1 Thessalonians 5
English Standard Version
The Day of the Lord
5 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.
Footnotes
- 1 Thessalonians 5:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 4, 12, 14, 25, 26, 27
- 1 Thessalonians 5:5 Or sons; twice in this verse
- 1 Thessalonians 5:14 Or disorderly, or undisciplined
1 Thessalonians 5
New King James Version
The Day of the Lord
5 But concerning (A)the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that (B)the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then (C)sudden destruction comes upon them, (D)as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 (E)But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all (F)sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 (G)Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but (H)let us watch and be [a]sober. 7 For (I)those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk (J)are drunk at night. 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, (K)putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For (L)God did not appoint us to wrath, (M)but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 (N)who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
11 Therefore [b]comfort each other and [c]edify one another, just as you also are doing.
Various Exhortations
12 And we urge you, brethren, (O)to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and [d]admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. (P)Be at peace among yourselves.
14 Now we [e]exhort you, brethren, (Q)warn those who are [f]unruly, (R)comfort the fainthearted, (S)uphold the weak, (T)be patient with all. 15 (U)See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always (V)pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.
16 (W)Rejoice always, 17 (X)pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
19 (Y)Do not quench the Spirit. 20 (Z)Do not despise prophecies. 21 (AA)Test all things; (AB)hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
Blessing and Admonition
23 Now may (AC)the God of peace Himself (AD)sanctify[g] you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body (AE)be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is (AF)faithful, who also will (AG)do it.
25 Brethren, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.
27 I charge you by the Lord that this [h]epistle be read to all the [i]holy brethren.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Footnotes
- 1 Thessalonians 5:6 self-controlled
- 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Or encourage
- 1 Thessalonians 5:11 build one another up
- 1 Thessalonians 5:12 instruct or warn
- 1 Thessalonians 5:14 encourage
- 1 Thessalonians 5:14 insubordinate or idle
- 1 Thessalonians 5:23 set you apart
- 1 Thessalonians 5:27 letter
- 1 Thessalonians 5:27 NU omits holy
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.