The Day of the Lord
1 About the times and the seasons: e Brothers and sisters, you do not need anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord f will come just like a thief g in the night. 3 When they say, “Peace and security,” then sudden destruction h will come upon them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the dark, for this day to surprise you like a thief. i 5 For you are all children of light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness. j 6 So then, let us not sleep, like the rest, but let us stay awake and be self-controlled. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled k and put on the armor l of faith and love, and a helmet m of the hope of salvation. 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord n Jesus Christ, o 10 who died for us, p so that whether we are awake or asleep, q we may live together with him. r 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.
Exhortations and Blessings
12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to give recognition s to those who labor among you and lead you Q in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to regard them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace t among yourselves. 14 And we exhort you, brothers and sisters: u warn those who are idle, R comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient v with everyone. 15 See to it that no one repays evil for evil w to anyone, x but always pursue what is good for one another and for all. y 16 Rejoice z always, 17 pray constantly, 18 give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will a for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Don’t stifle the Spirit. 20 Don’t despise prophecies, 21 but test all things. b Hold on to what is good. 22 Stay away c from every kind of evil.
23 Now may the God of peace d himself sanctify you completely. And may your whole spirit, e soul, and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming f of our Lord g Jesus Christ. h 24 He who calls i you j is faithful; he will do it. 25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us also. 26 Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the brothers and sisters. k 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.