1 Y ou do not need anyone to write to tell you when and at what kind of times these things will happen.

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

2 Y ou know for sure that the day the Lord comes back to earth will be as a robber coming in the night.

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

3 W hen they say, “Everything is fine and safe,” then all at once they will be destroyed. It will be like pain that comes on a woman when a child is born. They will not be able to get away from it.

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, Christian brothers. That day will not surprise you as a robber would.

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

5 F or you are children of the light and of the day. We are not of darkness or of night.

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

6 K eep awake! Do not sleep like others. Watch and keep your minds awake to what is happening.

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

7 P eople sleep at night. Those who get drunk do it at night.

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

8 B ecause we are men of the day, let us keep our minds awake. Let us cover our chests with faith and love. Let us cover our heads with the hope of being saved.

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 G od planned to save us from the punishment of sin through our Lord Jesus Christ. He did not plan for us to suffer from His anger.

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

10 H e died for us so that, dead or alive, we will be with Him.

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

11 S o comfort each other and make each other strong as you are already doing. Christian Living

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

12 W e ask you, Christian brothers, to respect those who work among you. The Lord has placed them over you and they are your teachers.

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

13 Y ou must think much of them and love them because of their work. Live in peace with each other.

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

14 W e ask you, Christian brothers, speak to those who do not want to work. Comfort those who feel they cannot keep going on. Help the weak. Understand and be willing to wait for all men.

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

15 D o not let anyone pay back for the bad he received. But look for ways to do good to each other and to all people.

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 full of joy all the time.

¶ Always rejoice.

17 N ever stop praying.

Pray without ceasing.

18 I n everything give thanks. This is what God wants you to do because of Christ Jesus.

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

19 D o not try to stop the work of the Holy Spirit.

Quench not the Spirit.

20 D o not laugh at those who speak for God.

Despise not prophecies.

21 T est everything and do not let good things get away from you.

Examine all things; retain that which is good.

22 K eep away from everything that even looks like sin.

Separate yourselves from all appearance of evil.

23 M ay the God of peace set you apart for Himself. May every part of you be set apart for God. May your spirit and your soul and your body be kept complete. May you be without blame when our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.

¶ 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 T he One Who called you is faithful and will do what He promised.

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

25 C hristian brothers, pray for us.

Brethren, pray for us.

26 G reet all the Christians with a kiss of holy love.

Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.

27 I tell you to have this letter read to all the Christians.

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

28 M ay you have loving-favor from our Lord Jesus Christ.

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