English Standard Version

New Living Translation

1Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you.

1Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don’t really need to write you.

2For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

2For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.

3While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

3When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.

4But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.

4But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief.

5For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.

5For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night.

6So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.

6So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.

7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night.

7Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk.

8But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.

8But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.

9For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

9For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us.

10who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.

10Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.

11Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

11So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. Paul’s Final Advice

12We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,

12Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance.

13and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

13Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other.

14And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.

14Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.

15See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.

15See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.

16Rejoice always,

16Always be joyful.

17pray without ceasing,

17Never stop praying.

18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

18Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

19Do not quench the Spirit.

19Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.

20Do not despise prophecies,

20Do not scoff at prophecies,

21but test everything; hold fast what is good.

21but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good.

22Abstain from every form of evil.

22Stay away from every kind of evil. Paul’s Final Greetings

23Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

23Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.

24He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

24God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.

25Brothers, pray for us.

25Dear brothers and sisters, pray for us.

26Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

26Greet all the brothers and sisters with a sacred kiss.

27I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.

27I command you in the name of the Lord to read this letter to all the brothers and sisters.

28The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

28May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.