The Day of the Lord
(Zephaniah 1:7–18; Malachi 4:1–6; 2 Peter 3:8–13)

1 Περὶ (Concerning) δὲ (now) τῶν (the) χρόνων (times) καὶ (and) τῶν (the) καιρῶν (seasons), ἀδελφοί (brothers), οὐ (no) χρείαν (need) ἔχετε (you⁺ have) ὑμῖν (to you⁺) γράφεσθαι (to be written)· 2 αὐτοὶ (Yourselves) γὰρ (for) ἀκριβῶς (thoroughly) οἴδατε (you⁺ know) ὅτι (that) ἡμέρα (the day) Κυρίου (of the Lord) ὡς (as) κλέπτης (a thief) ἐν (in) νυκτὶ (the night) οὕτως (in this way) ἔρχεται (comes). 3 ὅταν (When) λέγωσιν (they may say)· Εἰρήνη (Peace) καὶ (and) ἀσφάλεια (security), τότε (then) αἰφνίδιος (suddenly) αὐτοῖς (upon them) ἐφίσταται (comes) ὄλεθρος (destruction) ὥσπερ (as) ἡ (the) ὠδὶν (labor pains) τῇ (to her) ἐν (in) γαστρὶ (womb) ἐχούσῃ (having), καὶ (and) οὐ (no) μὴ (not) ἐκφύγωσιν (shall they escape).

4 Ὑμεῖς (You⁺) δέ (however), ἀδελφοί (brothers), οὐκ (not) ἐστὲ (are) ἐν (in) σκότει (darkness), ἵνα (that) ἡ (the) ἡμέρα (day) ὑμᾶς (you⁺) ὡς (like) κλέπτης (a thief) καταλάβῃ (should overtake)· 5 πάντες (All) γὰρ (for) ὑμεῖς (you⁺) υἱοὶ (sons) φωτός (of light) ἐστε (are) καὶ (and) υἱοὶ (sons) ἡμέρας (of day). Οὐκ (Not) ἐσμὲν (we are) νυκτὸς (of night) οὐδὲ (and not) σκότους (of darkness)· 6 ἄρα (So) οὖν (then) μὴ (not) καθεύδωμεν (we should sleep) ὡς (as) οἱ (the) λοιποί (rest), ἀλλὰ (but) γρηγορῶμεν (we should watch) καὶ (and) νήφωμεν (we should be sober). 7 οἱ (Those) γὰρ (for) καθεύδοντες (sleeping) νυκτὸς (by night) καθεύδουσιν (sleep), καὶ (and) οἱ (those) μεθυσκόμενοι (becoming drunk) νυκτὸς (by night) μεθύουσιν (get drunk)· 8 ἡμεῖς (We) δὲ (however) ἡμέρας (of the day) ὄντες (being) νήφωμεν (should be sober), ἐνδυσάμενοι (having put on) θώρακα (the breastplate) πίστεως (of faith) καὶ (and) ἀγάπης (love) καὶ (and) περικεφαλαίαν (the helmet) ἐλπίδα (the hope) σωτηρίας (of salvation)· 9 ὅτι (because) οὐκ (not) ἔθετο (set) ἡμᾶς (us) ὁ (-) Θεὸς (God) εἰς (for) ὀργὴν (wrath) ἀλλὰ (but) εἰς (for) περιποίησιν (obtaining) σωτηρίας (salvation) διὰ (through) τοῦ (the) Κυρίου (Lord) ἡμῶν (of us) Ἰησοῦ (Jesus) Χριστοῦ (Christ), 10 τοῦ (the One) ἀποθανόντος (having died) περὶ (for) ἡμῶν (us), ἵνα (so that) εἴτε (whether) γρηγορῶμεν (we may watch) εἴτε (or) καθεύδωμεν (we may sleep) ἅμα (together) σὺν (with) αὐτῷ (Him) ζήσωμεν (we may live). 11 Διὸ (Therefore) παρακαλεῖτε (encourage) ἀλλήλους (one another) καὶ (and) οἰκοδομεῖτε (build up) εἷς (one) τὸν (-) ἕνα (another), καθὼς (just as) καὶ (also) ποιεῖτε (you⁺ are doing).

