¹ 保羅、西拉、提摩太寫信給帖撒羅尼迦在父神和主耶穌基督裡的教會。願恩惠平安歸與你們！

² 我們為你們眾人常常感謝神，禱告的時候提到你們，

³ 在神我們的父面前，不住的記念你們因信心所做的工夫，因愛心所受的勞苦，因盼望我們主耶穌基督所存的忍耐。

⁴ 被神所愛的弟兄阿，我知道你們是蒙揀選的；

⁵ 因為我們的福音傳到你們那裡，不獨在乎言語，也在乎權能和聖靈，並充足的信心，正如你們知道、我們在你們那裡，為你們的緣故是怎樣為人。

⁶ 並且你們在大難之中，蒙了聖靈所賜的喜樂，領受真道就效法我們，也效法了主；

⁷ 甚至你們作了馬其頓和亞該亞所有信主之人的榜樣。

⁸ 因為主的道從你們那裡已經傳揚出來。你們向神的信心不但在馬其頓和亞該亞，就是在各處也都傳開了；所以不用我們說甚麼話。

⁹ 因為他們自己已經報明我們是怎樣進到你們那裡，你們是怎樣離棄偶像，歸向神，要服事那又真又活的神，

¹⁰ 等候他兒子從天降臨，就是他從死裡復活的─那位救我們脫離將來忿怒的耶穌。

¹ Yahweh sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, "There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.

² The rich man had very many flocks and herds,

³ but the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and raised. It grew up together with him, and with his children. It ate of his own food, drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was to him like a daughter.

⁴ A traveler came to the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man who had come to him, but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man who had come to him."

⁵ David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, "As Yahweh lives, the man who has done this is worthy to die!

⁶ He shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity!"

⁷ Nathan said to David, "You are the man. This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul.