| 1 | Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. |
| 2 | For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. |
| 3 | When they say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! |
| 4 | But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; |
| 5 | for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. |
| 6 | So then let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober; |
| 7 | for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk get 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 destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, |
| 10 | who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him. |
| 11 | Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing. |
| 12 | But we appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labor among you, and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you; |
| 13 | esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. |
| 14 | And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them. |
| 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 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 the words of prophets, |
| 21 | but test everything; hold fast to what is good; |
| 22 | abstain from every form of evil. |
| 23 | May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. |
| 24 | The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this. |
| 25 | Beloved, pray for us. |
| 26 | Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss. |
| 27 | I solemnly command you by the Lord that this letter be read to all of them. |
| 28 | The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. |
