| New International Version | New Living Translation |
| 1Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write 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 know very well 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, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on 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, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should 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. |
| 5You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to 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 be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and 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, get 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, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. | 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 did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive 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. |
| 10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together 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 each other up, just as in fact you are doing. | 11So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. Paul’s Final Advice |
| 12Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who 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. |
| 13Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. | 13Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other. |
| 14And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. | 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. |
| 15Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. | 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 continually, | 17Never stop praying. |
| 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. | 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 treat prophecies with contempt | 20Do not scoff at prophecies, |
| 21but test them all; hold on to what is good, | 21but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. |
| 22reject every kind of evil. | 22Stay away from every kind of evil. Paul’s Final Greetings |
| 23May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, 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. |
| 24The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. | 24God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful. |
| 25Brothers and sisters, pray for us. | 25Dear brothers and sisters, pray for us. |
| 26Greet all God's people with a holy kiss. | 26Greet all the brothers and sisters with a sacred kiss. |
| 27I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters. | 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. |
| New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | 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. |
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