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 (A)The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but ^(B)is longsuffering toward ^[a]us, ^(C)not willing that any should perish but ^(D)that all should come to repentance.

The Day of the Lord

¹⁰ But ^(E)the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which ^(F)the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be ^[b]burned up. ¹¹ Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be ^(G)in holy conduct and godliness, ^12 (H)looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will ^(I)be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will ^(J)melt with fervent heat? ¹³ Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for ^(K)new heavens and a ^(L)new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Be Steadfast

¹⁴ Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent ^(M)to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; ¹⁵ and consider that ^(N)the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, ¹⁶ as also in all his ^(O)epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the ^(P)rest of the Scriptures.

¹⁷ You therefore, beloved, ^(Q)since you know this beforehand, ^(R)beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; ^18 (S)but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

^(T)To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.