1 Thessalonians · Chapter 4

[ edit] Therfore, briþeren, hennis forþward we preyen ȝou, and biſeche in þe Lord Jheſu, þat as ȝe han reſceyued of vs how it bihoueþ ȝou for to go and pleſe to God, ſo and walke ȝe, þat ȝe habounde more. Soþely ȝe wyten what comaundementis I haue ȝouun to ȝou by þe Lord Jheſu. Forſoþ þis is þe wille of God, ȝoure makinge hooly, þat ȝe abſteyne ȝou fro fornycacioun. Þat ech of ȝou kunne welde his veſſel in makynge hooly, or hoolyneſſe, and honour; not in paſſioun of deſyr, as and heþen men þat knowen not God. And þat no man ouergo, neþer diſſeyue his broþer in cauſe, or nede. For þe Lord is venger of alle þes þingis, as we bifore ſeiden to ȝou, and han witneſſid, or prouyd by autorite.

Soþli God clepide not vs into vnclenneſſe, but into hoolyneſſe. And ſo he þat diſpiſiþ þes þingis, diſpiſiþ not man, but God, þat ȝaf his hooly ſpirit in vs. Forſoþe of þe charite of briþerhed we hadden not nede for to wryte to ȝou; ſoþli ȝe ſilf han lerud of God, þat ȝe loue to gidere; and forſoþe ȝe don þat into alle briþeren in al Macedonye. Forſoþe, briþeren, we preyen ȝou, þat ȝe habounde more; and ȝyue werk, or biſyneſſe, þat ȝe be quyet, and do ȝoure nede, þat ȝe worche wiþ ȝoure hondis, as we han comaundid to ȝou; and þat ȝe wandre honeſtly to hem þat ben wiþouteforþ, þat of no mannis ȝe deſyre ony þing.

Forſoþ, briþeren, we wolen not ȝou for to vnknowe of men ſlepynge, or deiynge, þat ȝe ben not ſorwful, as and oþere þat han not hope. Soþli if we bileuen, þat Jheſus was deed, and roos aȝen, ſo and God ſchal lede wiþ him hem þat ſlepten, or deieden, by Jheſu. Soþeli þis þing we ſeien to ȝou in þe word of þe Lord, for we þat lyuen, þat ben reſidue, or left, in þe comynge of þe Lord, ſchulen not come bifore hem þat ſlepten, or deieden. For he þe Lord ſchal come down fro heuene, in þe comaundyng, and in þe voys of archaungel, and in þe trumpe of God; and þe deede men þat ben in Criſt, ſchulen ryſe aȝen firſt.

Aftirward we þat lyuen, þat ben left, ſchulen be rauyſchid to gidere wiþ hem in cloudis, meetynge to Criſt into þe eyr; and ſo euermore we ſchulen be wiþ þe Lord. And ſo be ȝe comfortid to gidere in þes wordis.