Christian Living

12 Ἐρωτῶμεν (We ask) δὲ (however) ὑμᾶς (you⁺), ἀδελφοί (brothers), εἰδέναι (to know) τοὺς (those) κοπιῶντας (toiling) ἐν (among) ὑμῖν (you⁺) καὶ (and) προϊσταμένους (presiding) ὑμῶν (over you⁺) ἐν (in) Κυρίῳ (the Lord) καὶ (and) νουθετοῦντας (admonishing) ὑμᾶς (you⁺), 13 καὶ (and) ἡγεῖσθαι (to esteem) αὐτοὺς (them) ὑπερεκπερισσοῦ (exceedingly) ἐν (in) ἀγάπῃ (love) διὰ (because of) τὸ (the) ἔργον (work) αὐτῶν (of them). εἰρηνεύετε (Be at peace) ἐν (among) ἑαυτοῖς (yourselves).

14 Παρακαλοῦμεν (We exhort) δὲ (now) ὑμᾶς (you⁺), ἀδελφοί (brothers), νουθετεῖτε (to admonish) τοὺς (the) ἀτάκτους (unruly), παραμυθεῖσθε (encourage) τοὺς (the) ὀλιγοψύχους (fainthearted), ἀντέχεσθε (support) τῶν (the) ἀσθενῶν (weak), μακροθυμεῖτε (be patient) πρὸς (toward) πάντας (all).

15 Ὁρᾶτε (See that) μή (no) τις (one) κακὸν (evil) ἀντὶ (for) κακοῦ (evil) τινι (to anyone) ἀποδῷ (shall repay), ἀλλὰ (but) πάντοτε (always) τὸ (the) ἀγαθὸν (good) διώκετε (pursue) καὶ (also) εἰς (to) ἀλλήλους (one another) καὶ (and) εἰς (to) πάντας (all).

16 Πάντοτε (Always) χαίρετε (rejoice), 17 ἀδιαλείπτως (Unceasingly) προσεύχεσθε (pray), 18 ἐν (In) παντὶ (everything) εὐχαριστεῖτε (give thanks)· τοῦτο (this) γὰρ (for) θέλημα (is the will) Θεοῦ (of God) ἐν (in) Χριστῷ (Christ) Ἰησοῦ (Jesus) εἰς (for) ὑμᾶς (you⁺).

19 Τὸ (The) Πνεῦμα (Spirit) μὴ (not) σβέννυτε (quench), 20 προφητείας (Prophecies) μὴ (not) ἐξουθενεῖτε (despise)· 21 πάντα (All things) δὲ (however) δοκιμάζετε (test), τὸ (To the) καλὸν (good) κατέχετε (hold fast)· 22 ἀπὸ (From) παντὸς (every) εἴδους (form) πονηροῦ (of evil) ἀπέχεσθε (abstain).

Final Blessings and Instructions

23 Αὐτὸς (Himself) δὲ (now) ὁ (the) Θεὸς (God) τῆς (-) εἰρήνης (of peace) ἁγιάσαι (may sanctify) ὑμᾶς (you⁺) ὁλοτελεῖς (completely), καὶ (and) ὁλόκληρον (entire) ὑμῶν (your⁺) τὸ (-) πνεῦμα (spirit) καὶ (and) ἡ (-) ψυχὴ (soul) καὶ (and) τὸ (-) σῶμα (body) ἀμέμπτως (blameless) ἐν (at) τῇ (the) παρουσίᾳ (coming) τοῦ (of the) Κυρίου (Lord) ἡμῶν (of us) Ἰησοῦ (Jesus) Χριστοῦ (Christ) τηρηθείη (may be kept). 24 πιστὸς (Faithful is) ὁ (the One) καλῶν (calling) ὑμᾶς (you⁺), ὃς (who) καὶ (also) ποιήσει (will do it).

25 Ἀδελφοί (Brothers), προσεύχεσθε (pray) καὶ (also) περὶ (for) ἡμῶν (us).

26 Ἀσπάσασθε (Greet) τοὺς (the) ἀδελφοὺς (brothers) πάντας (all) ἐν (with) φιλήματι (a kiss) ἁγίῳ (holy).

27 Ἐνορκίζω (I adjure) ὑμᾶς (you⁺) τὸν (by the) Κύριον (Lord) ἀναγνωσθῆναι (to be read) τὴν (the) ἐπιστολὴν (letter) πᾶσιν (to all) τοῖς (the) ἀδελφοῖς (brothers).

28 Ἡ (The) χάρις (grace) τοῦ (of the) Κυρίου (Lord) ἡμῶν (of us) Ἰησοῦ (Jesus) Χριστοῦ (Christ) μεθ’ (be with) ὑμῶν (you⁺).