1 A nd concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need of my writing to you,

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

2 f or yourselves have known thoroughly that the day of the Lord as a thief in the night doth so come,

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

3 f or when they may say, Peace and surety, then sudden destruction doth stand by them, as the travail her who is with child, and they shall not escape;

When 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.

4 a nd ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day may catch you as a thief;

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

5 a ll ye are sons of light, and sons of day; we are not of night, nor of darkness,

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

6 s o, then, we may not sleep as also the others, but watch and be sober,

Accordingly 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).

7 f or those sleeping, by night do sleep, and those making themselves drunk, by night are drunken,

For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who are drunk, get drunk at night.

8 a nd we, being of the day -- let us be sober, putting on a breastplate of faith and love, and an helmet -- a hope of salvation,

But 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.

9 b ecause God did not appoint us to anger, but to the acquiring of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

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

10 w ho did die for us, that whether we wake -- whether we sleep -- together with him we may live;

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

11 w herefore, comfort ye one another, and build ye up, one the one, as also ye do.

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

12 A nd we ask you, brethren, to know those labouring among you, and leading you in the Lord, and admonishing you,

Now 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.

13 a nd to esteem them very abundantly in love, because of their work; be at peace among yourselves;

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

14 a nd we exhort you, brethren, admonish the disorderly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the infirm, be patient unto all;

And 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.

15 s ee no one evil for evil may render to any one, but always that which is good pursue ye, both to one another and to all;

See 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.

16 a lways rejoice ye;

Be happy and rejoice and be glad-hearted continually (always);

17 c ontinually pray ye;

Be unceasing in prayer;

18 i n every thing give thanks, for this the will of God in Christ Jesus in regard to you.

Thank in everything, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

19 T he Spirit quench not;

Do not quench (suppress or subdue) the Spirit;

20 p rophesyings despise not;

Do not spurn the gifts and utterances of the prophets.

21 a ll things prove; that which is good hold fast;

But test and prove all things what is good; hold fast.

22 f rom all appearance of evil abstain ye;

Abstain from evil in whatever form or whatever kind it may be.

23 a nd the God of the peace Himself sanctify you wholly, and may your whole spirit, and soul, and body, be preserved unblameably in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ;

And 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).

24 s tedfast is He who is calling you, who also will do.

Faithful is He Who is calling you and utterly trustworthy, and He will also do it.

25 B rethren, pray for us;

Brethren, pray for us.

26 s alute all the brethren in an holy kiss;

Greet all the brethren with a sacred kiss.

27 I charge you the Lord, that the letter be read to all the holy brethren;

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

28 t he grace of our Lord Jesus Christ with you! Amen.

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