The Day of the Lord

1 Thessalonians 5

Now siblings, concerning the times and the seasons, y’all don’t need anything to be written to you*. For y’all know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, like birth pains on a pregnant woman, and then there will be no escape. But siblings, y’all aren’t in darkness where the day could overtake you* like a thief. Y’all are all children of light and children of the day. We don’t belong to the night or to the darkness. So then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet of the hope of salvation. For God didn’t appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with him. Therefore y’all should encourage one another and build each other up, just as y’all are already doing.

Exhortations and Blessings

Now we ask y’all, siblings, to acknowledge those who work diligently among y’all, who lead y’all in the Lord and who admonish y’all. Respect and honor them in love for their work’s sake.

Y’all should live in peace with each other. Siblings, we urge y’all: y’all must warn the undisciplined, encourage the disheartened, support the weak, and be patient with everyone. Y’all see to it that no one pays back evil with evil. Instead, y’all should always pursue what is good for one another and for all.

Rejoice always, y’all. Pray constantly, y’all. Give thanks in everything, y’all. For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus in y’all.

Y’all must not quench the Spirit. Y’all must not despise prophecies. Instead y’all should test all things, and hold firmly to what is excellent. Y’all must stay away from every form of evil.

May the God of peace ʜɪᴍꜱᴇʟꜰ sanctify y’all completely. May y’all’s whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hᴇ who calls y’all is faithful, and ʜᴇ will make it happen.

Siblings, pray for us, y’all.

Y’all greet all the siblings with a holy kiss. I solemnly command y’all by the Lord that this letter be read to all the holy siblings.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with y’all.