5 Friends, we do not need to write anything to you about the dates and times when these things will happen. 2 You know very well about how the great day of the Lord will happen. That day will surprise people very much, like when a robber comes in the night. 3 At that time, people will be saying, ‘We are safe and there is no trouble for us.’ But then, when they are not ready for it, great punishment will suddenly happen to them. It will be impossible for them to run away. Pain will suddenly come to them, like a woman who is giving birth to a baby.
4 But you, our Christian friends, know about these things. You are not like people who live in the dark. So when the great day of the Lord happens, it should not suddenly surprise you, like a robber might surprise you. 5 All of you are people who belong to the light and to the day. We who are believers do not belong to the night or to the dark. 6 So we must watch carefully. We should be like people who stay awake. We should not be like other people who are sleeping. 7 It is at night that people sleep. It is at night that people become drunk.
8 But we belong to the day, not to the night. So we should think clearly. We must prepare ourselves like a soldier who puts on his armour. We must continue to trust God and to love him. That will be like a metal shirt that keeps our body safe. We must also continue to hope that God will save us. That will be like a strong hat that keeps our head safe.
9 God did not choose us as his people so that he could be angry with us. He chose us so that he could save us because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done. 10 Jesus died on our behalf so that we can live together with him. It does not matter whether we are alive or dead when he returns. We will all go to live with him. 11 Because of that, you should help each other to become stronger as believers. I know that you are already doing that.
12 Our friends, we ask you to respect your leaders who work hard among you. They lead you and they teach you what is right on the Lord's behalf. 13 Show them how valuable they are to you. And love them very much because of the work that they do. Live at peace among yourselves.
14 Friends, you must warn lazy people that they should work. [ a ] If people are afraid, help them to be brave. If people are weak, take care of them. Be patient with everyone.
15 If someone does something bad against you, do not do anything bad against them in return. Never do that. Instead, always try to do good things that will help one other and help everyone else.
16 Always be happy. 17 Pray at all times. 18 Whatever may happen to you, continue to thank God. God wants you to do that, because you belong to Christ Jesus. 19 Do not stop the work of God's Spirit. 20 When people speak messages on God's behalf, do not refuse to listen. 21 Instead, think carefully about everything, to see if it is true. Remember to obey anything that is good. 22 But keep away from any kind of bad thing.
23 I pray that God will help you to be completely good, as his people should be. He is the one who gives us peace in our minds. I pray that he will take care of you in every way, in your spirit, in your soul and in your body. Then you will not be guilty of anything that is bad, when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. 24 God has chosen you to be his people. We can trust him to do what he has promised to do. So he will do all this for you.
25 Our Christian friends, please pray for us. 26 Say ‘hello’ to all the believers on our behalf, and kiss them as Christian brothers and sisters.
27 I tell you very seriously on the Lord's behalf, please read this letter to all the believers there. 28 I pray that our Lord Jesus Christ will continue to be very kind to you.
5 Now, brothers and sisters, we don’t need to write to you about times and dates. 2 You know very well that the day when the Lord comes again will be a surprise, like a thief who comes at night. 3 People will say, “We have peace and we are safe.” At that time destruction will come to them quickly, like the pains of a woman giving birth. And those people will not escape.
4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not living in darkness. And so that day will not surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all people who belong to the light. You belong to the day. We don’t belong to the night or to darkness. 6 So we should not be like other people. We should not be sleeping. We should be awake and have self-control. 7 People who sleep, sleep at night. People who drink too much, drink at night. 8 But we belong to the day, so we should control ourselves. We should wear faith and love to protect us. And the hope of salvation should be our helmet.
9 God did not choose us to suffer his anger. God chose us to have salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 Jesus died for us so that we can live together with him. It is not important if we are alive or dead when Jesus comes. 11 So encourage each other and help each other grow stronger in faith, just as you are already doing.
12 Now brothers and sisters, we ask you to recognize the value of those who work hard among you—those who, as followers of the Lord, care for you and tell you how to live. 13 Show them the highest respect and love because of the work they do.
