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The Day of the Lord

¹ Now concerning ^(a)the times and the seasons, brothers,^{[a] (b)}you have no need to have anything written to you. ² For you yourselves are fully aware that ^(c)the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. ³ While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then ^(d)sudden destruction will come upon them ^(e)as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. ⁴ But you ^(f)are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. ⁵ For you are all ^(g)children^[b] of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. ⁶ So then ^(h)let us not sleep, as others do, but let us ⁽ⁱ⁾keep awake and ^(j)be sober. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, ^(k)are drunk at night. ⁸ But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, ^(l)having put on the breastplate of ^(m)faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. ⁹ For God has not destined us for ⁽ⁿ⁾wrath, but ^(o)to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ^10 (p)who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. ¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Final Instructions and Benediction

¹² We ask you, brothers, ^(q)to respect those who labor among you and ^(r)are over you in the Lord and admonish you, ¹³ and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. ^(s)Be at peace among yourselves. ¹⁴ And we urge you, brothers, admonish ^(t)the idle,^{[c] (u)}encourage the fainthearted, ^(v)help the weak, ^(w)be patient with them all. ¹⁵ See that ^(x)no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always ^(y)seek to do good to one another and to everyone. ^16 (z)Rejoice always, ^17 (aa)pray without ceasing, ^18 (ab)give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ^19 (ac)Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰ Do not despise ^(ad)prophecies, ²¹ but ^(ae)test everything; hold fast what is good. ²² Abstain from every form of evil.

²³ Now may ^(af)the God of peace himself ^(ag)sanctify you completely, and may your ^(ah)whole ^(ai)spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at ^(aj)the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ^24 (ak)He who calls you is faithful; ^(al)he will surely do it.

^25 (am)Brothers, pray for us.

^26 (an)Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

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

^28 (ap)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.