1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11

English Standard Version

The Coming of the Lord

¹³ But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, ^(A)that you may not grieve as others do ^(B)who have no hope. ¹⁴ For ^(C)since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him ^(D)those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁵ For this we declare to you ^(E)by a word from the Lord,^[a] that ^(F)we who are alive, who are left until ^(G)the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶ For ^(H)the Lord himself will descend ^(I)from heaven ^(J)with a cry of command, with the voice of ^(K)an archangel, and ^(L)with the sound of the trumpet of God. And ^(M)the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive, who are left, will be ^(N)caught up together with them ^(O)in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so ^(P)we will always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another with these words.

The Day of the Lord

5 Now concerning ^(Q)the times and the seasons, brothers,^{[b] (R)}you have no need to have anything written to you. ² For you yourselves are fully aware that ^(S)the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. ³ While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then ^(T)sudden destruction will come upon them ^(U)as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. ⁴ But you ^(V)are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. ⁵ For you are all ^(W)children^[c] of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. ⁶ So then ^(X)let us not sleep, as others do, but let us ^(Y)keep awake and ^(Z)be sober. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, ^(AA)are drunk at night. ⁸ But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, ^(AB)having put on the breastplate of ^(AC)faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. ⁹ For God has not destined us for ^(AD)wrath, but ^(AE)to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ^10 (AF)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.