1Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
2Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3Brothers and sisters, we must always thank God for you, and it is right that we do. Your faith is growing very much, and the love that each one of you has for the others is overflowing.
4So we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God. We tell of your patience and faith in all the persecutions and troubles that you endure.
5This is a clear sign of the righteous judgment of God. It shows that you are counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer.
6For it is a righteous thing with God to pay back trouble to those who trouble you,
7and to give rest to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will be when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8in flaming fire. He will take vengeance on those who do not know God, and who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9They will be punished with everlasting destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power.
10He will come on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired by all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.
11That is why we always pray for you. We pray that our God will count you worthy of this calling, and that by his power he will fulfil every good purpose of his goodness and every work of faith.
12In this way the name of our Lord Jesus Christ will be glorified in you, and you in him, by the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.