1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Contemporary English Version

5 I don't need to write you about the time or date when all this will happen. ^2 (A) You surely know that the Lord's return^[a] will be as a thief coming at night. ³ People will think they are safe and secure. But destruction will suddenly strike them like the pains of a woman about to give birth. And they won't escape.

⁴ My dear friends, you don't live in darkness, and so that day won't surprise you like a thief. ⁵ You belong to the light and live in the day. We don't live in the night or belong to the dark. ⁶ Others may sleep, but we should stay awake and be alert. ⁷ People sleep during the night, and some even get drunk. ^8 (B) But we belong to the day. So we must stay sober and let our faith and love be like a suit of armor. Our firm hope that we will be saved is our helmet.

⁹ God doesn't intend to punish us, but wants us to be saved by our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁰ Christ died for us, so we could live with him, whether we are alive or dead when he comes. ¹¹ This is why you must encourage and help each other, just as you are already doing.