Live in peace with each other. 14 We ask you, brothers and sisters, to warn those who will not work. Encourage those who are afraid. Help those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. 15 Be sure that no one pays back wrong for wrong. But always try to do what is good for each other and for all people.
16 Always be full of joy. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Whatever happens, always be thankful. This is how God wants you to live in Christ Jesus.
19 Don’t stop the work of the Holy Spirit. 20 Don’t treat prophecy like something that is not important. 21 But test everything. Keep what is good, 22 and stay away from everything that is evil.
23 We pray that God himself, the God of peace, will make you pure—belonging only to him. We pray that your whole self—spirit, soul, and body—will be kept safe and be blameless when our Lord Jesus Christ comes. 24 The one who chose you will do that for you. You can trust him.
25 Brothers and sisters, please pray for us. 26 Give all the brothers and sisters the special greeting of God’s people. [ a ] 27 I tell you by the authority of the Lord to read this letter to all the believers there. 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
5 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3 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.
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
16 Rejoice evermore.
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
19 Quench not the Spirit.
20 Despise not prophesyings.
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
25 Brethren, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.
27 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
5 Now as to the ( A ) periods and [ a ] times, brothers and sisters , you ( B ) have no need of anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know full well that ( C ) the day of the Lord is coming ( D ) just like a thief in the night. 3 While they are saying, “ ( E ) Peace and safety!” then ( F ) sudden destruction [ b ] will come upon them like ( G ) labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brothers and sisters , are not in ( H ) darkness, so that the day would overtake you [ c ] ( I ) like a thief; 5 for you are all ( J ) sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of ( K ) darkness; 6 so then, let’s not ( L ) sleep as [ d ] ( M ) others do, but let’s be alert and [ e ] ( N ) sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who are drunk, ( O ) get drunk at night. 8 But since ( P ) we are of the day, let’s ( Q ) be [ f ] sober, having put on the ( R ) breastplate of ( S ) faith and love, and as a ( T ) helmet, the ( U ) hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for ( V ) wrath, but for ( W ) obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 ( X ) who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. 11 Therefore, [ g ] encourage one another and ( Y ) build one another up, just as you also are doing.
12 But we ask you, brothers and sisters , to ( Z ) recognize those ( AA ) who diligently labor among you and [ h ] ( AB ) are in leadership over you in the Lord, and give you [ i ] instruction, 13 and that you regard them very highly in love because of their work. ( AC ) Live in peace with one another. 14 We urge you, brothers and sisters , admonish ( AD ) the [ j ] unruly, encourage ( AE ) the fainthearted, help ( AF ) the weak, be ( AG ) patient with everyone. 15 See that ( AH ) no one repays another with evil for evil, but always ( AI ) seek what is good for one another and for all people. 16 ( AJ ) Rejoice always, 17 ( AK ) pray without ceasing, 18 in everything ( AL ) give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. 19 ( AM ) Do not quench the Spirit, 20 do not utterly reject [ k ] ( AN ) prophecies, 21 but ( AO ) examine everything; ( AP ) hold firmly to that which is good, 22 abstain from every [ l ] form of evil.
23 Now ( AQ ) may the God of peace ( AR ) Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your ( AS ) spirit and soul and body be kept complete, ( AT ) without blame at ( AU ) the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 ( AV ) Faithful is He who ( AW ) calls you, and He also will do it.
25 Brothers and sisters , ( AX ) pray for us [ m ] .
26 ( AY ) Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss. 27 I put you under oath by the Lord to ( AZ ) have this letter read to all the ( BA ) brothers and sisters .
28 ( BB ) May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
5 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates ( A ) we do not need to write to you, ( B ) 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord ( C ) will come like a thief in the night. ( D ) 3 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 )
4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness ( H ) so that this day should surprise you like a thief. ( I ) 5 You are all children of the light ( J ) and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, ( K ) but let us be awake ( L ) and sober. ( M ) 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. ( N ) 8 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 ) 9 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.
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 )
