English Standard Version ESV
New Living Translation NLT
1 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers,you have no need to have anything written to you.
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Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don’t really need to write you.
2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
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For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.
3 While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
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When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.
4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.
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But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief.
5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.
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For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night.
6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.
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So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.
7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night.
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Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk.
8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
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But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.
9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
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For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us.
10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.
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Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.
11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
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So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,
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Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance.
13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.
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Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other.
14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle,encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.
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Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.
15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.
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See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.
16 Rejoice always,
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Always be joyful.
17 pray without ceasing,
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Never stop praying.
18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
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Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
19 Do not quench the Spirit.
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Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.
20 Do not despise prophecies,
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Do not scoff at prophecies,
21 but test everything; hold fast what is good.
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but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good.
22 Abstain from every form of evil.
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Stay away from every kind of evil.
23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.
24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
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God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.
25 Brothers, pray for us.
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Dear brothers and sisters, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.
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Greet all the brothers and sisters with a sacred kiss.
27 I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.
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I command you in the name of the Lord to read this letter to all the brothers and sisters.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
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May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.