1 Thessalonians 5:1-28 (New American Standard)

The Day of the Lord

1 Now as to the ¹times and the epochs, brethren, you ²have no need of anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know full well that ³the day of the Lord ^awill come ⁴just like a thief in the night. 3 While they are saying, "⁵Peace and safety !" then ^b6destruction ^cwill come upon them suddenly like ⁷labor pains upon a woman with child , and they will not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in ⁸darkness, that the day would overtake you ^d9like a thief ; 5 for you are all ¹⁰sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of ¹¹darkness ; 6 so then let us not ¹²sleep as ^e13others do, but let us be alert and ^f14sober. 7 For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get ¹⁵drunk at night. 8 But since ¹⁶we are of the day, let us ¹⁷be ^gsober, having put on the ¹⁸breastplate of ¹⁹faith and love, and as a ²⁰helmet, the ²¹hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for ²²wrath, but for ²³obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 ²⁴who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. 11 Therefore ^hencourage one another and ²⁵build up one another, just as you also are doing.

Christian Conduct

12 But we request of you, brethren, that you ⁱ²⁶appreciate those ²⁷who diligently labor among you, and ²⁸have charge over you in the Lord and give you ^jinstruction, 13 and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. ²⁹Live in peace with one another. 14 We urge you, brethren, admonish ³⁰the ^kunruly, encourage ³¹the fainthearted, help ³²the weak, be ³³patient with everyone. 15 See that ³⁴no one repays another with evil for evil, but always ³⁵seek after that which is good for one another and for all people. 16 ³⁶Rejoice always ; 17 ³⁷pray without ceasing ; 18 in everything ³⁸give thanks ; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 ³⁹Do not quench the Spirit ; 20 do not despise ⁴⁰prophetic ^lutterances. 21 But ⁴¹examine everything carefully; ⁴²hold fast to that which is good ; 22 abstain from every ^mform of evil. 23 Now ⁴³may the God of peace ⁴⁴Himself sanctify you entirely ; and may your ⁴⁵spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, ⁴⁶without blame at ⁴⁷the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 ⁴⁸Faithful is He who ⁴⁹calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. 25 Brethren, ⁵⁰pray for usⁿ. 26 ⁵¹Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss. 27 I adjure you by the Lord to ⁵²have this letter read to all the ⁵³brethren. 28 ⁵⁴The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.