1 Thessalonians 5

Be Ready for the Day of the Lord

1 Brothers and sisters, you don’t need anyone to write to you about times and dates.2 You know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.3 When people say, “Everything is safe and sound!” destruction will suddenly strike them. It will be as sudden as labor pains come to a pregnant woman. They won’t be able to escape.4 But, brothers and sisters, you don’t live in the dark. That day won’t take you by surprise as a thief would.5 You belong to the day and the light not to the night and the dark.6 Therefore, we must not fall asleep like other people, but we must stay awake and be sober.7 People who sleep, sleep at night; people who get drunk, get drunk at night.8 Since we belong to the day, we must be sober. We must put on faith and love as a breastplate and the hope of salvation as a helmet.9 It was not God’s intention that we experience his anger but that we obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake in this life or asleep in death, we will live together with him.

11 Therefore, encourage each other and strengthen one another as you are doing.

Paul Encourages the Thessalonians

12 Brothers and sisters, we ask you to show your appreciation for those leaders who work among you and instruct you.

13 We ask you to love them and think very highly of them because of the work they are doing. Live in peace with each other.
14 We encourage you, brothers and sisters, to instruct those who are not living right, cheer up those who are discouraged, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.

15 Make sure that no one ever pays back one wrong with another wrong. Instead, always try to do what is good for each other and everyone else.
16 Always be joyful.17 Never stop praying.

18 Whatever happens, give thanks, because it is God’s will in Christ Jesus that you do this.
19 Don’t put out the Spirit’s fire.20 Don’t despise what God has revealed.21 Instead, test everything. Hold on to what is good.

22 Keep away from every kind of evil.

Farewell

23 May the God who gives peace make you holy in every way. May he keep your whole being—spirit, soul, and body—blameless when our Lord Jesus Christ comes.

24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.
25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us.26 Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss.27 In the Lord’s name, I order you to read this letter to all the brothers and sisters.28 The good willt of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

1 Thessalonians 5

1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that aught be written unto you.2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.3 When they are saying, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall in no wise escape.4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief:5 for ye are all sons of light, and sons of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness;6 so then let us not sleep, as do the rest, but let us watch and be sober.7 For they that sleep sleep in the night: and they that are drunken are drunken in the night.8 But let us, since we are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.9 For God appointed us not into wrath, but unto the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,10 who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.11 Wherefore exhort one another, and build each other up, even as also ye do.12 But we beseech you, brethren, to know them that labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;13 and to esteem them exceeding highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.14 And we exhort you, brethren, admonish the disorderly, encourage the fainthearted, support the weak, be longsuffering toward all.15 See that none render unto any one evil for evil; but always follow after that which is good, one toward another, and toward all.16 Rejoice always;17 pray without ceasing;18 in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus to you-ward.19 Quench not the Spirit;20 despise not prophesyings;21 prove all things; hold fast that which is good;22 abstain from every form of evil.23 And the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who will also do it.25 Brethren, pray for us.26 Salute all the brethren with a holy kiss.27 I adjure you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the brethren.28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.