For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

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For you yourselves know full well that (A)the day of the Lord is coming (B)just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “(C)Peace and safety!” then (D)sudden destruction [a]will come upon them like (E)labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers and sisters, are not in (F)darkness, so that the day would overtake you [b](G)like a thief; for you are all (H)sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of (I)darkness; so then, let’s not (J)sleep as [c](K)others do, but let’s be alert and [d](L)sober.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 5:3 Lit is coming
  2. 1 Thessalonians 5:4 One early ms like thieves
  3. 1 Thessalonians 5:6 Lit the rest (of mankind)
  4. 1 Thessalonians 5:6 Or self-controlled

For you yourselves know perfectly well that the day of the [return of the] Lord is coming just as a thief [comes unexpectedly and suddenly] in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety [all is well and secure!]” then [in a moment unforeseen] destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains on a woman with child, and they will absolutely not escape [for there will be no way to escape the judgment of the Lord]. But you, [a]believers, [all you who believe in Christ as Savior and acknowledge Him as God’s Son] are not in spiritual darkness [nor held by its power], that the day [of judgment] would overtake you [by surprise] like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We do not belong to the night nor to darkness. So then let us not sleep [in spiritual indifference] as the rest [of the world does], but let us keep wide awake [alert and cautious] and let us be sober [self-controlled, calm, and wise].

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 5:4 Lit brethren.