5Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates^g we do not need to write to you,^h ²for you know very well that the day of the Lordⁱ will come like a thief in the night.^j ³While people are saying, “Peace and safety,”^k destruction will come on them suddenly,^l as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.^m

⁴But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darknessⁿ so that this day should surprise you like a thief.^o ⁵You are all children of the light^p and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. ⁶So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep,^q but let us be awake^r and sober.^s ⁷For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.^t ⁸But since we belong to the day,^u let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate,^v and the hope of salvation^w as a helmet.^x ⁹For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath^y but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.^z ¹⁰He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.^a ¹¹Therefore encourage one another^b and build each other up,^c just as in fact you are doing.

Final Instructions

¹²Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard^d among you, who care for you in the Lord^e and who admonish you. ¹³Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.^f ¹⁴And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle^g and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak,^h be patient with everyone. ¹⁵Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong,ⁱ but always strive to do what is good for each other^j and for everyone else.

¹⁶Rejoice always,^k ¹⁷pray continually,^l ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances;^m for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

¹⁹Do not quench the Spirit.ⁿ ²⁰Do not treat prophecies^o with contempt ²¹but test them all;^p hold on to what is good,^q ²²reject every kind of evil.

²³May God himself, the God of peace,^r sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul^s and body be kept blameless^t at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.^u ²⁴The one who calls^v you is faithful,^w and he will do it.^x

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

²⁸The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.^b

Read in Logos

Cross references

g Ac 1:7
h 1 Th 4:9
iSee 1 Co 1:8
jSee Lk 12:39
k Jer 4:10; 6:14; Eze 13:10
l Job 15:21; Ps 35:8; 55:15; Isa 29:5; 47:9, 11
m 2 Th 1:9
nSee Ac 26:18; 1 Jn 2:8
over 2
pSee Lk 16:8
q Ro 13:11
rSee Mt 25:13
sSee Ac 24:25
t Ac 2:15; Ro 13:13; 2 Pe 2:13
uver 5
vSee Eph 6:14
w Ro 8:24
x Isa 59:17; Eph 6:17
y 1 Th 1:10
z 2 Th 2:13, 14
a Ro 14:9; 2 Co 5:15
b 1 Th 4:18
c Eph 4:29
d Ro 16:6, 12; 1 Co 15:10
e 1 Ti 5:17; Heb 13:17
fSee Mk 9:50
g 2 Th 3:6, 7, 11
h Ro 14:1; 1 Co 8:7–12
i Ro 12:17; 1 Pe 3:9
j Eph 4:32
k Php 4:4
lSee Lk 18:1
mSee Eph 5:20
n Eph 4:30
o 1 Co 14:1–40
p 1 Co 14:29; 1 Jn 4:1
q Ro 12:9
rSee Ro 15:33
s Heb 4:12
tSee 1 Th 3:13
uSee 1 Th 2:19
vSee Ro 8:28
wSee 1 Co 1:9
x Nu 23:19; Php 1:6
y Eph 6:19; Col 4:3; 2 Th 3:1; Heb 13:18
zSee Ro 16:16
a 2 Th 3:14; See 1 Ti 4:13
bSee Ro 16:20