Keep Watch for the Day of the Lord
5 Now concerning the times and seasons,[a] brothers and sisters, you have no need for anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lord[b] comes like a thief in the night. 3 When they are saying, “Shalom and safety,”[c] sudden destruction comes upon them like a woman having birth pains in the womb—there is no way they will escape. 4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the dark, so that the Day might overtake you like a thief. [d] 5 For you all are sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night or of darkness— 6 so then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain on the alert and sober-minded. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night; and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we are of the day, let us be sober-minded—putting on the breastplate of faithfulness and love, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. [e] 9 For God did not destine us for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. 10 He died for us so that, whether we may be awake or asleep,[f] we may live together with Him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up—just as you in fact are doing.
Instructions for Community Life
12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to recognize those who work hard among you and are over you in the Lord and correct[g] you, 13 and to esteem them beyond all measure in love because of their work. Keep shalom among yourselves.
14 We urge you, brothers and sisters, correct the unruly, comfort the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 See that no one repays evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all.
16 Rejoice always,
17 pray constantly,
18 in everything give thanks;
for this is God’s will for you in Messiah Yeshua.
19 Do not quench the Spirit,
20 do not despise prophetic messages,
21 but test all things, hold fast to what is good,
22 keep away from every kind of evil.
23 Now may the God of shalom Himself make you completely holy; and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept complete, blameless at the coming of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. 24 Faithful is the One who calls you—and He will make it happen!
Closing Greetings
25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you under oath, by the Lord, that this letter be read to all the brothers and sisters.
28 The grace of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah be with you.[h]
Footnotes
- 1 Thessalonians 5:1 cf. Dan. 2:21; Acts 1:7.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:2 cf. Isa. 13:6, 9; Ezek 30:3; Joel 1:15, 2:1, 11, Obad. 15, Zeph. 1:14, Mal. 3:23(4:5).
- 1 Thessalonians 5:3 cf. Jer. 6:14; 8:11; Ezek. 13:10.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:5 cf. Job 24:13-17.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:9 cf. Isa 59:17.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:10 Or whether we may be alive or dead.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:12 cf. 1 Cor. 4:14.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:28 Some mss. add Amen.