1 Thessalonians 5:4-15

English Standard Version

⁴ But you ^(A)are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. ⁵ For you are all ^(B)children^[a] of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. ⁶ So then ^(C)let us not sleep, as others do, but let us ^(D)keep awake and ^(E)be sober. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, ^(F)are drunk at night. ⁸ But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, ^(G)having put on the breastplate of ^(H)faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. ⁹ For God has not destined us for ^(I)wrath, but ^(J)to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ^10 (K)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, ^(L)to respect those who labor among you and ^(M)are over you in the Lord and admonish you, ¹³ and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. ^(N)Be at peace among yourselves. ¹⁴ And we urge you, brothers, admonish ^(O)the idle,^{[b] (P)}encourage the fainthearted, ^(Q)help the weak, ^(R)be patient with them all. ¹⁵ See that ^(S)no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always ^(T)seek to do good to one another and to everyone.