1 Thessalonians 5

Modern

Literal

The Day of the Lord

¹Now about the times and seasons, brothers, we do not need to write to you.

¹Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to be written to you.

²For you are fully aware that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

²For you yourselves thoroughly know that the day of the Lord comes in this way, as a thief in the night.

³While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

³When they may say, “Peace and security,” then suddenly destruction comes upon them, as the labor pains to her having in womb; and they shall not escape.

⁴But you, brothers, are not in the darkness so that this day should overtake you like a thief.

⁴But you, brothers, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief.

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

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

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

⁶So then, we should not sleep as the rest, but we should watch and we should be sober.

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

⁷For those sleeping, sleep by night; and those becoming drunk, get drunk by night.

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

⁸But we, being of the day, should be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet—the hope of salvation,

⁹For God has not appointed us to suffer wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁹because God did not set us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

¹⁰He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.

¹⁰the One having died for us, so that whether we may watch or we may sleep, we may live together with Him.

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

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

Christian Living

¹²But we ask you, brothers, to acknowledge those who work diligently among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you.

¹²But we ask you, brothers, to know those toiling among you and presiding over you in the Lord and admonishing you,

¹³In love, hold them in highest regard because of their work. Live in peace with one another.

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

¹⁴And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.

¹⁴And we exhort you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, support the weak, be patient toward all.

¹⁵Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people.

¹⁵See that no one shall repay to anyone evil for evil, but always pursue the good also to one another and to all.

¹⁶Rejoice at all times.

¹⁶Always rejoice.

¹⁷Pray without ceasing.

¹⁷Unceasingly pray.

¹⁸Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

¹⁸In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

¹⁹Do not extinguish the Spirit.

¹⁹Do not quench the Spirit.

²⁰Do not treat prophecies with contempt,

²⁰Do not despise prophecies,

²¹but test all things. Hold fast to what is good.

²¹but test all things. Hold fast to the good.

²²Abstain from every form of evil.

Final Blessings and Instructions

²³Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless^a at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

²³Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your entire spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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

²⁴Faithful is the One calling you, who also will do it.

²⁵Brothers, pray for us as well.

²⁵Brothers, pray also for us.

²⁶Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

²⁷I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.

²⁷I adjure you by the Lord for the letter to be read to all the brothers.

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

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