1 Thessalonians 5

1 And concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need of my writing to you,

Now about the times and seasons, brothers, we do not need to write to you.

2 for yourselves have known thoroughly that the day of the Lord as a thief in the night doth so come,

For you are fully aware that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

3 for when they may say, Peace and surety, then sudden destruction doth stand by them, as the travail [doth] her who is with child, and they shall not escape;

While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

4 and ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day may catch you as a thief;

But you, brothers, are not in the darkness so that this day should overtake you like a thief.

5 all ye are sons of light, and sons of day; we are not of night, nor of darkness,

For you are all sons of the light and sons of the day; we do not belong to the night or to the darkness.

6 so, then, we may not sleep as also the others, but watch and be sober,

So then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain awake and sober.

7 for those sleeping, by night do sleep, and those making themselves drunk, by night are drunken,

For those who sleep, sleep at night; and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.

8 and we, being of the day — let us be sober, putting on a breastplate of faith and love, and an helmet — a hope of salvation,

But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet of our hope of salvation.

9 because God did not appoint us to anger, but to the acquiring of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

For God has not appointed us to suffer wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

10 who did die for us, that whether we wake — whether we sleep — together with him we may live;

He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.

11 wherefore, comfort ye one another, and build ye up, one the one, as also ye do.

Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.

12 And we ask you, brethren, to know those labouring among you, and leading you in the Lord, and admonishing you,

But we ask you, brothers, to acknowledge those who work diligently among you, who preside over you in the Lord and give you instruction.

13 and to esteem them very abundantly in love, because of their work; be at peace among yourselves;

In love, hold them in highest regard because of their work. Live in peace with one another.

14 and we exhort you, brethren, admonish the disorderly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the infirm, be patient unto all;

And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.

15 see no one evil for evil may render to any one, but always that which is good pursue ye, both to one another and to all;

Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people.

16 always rejoice ye;

Rejoice at all times.

17 continually pray ye;

Pray without ceasing.

18 in every thing give thanks, for this [is] the will of God in Christ Jesus in regard to you.

Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

19 The Spirit quench not;

Do not extinguish the Spirit.

20 prophesyings despise not;

Do not treat prophecies with contempt,

21 all things prove; that which is good hold fast;

but test all things. Hold fast to what is good.

22 from all appearance of evil abstain ye;

Abstain from every form of evil.

23 and the God of the peace Himself sanctify you wholly, and may your whole spirit, and soul, and body, be preserved unblameably in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

24 stedfast is He who is calling you, who also will do [it].

The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.

25 Brethren, pray for us;

Brothers, pray for us as well.

26 salute all the brethren in an holy kiss;

Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

27 I charge you [by] the Lord, that the letter be read to all the holy brethren;

I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.

28 the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [is] with you! Amen.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.