1 Thessalonians 5

¹ But as to the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need to have anything written to you.

² For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

³ When people say, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as travail comes upon a woman with child, and there will be no escape.

⁴ But you are not in darkness, brethren, for that day to surprise you like a thief.

⁵ For you are all sons of light and sons of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness.

⁶ So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.

⁷ For those who sleep sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.

⁸ But, since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.

⁹ For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

¹⁰ who died for us so that whether we wake or sleep we might live with him.

¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

¹² But we beseech you, brethren, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,

¹³ and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

¹⁴ And we exhort you, brethren, admonish the idlers, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.

¹⁵ See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all.

¹⁶ Rejoice always,

¹⁷ pray constantly,

¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit,

²⁰ do not despise prophesying,

²¹ but test everything; hold fast what is good,

²² abstain from every form of evil.

²³ May the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

²⁴ He who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.

²⁵ Brethren, pray for us.

²⁶ Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.

²⁷ I adjure you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the brethren.

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