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 concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that anything be written to you.

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

For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord comes like 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 are saying, “Peace and safety,” then sudden destruction will come on them, like birth pains on a pregnant woman; and they will in no way escape.

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

But you, brothers, aren’t in darkness, that the day should overtake you like 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.

You are all children of light, and children of the day. We don’t belong to the night, nor to 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).

so then let’s not sleep, as the rest do, but let’s watch and be sober.

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

For those who sleep, sleep in the night, and those who are drunk are drunk 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, since we belong to the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and, for a helmet, the hope of salvation.

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

For God didn’t appoint us to wrath, but to the obtaining of salvation through 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 wake 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 exhort one another, and build each other up, even as you also 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.

But we beg you, brothers, to know those who labor among you, and are 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 to respect and honor them in love for their work’s sake. 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 exhort you, brothers, admonish the disorderly, encourage the faint-hearted, support the weak, be patient toward all.

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 returns evil for evil to anyone, but always follow after that which is good, for one another, and for all.

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

Rejoice always.

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 everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you.

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

Don’t quench the Spirit.

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

Don’t despise prophesies.

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

Test all things, and hold firmly that which is good.

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

Abstain from every form 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).

May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at 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.

He who calls you is faithful, who will also do it.

25 B rethren, pray for us.

Brothers, pray for us.

26 G reet all the brethren with a sacred kiss.

Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

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

I solemnly command you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the holy brothers.

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.