1Brothers and sisters, we don’t have to write to you about times and dates.2You know very well how the day of the Lord will come. It will come like a thief in the night.3People will be saying that everything is peaceful and safe. Then suddenly they will be destroyed. It will happen like birth-pains coming on a pregnant woman. None of the people will escape.4Brothers and sisters, you are not in darkness. So that day should not surprise you as a thief would.5All of you are children of the light. You are children of the day. We don’t belong to the night. We don’t belong to the darkness.6So let us not be like the others. They are asleep. Instead, let us be wide awake and in full control of ourselves.7Those who sleep, sleep at night. Those who get drunk, get drunk at night.8But we belong to the day. So let us control ourselves. Let us put on our chest the armour of faith and love. Let us put on the hope of salvation like a helmet.9God didn’t choose us to receive his anger. He chose us to receive salvation because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done.10Jesus died for us. Some will be alive when he comes. Others will be dead. Either way, we will live together with him.11So encourage one another with the hope you have. Build each other up. In fact, that’s what you are doing.
Final teachings
12Brothers and sisters, we ask you to accept the godly leaders who work hard among you. They care for you in the Lord. They correct you.13Have a lot of respect for them. Love them because of what they do. Live in peace with one another.14Brothers and sisters, we are asking you to warn certain people. These people don’t want to work. Instead, they make trouble. We are also asking you to encourage those who have lost hope. Help those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.15Make sure that no one pays back one wrong act with another. Instead, always try to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.16Always be joyful.17Never stop praying.18Give thanks no matter what happens. God wants you to thank him because you believe in Christ Jesus.19Don’t try to stop what the Holy Spirit is doing.20Don’t treat prophecies as if they weren’t important.21But test all prophecies. Hold on to what is good.22Say no to every kind of evil.23God is the God who gives peace. May he make you holy through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept free from blame. May you be without blame from now until our Lord Jesus Christ comes.24The God who has chosen you is faithful. He will do all these things.25Brothers and sisters, pray for us.26Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss.27While the Lord is watching, here is what I command you. Have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.28May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
1 Thessalonians 5
English Standard Version
The Day of the Lord
1Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers,[1] you have no need to have anything written to you. (Da 2:21; Ac 1:7; 1Th 4:9)2For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. (Mt 24:43; Lu 17:24; 2Th 2:2)3While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. (Ps 35:8; Isa 13:8; Lu 17:26; Lu 21:34; 2Th 1:9)4But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. (1Jo 2:8)5For you are all children[2] of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. (Lu 16:8)6So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. (Mt 24:42; Mr 13:36; Ro 13:11; 1Pe 1:13)7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. (Ac 2:15; 2Pe 2:13)8But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. (Isa 59:17; Eph 6:14; Eph 6:17; Eph 6:23)9For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, (1Th 1:10; 2Th 2:13; Heb 10:39)10who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. (Ro 14:9; 2Ti 2:11)11Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
Final Instructions and Benediction
12We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, (1Co 16:16; 1Co 16:18; Php 2:29; Heb 13:17)13and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. (Mr 9:50)14And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle,[3] encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. (Isa 35:4; Ac 20:35; Ro 15:1; 1Co 13:4; 2Th 3:6; 2Th 3:11; Heb 12:12)15See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. (Ro 12:9; Ro 12:17; Ga 6:10; 1Pe 3:9)16Rejoice always, (Php 4:4)17pray without ceasing, (Lu 18:1)18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (Eph 5:20)19Do not quench the Spirit. (1Co 14:30; Eph 4:30; 1Ti 4:14; 2Ti 1:6)20Do not despise prophecies, (1Co 11:4)21but test everything; hold fast what is good. (Job 34:4; Eph 5:10; 1Jo 4:1)22Abstain from every form of evil.23Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ex 31:13; Lu 1:46; Joh 17:17; Ro 15:33; 1Co 14:14; 1Th 2:19; Heb 4:12; 2Pe 3:14; Jud 1:1)24He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. (1Co 1:9; Php 1:6)25Brothers, pray for us. (2Th 3:1; Heb 13:18)26Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. (Ro 16:16)27I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers. (Col 4:16)28The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. (Ro 16:20)