1 Thessalonians 5
1 My fellow believers, [I want to tell you more] about the time or period [when the Lord Jesus will come back. Really], you do not need me to you about that,
But as to the times and the moments, there is no need, Brothers, for any one to write to you.
2 because you yourselves know accurately [what will happen! You know] that the Lord [Jesus will return] [MTY] [unexpectedly] (OR, [when some people are unprepared]). [People will not expect him, just like no one knows when] a thief [comes unexpectedly] at night [SIM].
You yourselves know well that the Day of the Lord will come just as a thief comes in the night.
3 [At a future time] many people will say, “[All is] peaceful and [we are] safe!” Then suddenly the Lord Jesus will come to punish people severely! Just like a pregnant woman who [experiences] birth pains [cannot stop those pains], those people will definitely not [have any way to] escape [their punishment].
When people are saying ‘All is quiet and safe,’ it is then that, like birth-pains upon a woman with child, Ruin comes suddenly upon them, and there will be no escape!
4 [Just like people] in the dark [are unaware of what is happening around them, most people will not be aware of what is about to happen to them] [MET, PRS]. Just like a thief [comes unexpectedly for people who are unaware, that time of punishment will come when people are not expecting it] [SIM]. But you, my fellow believers, are people who are very much aware [LIT] of what is going to happen. As a result, you will be expecting [LIT] those things [MTY] to happen [PRS]. All of us [believers] are people [IDM] [who do what is right, as people usually do in] the daytime [MET] [when their actions can be seen]. We are not [people who do evil things, as some people do when it is] dark [MET].
You, however, Brothers, are not in darkness, that the daylight should take you by surprise as if you were thieves.
For you all are ‘Sons of Light’ and ‘Sons of the Day.’ We have nothing to do with night, or darkness.
6 So we believers must be aware of what is happening. We must be watching carefully, [as people who are awake watch for a thief] [MET]. We must be self-controlled, as people who are (sober/not drunk) are able to control what they do [MET]. People who sleep [MET] [are unaware of what is happening, and unbelievers are like that].
Therefore let us not sleep as others do. No, let us be watchful and self-controlled.
7 It is at night when people become drunk [and they do very wrong actions/things, and are unaware of what is happening because they] are asleep.
It is at night that men sleep, and at night that drunkards get drunk.
8 But we believers are people who [should do what is right] [MET], so we must be self-controlled, [as people] in the daytime [are usually not drunk and are able to control what they do] [MET]. [As Roman soldiers protect themselves by] putting on breastplates and helmets [MET], we [believers] must [protect ourselves by continuing to] trust and love [the Lord Jesus] and by continuing to confidently expect that he will save [us from God’s punishing us at the time when he will punish other people].
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 When God chose us, he did not plan for us to [be people whom he will severely] punish [MTY]. On the contrary, [he decided] that he would save us because of [our trusting in what] our Lord Jesus Christ [has done for us].
For God destined us, not for Wrath, but to win Salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us,
10 Jesus died [to atone/pay] for our [sins] in order that we might be able to live together with him, whether we are alive [MET] or whether we are dead [EUP] [when he returns to earth].
that, whether we are still watching or have fallen asleep, we may live with him.
11 Because [you know that this is true], continue to encourage/comfort each other, as indeed you now are doing.
Therefore encourage one another, and try to build up one another’s characters, as indeed you are doing.
12 My fellow believers, we [three] ask that you recognize/honor [as leaders] those people who work hard for you. [Specifically], respect those who lead you as fellow believers who (have a close relationship with/are united to) the Lord [Jesus]. They warn you [to stop doing what is wrong] (OR, they teach you [to do what is right]).
We beg you, Brothers, to value those who toil among you, and are your leaders in the Lord’s service, and give you counsel.
13 That is, we [ask that you] consider those leaders to be very important and that you love them, because they work [hard to help you]. We also urge you to live peacefully with each other.
Hold them in the very greatest esteem and affection for the sake of their work. Live at peace with one another.
14 My fellow believers, we urge that you warn [believers] who will not work [in order to] ([obtain/earn the money to buy]) [things that they need to live. Tell them that they are behaving wrongly]. We urge you that you encourage [believers] who are fearful (OR, discouraged), and that you help all people who are weak [in any way]. We also urge you to be patient with everyone.
We entreat you also, Brothers — warn the disorderly, comfort the faint-hearted, give a helping hand to the weak, and be patient with every one.
15 Make sure that none [of you] does evil things to anyone [who has done] evil to you. On the contrary, you must always try to do good [things] for each other (OR, to fellow believers) and to everyone else.
Take care that none of you ever pays back wrong for wrong, but always follow the kindest course with one another and with every one.
16 Be joyful (at all times/always),
Always be joyful;
17 pray continually,
never cease to pray;
18 and thank [God] (in all [circumstances/] [of what happens]). God wants you [to behave] like that [because of what] Christ Jesus [has done for you] (OR, because you have a close relationship with Christ Jesus).
under all circumstances give thanks to God. For this is his will for you as made known in Christ Jesus.
19 Do not [refuse the urging from God’s] Spirit [when he is working] [MTY] [among you. That would be like] throwing water on [a fire] [MET]!
Do not quench the Spirit;
20 [Specifically], do not despise messages that the Holy Spirit reveals to someone, [and reject them automatically].
do not make light of preaching.
21 On the contrary, evaluate all [such messages]. Accept the [messages that are truly from God, and obey them].
Bring everything to the test; cling to what is good;
22 Do not obey any kind of evil [message].
shun every form of evil.
23 [We pray to] God that he will change you to become more and more like his people should be. He is the one who causes [his people] to have [inner] peace. [That is, we pray] that he will help you so that in all that you think, in all that you desire, and in all that you do, you will be without fault. We ask him that he will keep doing that [until] our Lord Jesus Christ comes back [to earth].
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 [Because God] has invited you [to be his people, you can] certainly trust him to keep on helping you to do that.
He who calls you will not fail you; he will complete his work.
25 My fellow believers, pray for me and for Silas and for Timothy.
Brothers, pray for us.
26 [When you gather together as believers], greet each other affectionately, as fellow believers [should].
Greet all the Brothers with a sacred kiss.
27 Make certain that you read this letter to all the believers who may be absent when you read it at first, [knowing that] the Lord [Jesus wants you to do it].
I adjure you in the Lord’s name to have this letter read to all the Brethren.
28 [I pray that] our Lord Jesus Christ [will continue to act] kindly toward you all.
May the blessing of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
