽，而是要我们圣洁。

8 Anyone, then, who rejects this command does not reject man but God, the very One who gives you His Holy Spirit.

8 所以，人若拒绝遵行这命令，他不是拒绝人，而是拒绝赐圣灵给你们的上帝。

9 Now about brotherly love, you do not need anyone to write to you, because you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.

9 关于弟兄姊妹彼此相爱的事，我就不必多写了，因为你们自己从上帝那里领受了要彼此相爱的教导。

10 And you are indeed showing this love to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to excel more and more

10 你们对马其顿全境的弟兄姊妹已经做到了这一点。不过，我劝各位弟兄姊妹要再接再厉。

11 and to aspire to live quietly, to attend to your own matters, and to work with your own hands, as we instructed you.

11 你们要立志过安分守己的生活，亲手做工，正如我们以前吩咐你们的。

12 Then you will behave properly toward outsiders, without being dependent on anyone.

12 这样，你们可以得到外人的尊敬，不必依赖任何人。

13 Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope.

13 弟兄姊妹，关于安息的信徒 ，我们不愿意你们一无所知，免得你们像那些没有盼望的人一样悲伤。

14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.

14 我们既然相信耶稣死了，又复活了，也相信上帝必把那些安息的信徒和耶稣一同带来。

15 By the word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep.

15 我们把主的话告诉你们：主再来的那天，我们还活着的人不会比已安息的信徒先见到主。

16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise.

16 因为主必在号令声、天使长的呼喊声和上帝的号角声中亲自从天降临，已经离世的基督徒必先复活。

17 After that, 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 will always be with the Lord.

17 然后，我们还活着的人要和他们一起被提到云里，在空中与主相会，永远和主在一起。

18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

18 所以你们要用这些话彼此鼓励。