1 Thessalonians 5

1 But concerning dates and times, brothers, you do not need us to write to you.2 For you yourselves thoroughly understand that the day of the Lord shall arrive much like a thief in the night.3 For when they will say, “Peace and security!” then destruction will suddenly overwhelm them, like the labor pains of a woman with child, and they will not escape.4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness, so that you would be overtaken by that day as by a thief.5 For all of you are sons of light and sons of daytime; we are not of nighttime, nor of darkness.6 Therefore, let us not sleep, as the rest do. Instead, we should be vigilant and sober.7 For those who sleep, sleep in the night; and those who are inebriated, are inebriated in the night.8 But we, who are of the daylight, should be sober, being clothed with the breastplate of faith and of charity and having, as a helmet, the hope of salvation.9 For God has not appointed us for wrath, but for the acquisition of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,10 who died for us, so that, whether we watch, or whether we sleep, we may live in union with him.11 Because of this, console one another and build up one another, just as you are doing.12 And we ask you, brothers, to recognize those who labor among you, and who preside over you in the Lord, and who admonish you,13 so that you may consider them with an abundance of charity, for the sake of their work. Be at peace with them.14 And we ask you, brothers: correct the disruptive, console the weak-minded, support the sick, be patient with everyone.15 See to it that no one repays evil for evil to anyone. Instead, always pursue whatever is good, with one another and with all.16 Rejoice always.17 Pray without ceasing.18 Give thanks in everything. For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for all of you.19 Do not choose to extinguish the Spirit.20 Do not spurn prophecies.21 But test all things. Hold on to whatever is good.22 Abstain from every kind of evil.23 And may the God of peace himself sanctify you through all things, so that your whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved without blame unto the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.24 He who has called you is faithful. He shall act even now.25 Brothers, pray for us.26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.27 I bind you, through the Lord, that this epistle is to be read to all the holy brothers.28 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

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