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,
De temporibus autem, et momentis fratres non indigetis ut scribamus vobis.
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].
Ipsi enim diligenter scitis quia dies Domini, sicut fur in nocte, ita veniet.
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].
cum enim dixerint pax, et securitas: tunc repentinus eis superveniet interitus, sicut dolor in utero habentis, et non effugient.
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].
Vos autem fratres non estis in tenebris, ut vos dies illa tamquam fur comprehendat:
omnes enim vos filii lucis estis, et filii diei: non sumus noctis, neque tenebrarum.
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].
Igitur non dormiamus sicut et ceteri, sed vigilemus, et sobrii simus.
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.
Qui enim dormiunt, nocte dormiunt: et qui ebrii sunt, nocte ebrii sunt.
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].
Nos autem, qui diei sumus, sobrii simus, induti loricam fidei, et charitatis, et galeam spem salutis:
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].
quoniam non posuit nos Deus in iram, sed in acquisitionem salutis per Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum,
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].
qui mortuus est pro nobis: ut sive vigilemus, sive dormiamus, simul cum illo vivamus.
11 Because [you know that this is true], continue to encourage/comfort each other, as indeed you now are doing.
Propter quod consolamini invicem: et aedificate alterutrum, sicut et facitis.
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]).
Rogamus autem vos fratres ut noveritis eos, qui laborant inter vos, et praesunt vobis in Domino, et monent vos,
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.
ut habeatis illos abundantius in charitate propter opus illorum: et pacem habete cum eis.
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.
Rogamus autem vos fratres, corripite inquietos, consolamini pusillanimes, suscipite infirmos, patientes estote ad omnes.
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.
Videte ne quis malum pro malo alicui reddat: sed semper quod bonum est sectamini in invicem, et in omnes.
16 Be joyful (at all times/always),
Semper gaudete.
17 pray continually,
Sine intermissione orate.
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).
In omnibus gratias agite: haec est enim voluntas Dei in Christo Iesu in omnibus vobis.
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]!
Spiritum nolite extinguere.
20 [Specifically], do not despise messages that the Holy Spirit reveals to someone, [and reject them automatically].
Prophetias nolite spernere.
21 On the contrary, evaluate all [such messages]. Accept the [messages that are truly from God, and obey them].
Omnia autem probate: quod bonum est tenete.
22 Do not obey any kind of evil [message].
Ab omni specie mala abstinete vos:
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].
Ipse autem Deus pacis sanctificet vos per omnia: ut integer spiritus vester, et anima, et corpus sine querela in adventu Domini nostri Iesu Christi conservetur.
24 [Because God] has invited you [to be his people, you can] certainly trust him to keep on helping you to do that.
Fidelis est, qui vocavit vos: qui etiam faciet.
25 My fellow believers, pray for me and for Silas and for Timothy.
Fratres orate pro nobis.
26 [When you gather together as believers], greet each other affectionately, as fellow believers [should].
Salutate fratres omnes in osculo sancto.
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].
Adiuro vos per Dominum ut legatur epistola haec omnibus sanctis fratribus.
28 [I pray that] our Lord Jesus Christ [will continue to act] kindly toward you all.
Gratia Domini nostri Iesu Christi vobiscum. Amen.
