1 Thessalonians 4:10-5:21

English Standard Version

¹⁰ for that indeed is what ^(A)you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to ^(B)do this more and more, ¹¹ and to aspire ^(C)to live quietly, and ^(D)to mind your own affairs, and ^(E)to work with your hands, as we instructed you, ¹² so that you may ^(F)walk properly before ^(G)outsiders and be dependent on no one.

The Coming of the Lord

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

The Day of the Lord

5 Now concerning ^(X)the times and the seasons, brothers,^{[b] (Y)}you have no need to have anything written to you. ² For you yourselves are fully aware that ^(Z)the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. ³ While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then ^(AA)sudden destruction will come upon them ^(AB)as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. ⁴ But you ^(AC)are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. ⁵ For you are all ^(AD)children^[c] of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. ⁶ So then ^(AE)let us not sleep, as others do, but let us ^(AF)keep awake and ^(AG)be sober. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, ^(AH)are drunk at night. ⁸ But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, ^(AI)having put on the breastplate of ^(AJ)faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. ⁹ For God has not destined us for ^(AK)wrath, but ^(AL)to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ^10 (AM)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, ^(AN)to respect those who labor among you and ^(AO)are over you in the Lord and admonish you, ¹³ and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. ^(AP)Be at peace among yourselves. ¹⁴ And we urge you, brothers, admonish ^(AQ)the idle,^{[d] (AR)}encourage the fainthearted, ^(AS)help the weak, ^(AT)be patient with them all. ¹⁵ See that ^(AU)no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always ^(AV)seek to do good to one another and to everyone. ^16 (AW)Rejoice always, ^17 (AX)pray without ceasing, ^18 (AY)give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ^19 (AZ)Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰ Do not despise ^(BA)prophecies, ²¹ but ^(BB)test everything; hold fast what is good.