1 Thessalonians 5
The Lord’s coming
1 We don’t need to write to you about the timing and dates, brothers and sisters.2 You know very well that the day of the Lord is going to come like a thief in the night.3 When they are saying, "There is peace and security," at that time sudden destruction will attack them, like labor pains start with a pregnant woman, and they definitely won’t escape.4 But you aren’t in darkness, brothers and sisters, so the day won’t catch you by surprise like a thief.5 All of you are children of light and children of the day. We don’t belong to night or darkness.6 So then, let’s not sleep like the others, but let’s stay awake and stay sober.7 People who sleep sleep at night, and people who get drunk get drunk at night.8 Since we belong to the day, let’s stay sober, wearing faithfulness and love as a piece of armor that protects our bodyt and the hope of salvation as a helmet.9 God didn’t intend for us to suffer his wrath but rather to possess salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.10 Jesus died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with him.
11 So continue encouraging each other and building each other up, just like you are doing already.
Final instructions and blessing
12 Brothers and sisters, we ask you to respect those who are working with you, leading you, and instructing you.13 Think of them highly with love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.14 Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are disorderly. Comfort the discouraged. Help the weak. Be patient with everyone.15 Make sure no one repays a wrong with a wrong, but always pursue the good for each other and everyone else.16 Rejoice always.17 Pray continually.18 Give thanks in every situation because this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.19 Don’t suppress the Spirit.20 Don’t brush off Spirit-inspired messages,21 but examine everything carefully and hang on to what is good.22 Avoid every kind of evil.23 Now, may the God of peace himself cause you to be completely dedicated to him; and may your spirit, soul, and body be kept intact and blameless at our Lord Jesus Christ’s coming.
24 The one who is calling you is faithful and will do this.
Final greeting
25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us.26 Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss.27 By the Lord’s authority, I order all of you to have this letter read aloud to all the brothers and sisters.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.
1 Thessalonians 5
The Day of the Lord
1 Now on the topic of times and seasons,t brothers and sisters,t you have no need for anything to be written to you.2 For you know quite well that the day of the Lords will come in the same way as a thief in the night.s3 Now whens they are saying, “There is peace and security,”t then sudden destruction comes on them, like labor painst on a pregnant woman, and they will surely not escape.4 But you, brothers and sisters,t are not in the darkness for the day to overtake you like a thief would.5 For you all are sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of the darkness.6 So then we must not sleep as the rest, but must stay alert and sober.7 For those who sleep, sleep at night and those who get drunk are drunk at night.8 But since we are of the day, we must stay sober by putting on the breastplates of faith and love and as a helmet our hope for salvation.t9 For God did not destine us for wraths but for gaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.10 He diedt for us so that whether we are alert or asleeps we will come to life together with him.
11 Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, just as you are in fact doing.
Final Instructions
12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters,t to acknowledge those who labor among you and preside over you in the Lord and admonish you,13 and to esteem them most highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters,t admonish the undisciplined, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient toward all.15 See that no one pays back evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all.16 Always rejoice,17 constantly pray,18 in everything give thanks. For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.19 Do not extinguish the Spirit.20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt.21 But examine all things; hold fast to what is good.
22 Stay away from every form of evil.
Conclusion
23 Now may the God of peace himself make you completely holy and may your spirit and soul and body be kept entirely blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.24 He who calls you is trustworthy, and he will in fact do this.t25 Brothers and sisters,t pray for us too.26 Greet all the brothers and sisterst with a holy kiss.27 I call on you solemnly in the Lordt to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.st
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.s