1 Thessalonians 5

The Day of the Lord

5About the times and the seasons: ^zBrothers, you do not need anything to be written to you. ²For you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lord ^awill come just like a thief ^bin the night. ³When they say, “Peace and security,” then sudden destruction ^ccomes on them, like labor pains come on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. ⁴But you, brothers, are not in the dark, for this day to overtake you like a thief. ^d5For you are all sons of light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness. ^e6So then, we must not sleep, like the rest, but we must stay awake and be serious. ⁷For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. ⁸But since we belong to the day, we must be serious ^fand put the armor ^gof faith and love on our chests, and put on a helmet ^hof the hope of salvation. ⁹For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord ⁱJesus Christ, ^j10who died for us, ^kso that whether we are awake or asleep, ^lwe will live together with Him. ^m11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.

Exhortations and Blessings

¹²Now we ask you, brothers, to give recognition ⁿto those who labor among you and lead you in the Lord and admonish you, ¹³and to regard them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace ^oamong yourselves. ¹⁴And we exhort you, brothers: ^pwarn those who are irresponsible, ^qcomfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient ^rwith everyone. ¹⁵See to it that no one repays evil for evil ^sto anyone, ^tbut always pursue what is good for one another and for all. ^u

¹⁶Rejoice ^valways!

¹⁷Pray constantly.

¹⁸Give thanks in everything,

for this is God’s will ^wfor you in Christ Jesus.

¹⁹Don’t stifle the Spirit.

²⁰Don’t despise prophecies,

²¹but test all things. ^x

Hold on to what is good.

²²Stay away ^yfrom every kind of evil.

²³Now may the God of peace ^zHimself sanctify you completely. And may your spirit, ^asoul, and body be kept sound and blameless for the coming ^bof our Lord ^cJesus Christ. ^d24He who calls ^eyou ^fis faithful, who also will do it. ²⁵Brothers, pray for us also. ²⁶Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. ²⁷I charge you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the brothers. ^g28The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.