⁹ Now about your love for one another^(A) we do not need to write to you,^(B) for you yourselves have been taught by God^(C) to love each other.^{(D) 10} And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia.^(E) Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more,^{(F) 11} and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands,^(G) just as we told you, ¹² so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders^(H) and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

Believers Who Have Died

¹³ Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed^(I) about those who sleep in death,^(J) so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.^{(K) 14} For we believe that Jesus died and rose again,^(L) and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.^{(M) 15} According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord,^(N) will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.^{(O) 16} For the Lord himself will come down from heaven,^(P) with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel^(Q) and with the trumpet call of God,^(R) and the dead in Christ will rise first.^{(S) 17} After that, we who are still alive and are left^(T) will be caught up together with them in the clouds^(U) to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord^(V) forever. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another^(W) with these words.

Reuben

5 The sons of Reuben^(A) the firstborn of Israel (he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father’s marriage bed,^(B) his rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph^(C) son of Israel;^(D) so he could not be listed in the genealogical record in accordance with his birthright,^{(E) 2} and though Judah^(F) was the strongest of his brothers and a ruler^(G) came from him, the rights of the firstborn^(H) belonged to Joseph)— ³ the sons of Reuben^(I) the firstborn of Israel: