1.Thessalonicher 5 | New International Reader’s Version

The day of the Lord is coming

1 Brothers and sisters, we don’t have to write to you about times and dates.

2 You know very well how the day of the Lord will come. It will come like a thief in the night.

3 People will be saying that everything is peaceful and safe. Then suddenly they will be destroyed. It will happen like birth-pains coming on a pregnant woman. None of the people will escape.

4 Brothers and sisters, you are not in darkness. So that day should not surprise you as a thief would.

5 All of you are children of the light. You are children of the day. We don’t belong to the night. We don’t belong to the darkness.

6 So let us not be like the others. They are asleep. Instead, let us be wide awake and in full control of ourselves.

7 Those who sleep, sleep at night. Those who get drunk, get drunk at night.

8 But we belong to the day. So let us control ourselves. Let us put on our chest the armour of faith and love. Let us put on the hope of salvation like a helmet.

9 God didn’t choose us to receive his anger. He chose us to receive salvation because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done.

10 Jesus died for us. Some will be alive when he comes. Others will be dead. Either way, we will live together with him.

11 So encourage one another with the hope you have. Build each other up. In fact, that’s what you are doing.

Final teachings

12 Brothers and sisters, we ask you to accept the godly leaders who work hard among you. They care for you in the Lord. They correct you.

13 Have a lot of respect for them. Love them because of what they do. Live in peace with one another.

14 Brothers and sisters, we are asking you to warn certain people. These people don’t want to work. Instead, they make trouble. We are also asking you to encourage those who have lost hope. Help those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.

15 Make sure that no one pays back one wrong act with another. Instead, always try to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

16 Always be joyful.

17 Never stop praying.

18 Give thanks no matter what happens. God wants you to thank him because you believe in Christ Jesus.

19 Don’t try to stop what the Holy Spirit is doing.

20 Don’t treat prophecies as if they weren’t important.

21 But test all prophecies. Hold on to what is good.

22 Say no to every kind of evil.

23 God is the God who gives peace. May he make you holy through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept free from blame. May you be without blame from now until our Lord Jesus Christ comes.

24 The God who has chosen you is faithful. He will do all these things.

25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us.

26 Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss.

27 While the Lord is watching, here is what I command you. Have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.

28 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

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English Standard Version

The Day of the Lord

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

2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come 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.

4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you 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.

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, having 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 are awake or asleep we might live with him.

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

Final Instructions and Benediction

12 We ask you, brothers, 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 urge you, brothers, admonish the idle,* encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.

15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.

16 Rejoice always,

17 pray without ceasing,

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 prophecies,

21 but test everything; hold fast what is good.

22 Abstain from every form 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.

24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

25 Brothers, pray for us.

26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

27 I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.

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

The ESV^® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^®) copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV^® Text Edition: 2016. The ESV^® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. The ESV^® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^®) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.