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

1Bvt of the times and seasons, brethren, yee haue no neede that I write vnto you. 2For ye your selues knowe perfectly, that the day of the Lorde shall come, euen as a thiefe in the night. 3For when they shall say, Peace, and safetie, then shall come vpon them sudden destruction, as the trauaile vpon a woman with childe, and they shall not escape, 4But ye, brethren, are not in darkenes, that that day shal come on you, as it were a thiefe. 5Yee are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, neither of darkenesse. 6Therefore let vs not sleepe as do other, but let vs watch and be sober. 7For they that sleepe, sleepe in the night, and they that be drunken, are drunken in the night. 8But let vs which are of the day, be sober, putting on the brest plate of faith and loue, and of the hope of saluation for an helmet. 9For God hath not appointed vs vnto wrath, but to obtaine saluation by the meanes of our Lord Iesus Christ, 10Which died for vs, that whether we wake or sleepe, we should liue together with him. 11Wherefore exhort one another, and edifie one another, euen as ye doe.

Christian Living

12Nowe we beseeche you, brethren, that ye acknowledge them, which labour among you, and are ouer you in the Lorde, & admonish you, 13That yee haue them in singular loue for their workes sake. Bee at peace among your selues. 14We desire you, brethren, admonish them that are out of order: comfort ye feeble minded: beare with the weake: be pacient toward all men. 15See that none recompense euil for euil vnto any man: but euer folow that which is good, both toward your selues, and toward all men. 16Reioyce euermore. 17Pray continually. 18In all thinges giue thankes: for this is the will of God in Christ Iesus toward you. 19Quench not the Spirit. 20Despise not prophecying. 21Try all things, & keepe that which is good. 22Absteine from all appearance of euill.

Final Blessings and Instructions

23Nowe the very God of peace sanctifie you throughout: and I pray God that your whole spirite and soule and body, may be kept blamelesse vnto the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ. 24Faithfull is hee which calleth you, which will also doe it.

25Brethren, pray for vs.

26Greete all the brethren with an holy kisse. 27I charge you in the Lorde, that this Epistle be read vnto all the brethren the Saintes.

28The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be with you, Amen. The first Epistle vnto the Thessalonians written from Athens.