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The Day of the Lord

Now concerning (A)the times and the seasons, brothers,[a] (B)you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that (C)the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security”, then (D)sudden destruction will come upon them (E)as labour pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you (F)are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all (G)children[b] of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then (H)let us not sleep, as others do, but let us (I)keep awake and (J)be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, (K)are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, (L)having put on the breastplate of (M)faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for (N)wrath, but (O)to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 (P)who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Final Instructions and Benediction

12 We ask you, brothers, (Q)to respect those who labour among you and (R)are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. (S)Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish (T)the idle,[c] (U)encourage the faint-hearted, (V)help the weak, (W)be patient with them all. 15 See that (X)no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always (Y)seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 (Z)Rejoice always, 17 (AA)pray without ceasing, 18 (AB)give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 (AC)Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise (AD)prophecies, 21 but (AE)test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.

23 Now may (AF)the God of peace himself (AG)sanctify you completely, and may your (AH)whole (AI)spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at (AJ)the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 (AK)He who calls you is faithful; (AL)he will surely do it.

25 (AM)Brothers, pray for us.

26 (AN)Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

27 I put you under oath before the Lord to have (AO)this letter read to all the brothers.

28 (AP)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 5:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 4, 12, 14, 25, 26, 27
  2. 1 Thessalonians 5:5 Or sons; twice in this verse
  3. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 Or disorderly, or undisciplined

The Day of the Lord

Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates(A) we do not need to write to you,(B) for you know very well that the day of the Lord(C) will come like a thief in the night.(D) While people are saying, “Peace and safety,”(E) destruction will come on them suddenly,(F) as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.(G)

But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness(H) so that this day should surprise you like a thief.(I) You are all children of the light(J) and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep,(K) but let us be awake(L) and sober.(M) For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.(N) But since we belong to the day,(O) let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate,(P) and the hope of salvation(Q) as a helmet.(R) For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath(S) but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.(T) 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.(U) 11 Therefore encourage one another(V) and build each other up,(W) just as in fact you are doing.

Final Instructions

12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard(X) among you, who care for you in the Lord(Y) and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.(Z) 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle(AA) and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak,(AB) be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong,(AC) but always strive to do what is good for each other(AD) and for everyone else.

16 Rejoice always,(AE) 17 pray continually,(AF) 18 give thanks in all circumstances;(AG) for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

19 Do not quench the Spirit.(AH) 20 Do not treat prophecies(AI) with contempt 21 but test them all;(AJ) hold on to what is good,(AK) 22 reject every kind of evil.

23 May God himself, the God of peace,(AL) sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul(AM) and body be kept blameless(AN) at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.(AO) 24 The one who calls(AP) you is faithful,(AQ) and he will do it.(AR)

25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us.(AS) 26 Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss.(AT) 27 I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.(AU)

28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.(AV)