v.13, "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope."
v.14, "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him."
v.15, "For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep."
v.16, "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:"
v.17, "Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."
v.18, "Wherefore comfort one another with these words."
GOD'S WORD Translation:
v.13, "Brothers and sisters, we don't want you to be ignorant about those who have died. We don't want you to grieve like other people who have no hope."
v.14, "We believe that Jesus died and came back to life. We also believe that, through Jesus, God will bring back those who have died. They will come back with Jesus."
v.15, "We are telling you what the Lord taught. We who are still alive when the Lord comes will not go [into his kingdom] ahead of those who have already died."
v.16, "The Lord will come from heaven with a command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet [call] of God. First, the dead who believed in Christ will come back to life."
v.17, "Then, together with them, we who are still alive will be taken in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. In this way we will always be with the Lord."
v.18, "So then, comfort each other with these words!"
