1 Thessalonians 5

5 ¹ Now about the times and seasons, brothers and sisters, you need nothing written to you. ² You yourselves know very well that the day of our Lord Jesus comes like a thief in the night. ³ When they say, 'Peace and safety,' sudden destruction hits them—like labor pains on a pregnant woman—and they won't escape. ⁴ But you, brothers and sisters, aren't in darkness for that day to surprise you like a thief. ⁵ You are all children of light and of day; we belong to neither night nor darkness. ⁶ So then, let us not sleep like the rest, but stay alert and clearheaded. 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, wearing faith and love as a breastplate, and hope of salvation as a helmet. ⁹ For our Father has not destined us for wrath, but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁰ who died for us, so that awake or asleep, we would live together with him. ¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Living as Children of Light

¹² We ask you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who work hard among you, lead you in the Lord, and correct you, ¹³ Esteem them most highly in love for their work. Live at peace with one another.

¹⁴ Brothers and sisters, we urge you: correct the idle, comfort the discouraged, support the weak, be patient with all. ¹⁵ See that none repay evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue good for one another and for all.

¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ Never stop praying, ¹⁸ give thanks in everything; for this is the will of our Father in Christ Jesus for you. ¹⁹ Don't extinguish the Holy Spirit. ²⁰ Do not treat prophecies with contempt, ²¹ but test everything; hold on to what is good. ²² Stay away from every kind of evil.

²³ May our Father of peace himself make you completely holy, and may your entire spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at our Lord Jesus Christ's coming. ²⁴ The one who calls you is faithful; he will surely bring it about.

²⁵ Brothers and sisters, pray for us.

²⁶ Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss. ²⁷ I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.

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