1 Thessalonians 5

The day of the Lord comes as a thief

Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don’t really need to write you.a ²For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.b ³When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.c

⁴But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. ⁵For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night.d ⁶So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.e

⁷Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. ⁸But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.f ⁹For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us.g

¹⁰Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.h ¹¹So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.i

How to live together

¹²Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance.j ¹³Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other. ¹⁴Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.k

¹⁵See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.l ¹⁶Always be joyful.m ¹⁷Never stop praying.n

¹⁸Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.o ¹⁹Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.p ²⁰Do not scoff at prophecies,q ²¹but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good.r

²²Stay away from every kind of evil.s

May God keep you blameless

²³Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.t ²⁴God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.u ²⁵Dear brothers and sisters, pray for us.

²⁶Greet all the brothers and sisters with a sacred kiss.v ²⁷I command you in the name of the Lord to read this letter to all the brothers and sisters. ²⁸May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.