The Day of the Lord
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Now concerning 1the times and the seasons, brothers,a2you have no need to have anything written to you.
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For you yourselves are fully aware that 3the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
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While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then 4sudden destruction will come upon them 5as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
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But you 6are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.
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For you are all 7childrenb of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.
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For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, 11are drunk at night.
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But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, 12having put on the breastplate of 13faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
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16who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.
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Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
Final Instructions and Benediction
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We ask you, brothers, 17to respect those who labor among you and 18are over you in the Lord and admonish you,
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and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. 19Be at peace among yourselves.
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And we urge you, brothers, admonish 20the idle,c21encourage the fainthearted, 22help the weak, 23be patient with them all.
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See that 24no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always 25seek to do good to one another and to everyone.
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26Rejoice always,
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27pray without ceasing,
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28give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
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29Do not quench the Spirit.
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Do not despise 30prophecies,
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but 31test everything; hold fast what is good.
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Abstain from every form of evil.
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Now may 32the God of peace himself 33sanctify you completely, and may your 34whole 35spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at 36the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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39Brothers, pray for us.
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40Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.
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I put you under oath before the Lord to have 41this letter read to all the brothers.
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42The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)