1 B ut as to the suitable times and the precise seasons and dates, brethren, you have no necessity for anything being written to you.

¶ But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.

2 F or you yourselves know perfectly well that the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night.

For ye know well that the day of the Lord shall come as a thief in the night.

3 W hen people are saying, All is well and secure, and, There is peace and safety, then in a moment unforeseen destruction (ruin and death) will come upon them as suddenly as labor pains come upon a woman with child; and they shall by no means escape, for there will be no escape.

For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction shall come upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

4 B ut you are not in darkness, brethren, for that day to overtake you by surprise like a thief.

But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should take you as a thief.

5 F or you are all sons of light and sons of the day; we do not belong either to the night or to darkness.

Ye are all the sons of light, and the sons of the day; we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

6 A ccordingly then, let us not sleep, as the rest do, but let us keep wide awake (alert, watchful, cautious, and on our guard) and let us be sober (calm, collected, and circumspect).

¶ Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

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

For those that sleep in the night, and those that are drunken are drunken in the night.

8 B ut we belong to the day; therefore, let us be sober and put on the breastplate (corslet) of faith and love and for a helmet the hope of salvation.

But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and charity, and for a helmet, the hope of saving health.

9 F or God has not appointed us to wrath, but obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)

For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain saving health by our Lord Jesus Christ,

10 W ho died for us so that whether we are still alive or are dead, we might live together with Him and share His life.

who died for us, that whether we watch or sleep, we should live together with him.

11 T herefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing.

¶ Therefore comfort and edify one another, even as ye do.

12 N ow also we beseech you, brethren, get to know those who labor among you —your leaders who are over you in the Lord and those who warn and kindly reprove and exhort you.

And we beseech you, brethren, to recognize those who labour among you and preside over you in the Lord and admonish you

13 A nd hold them in very high and most affectionate esteem in appreciation of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

and that you express greater charity unto them for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

14 A nd we earnestly beseech you, brethren, admonish (warn and seriously advise) those who are out of line; encourage the timid and fainthearted, help and give your support to the weak souls, be very patient with everybody.

We also exhort you, brethren, that you warn those that are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, support the weak, be patient with everyone.

15 S ee that none of you repays another with evil for evil, but always aim to show kindness and seek to do good to one another and to everybody.

See that no one renders evil for evil unto anyone, but always follow that which is good, both among yourselves and to all men.

16 B e happy and rejoice and be glad-hearted continually (always);

¶ Always rejoice.

17 B e unceasing in prayer;

Pray without ceasing.

18 T hank in everything, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

In every thing give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

19 D o not quench (suppress or subdue) the Spirit;

Quench not the Spirit.

20 D o not spurn the gifts and utterances of the prophets.

Despise not prophecies.

21 B ut test and prove all things what is good; hold fast.

Examine all things; retain that which is good.

22 A bstain from evil in whatever form or whatever kind it may be.

Separate yourselves from all appearance of evil.

23 A nd may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound and complete blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah).

¶ And the very God of peace sanctify you completely, that your spirit, soul, and body be preserved whole without reprehension for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

24 F aithful is He Who is calling you and utterly trustworthy, and He will also do it.

Faithful is he that has called you, who will also do it.

25 B rethren, pray for us.

Brethren, pray for us.

26 G reet all the brethren with a sacred kiss.

Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.

27 I solemnly charge you the Lord to have this letter read before all the brethren.

I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.

28 T he grace (the unmerited favor and blessings) of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) be with you all. Amen, (so be it).

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