The Day of the Lord

1 Now concerning 1the times and the seasons, brothers,a2you have no need to have anything written to you.
2 For you yourselves are fully aware that 3the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
3 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.
4 But you 6are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.
5 For you are all 7childrenb of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.
6 So then 8let us not sleep, as others do, but let us 9keep awake and 10be sober.
7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, 11are drunk at night.
8 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.
9 For God has not destined us for 14wrath, but 15to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 16who 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, 17to respect those who labor among you and 18are over you in the Lord and admonish you,
13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. 19Be at peace among yourselves.
14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish 20the idle,c21encourage the fainthearted, 22help the weak, 23be patient with them all.
15 See that 24no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always 25seek to do good to one another and to everyone.
16 26Rejoice always,
17 27pray without ceasing,
18 28give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
19 29Do not quench the Spirit.
20 Do not despise 30prophecies,
21 but 31test everything; hold fast what is good.
22 Abstain from every form of evil.
23 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.
24 37He who calls you is faithful; 38he will surely do it.
25 39Brothers, pray for us.
26 40Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.
27 I put you under oath before the Lord to have 41this letter read to all the brothers.
28 42The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.