Paul finishes his letter
12 Our friends, we ask you to respect your leaders who work hard among you. On the Lord's behalf, they lead you and they teach you what is right. 13 Show them how valuable they are to you. And love them very much because of the work that they do. Live at peace among yourselves.
14 Friends, you must warn lazy people. Tell them that they should work. If people are afraid, help them to be brave. If people are weak, take care of them. Be patient with everyone.
5:14The Christians at Thessalonica were waiting for Jesus to return. They thought that he would come soon. Some of them may have thought that they did not need to continue to work.
15 If someone does something bad against you, do not do anything bad against them in return. Never do that. Instead, always try to do good things that will help each other and help everyone else.
16 Always be happy. 17 Pray at all times. 18 Whatever may happen to you, continue to thank God. God wants you to do that, because you belong to Christ Jesus. 19 Do not stop the work of God's Spirit. 20 When people speak messages on God's behalf, do not refuse to listen. 21 Instead, think carefully about everything, to see if it is true. Accept anything that is good. 22 But keep away from any kind of evil thing.
23 I pray that God will help you to be completely good, as his people should be. He is the one who gives us peace in our minds. May he take care of you in every way, in your spirit, in your soul and in your body. Then you will not be guilty of anything, when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. 24 God has chosen you to be his people. We can trust him to do what he has promised to do. So he will do all this for you.
25 Our Christian friends, please pray for us. 26 Say ‘hello’ to all the believers on our behalf, and kiss them as Christian brothers and sisters.
27 I tell you very seriously on the Lord's behalf, read this letter to all the believers. 28 I pray that our Lord Jesus Christ will continue to be very kind to you.
