1 Thessalonians 5
1 And concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need of my writing to you,
But as to the times and the moments, there is no need, friends, for anyone to write to you.
2 for you have thoroughly known that the Day of the LORD so comes as a thief in the night,
You yourselves know well that the day of the Lord will come just as a thief comes in the night.
3 for when they may say, “Peace and security,” then sudden destruction comes [on] them, as the travail [on] her who is with child, and they will not escape;
When people are saying “All is quiet and safe,” it is then that, like birth pains on a pregnant woman, ruin comes suddenly upon them, and there will be no escape!
4 but you, brothers, are not in darkness, that the Day may catch you as a thief;
You, however, friends, are not in darkness, that the daylight should take you by surprise as if you were thieves.
5 you are all sons of light, and sons of day; we are not of night, nor of darkness,
For you all are children of light and children of the day. We have nothing to do with night, or darkness.
6 so, then, we may not sleep as also the others, but watch and be sober,
Therefore let us not sleep as others do. No, let us be watchful and self-controlled.
7 for those sleeping, sleep by night, and those making themselves drunk, are drunken by night,
It is at night that people sleep, and at night that drunkards get drunk.
8 and we, being of the day—let us be sober, putting on a breastplate of faith and love, and a helmet—a hope of salvation,
But let us, who belong to the day, control ourselves, and put on faith and love as a breast plate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.
9 because God did not appoint us to anger, but to the acquiring of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
For God destined us, not for wrath, but to win salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us,
10 who died for us, that whether we wake—whether we sleep—we may live together with Him;
that, whether we are still watching or have fallen asleep, we may live with him.
11 for this reason, comfort one another, and build up one another, as also you do.
Therefore encourage one another, and try to build up one another’s characters, as indeed you are doing.
12 And we ask you, brothers, to know those laboring among you and leading you in the LORD and admonishing you,
We beg you, friends, to value those who toil among you, and are your leaders in the Lord’s service, and give you counsel.
13 and to esteem them very abundantly in love, because of their work; be at peace among yourselves;
Hold them in the very greatest esteem and affection for the sake of their work. Live at peace with one another.
14 and we exhort you, brothers, admonish the disorderly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, be patient to all;
We entreat you also, friends – warn the disorderly, comfort the faint-hearted, give a helping hand to the weak, and be patient with everyone.
15 see [that] no one may render evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue that which is good, both to one another and to all;
Take care that none of you ever pays back wrong for wrong, but always follow the kindest course with one another and with everyone.
16 always rejoice;
Always be joyful;
17 continually pray;
never cease to pray;
18 give thanks in everything, for this [is] the will of God in Christ Jesus in regard to you.
under all circumstances give thanks to God. For this is his will for you as made known in Christ Jesus.
19 Do not quench the Spirit;
Do not quench the Spirit;
20 do not despise prophesyings;
do not make light of preaching.
21 prove all things; hold fast [to] that which is good;
Bring everything to the test; cling to what is good;
22 abstain from all appearance of evil;
shun every form of evil.
23 and may the God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved, unblameably at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ;
May God himself, the giver of peace, make you altogether holy; and may your spirits, souls, and bodies be kept altogether faultless until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 He who is calling you is steadfast, who also will do [it].
He who calls you will not fail you; he will complete his work.
25 Brothers, pray for us.
Friends, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.
Greet all the Lord’s followers with a sacred kiss.
27 I charge you [by] the LORD, that the letter be read to all the holy brothers.
I order you in the Lord’s name to have this letter read to all the brethren.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [is] with you! Amen.
May the blessing of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
