Shared Word Translation
1 Thessalonians 5
The Day of the Lord
Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you have no need for anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night.
When they are saying, “Peace and security,” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will certainly not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers and sisters, so that the day should overtake you like a thief;
for you are all children of light and children of the day. We are not of the night or of darkness. So then let us not sleep as the others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.
For those who sleep sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night; but since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.
For God has not appointed us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you are doing.
Final Instructions
Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.
And we urge you, brothers and sisters, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all. See that no one repays evil for evil, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Do not quench the Spirit, do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast to what is good, abstain from every form of evil.
Benediction and Closing
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
Brothers and sisters, pray for us. Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss. I adjure you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the brothers and sisters. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.