1 Thessalonians 5

Be Ready for the Lord’s Coming

1 Now, brothers and sisters, we do not need to write you about times and dates.2 You know very well that the day the Lord comes again will be a surprise, like a thief that comes in the night.3 While people are saying, “We have peace and we are safe,” they will be destroyed quickly. It is like pains that come quickly to a woman having a baby. Those people will not escape.4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not living in darkness, and so that day will not surprise you like a thief.5 You are all people who belong to the light and to the day. We do not belong to the night or to darkness.6 So we should not be like other people who are sleeping, but we should be alert and have self-control.7 Those who sleep, sleep at night. Those who get drunk, get drunk at night.8 But we belong to the day, so we should control ourselves. We should wear faith and love to protect us, and the hope of salvation should be our helmet.9 God did not choose us to suffer his anger but to have salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.10 Jesus died for us so that we can live together with him, whether we are alive or dead when he comes.

11 So encourage each other and give each other strength, just as you are doing now.

Final Instructions and Greetings

12 Now, brothers and sisters, we ask you to appreciate those who work hard among you, who lead you in the Lord and teach you.

13 Respect them with a very special love because of the work they do.
Live in peace with each other.14 We ask you, brothers and sisters, to warn those who do not work. Encourage the people who are afraid. Help those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.

15 Be sure that no one pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to do what is good for each other and for all people.
16 Always be joyful.17 Pray continually,

18 and give thanks whatever happens. That is what God wants for you in Christ Jesus.
19 Do not hold back the work of the Holy Spirit.20 Do not treat prophecy as if it were unimportant.21 But test everything. Keep what is good,

22 and stay away from everything that is evil.
23 Now may God himself, the God of peace, make you pure, belonging only to him. May your whole self—spirit, soul, and body—be kept safe and without fault when our Lord Jesus Christ comes.

24 You can trust the One who calls you to do that for you.

25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us.
26 Give each other a holy kiss when you meet.

27 I tell you by the authority of the Lord to read this letter to all the believers.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with 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