1 Thessalonians 5
English Standard Version
The Day of the Lord
5 Now concerning (A)the times and the seasons, brothers,[a] (B)you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that (C)the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then (D)sudden destruction will come upon them (E)as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you (F)are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all (G)children[b] of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then (H)let us not sleep, as others do, but let us (I)keep awake and (J)be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, (K)are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, (L)having put on the breastplate of (M)faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for (N)wrath, but (O)to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 (P)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, (Q)to respect those who labor among you and (R)are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. (S)Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish (T)the idle,[c] (U)encourage the fainthearted, (V)help the weak, (W)be patient with them all. 15 See that (X)no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always (Y)seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 (Z)Rejoice always, 17 (AA)pray without ceasing, 18 (AB)give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 (AC)Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise (AD)prophecies, 21 but (AE)test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
23 Now may (AF)the God of peace himself (AG)sanctify you completely, and may your (AH)whole (AI)spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at (AJ)the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 (AK)He who calls you is faithful; (AL)he will surely do it.
25 (AM)Brothers, pray for us.
26 (AN)Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.
27 I put you under oath before the Lord to have (AO)this letter read to all the brothers.
28 (AP)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Footnotes
- 1 Thessalonians 5:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 4, 12, 14, 25, 26, 27
- 1 Thessalonians 5:5 Or sons; twice in this verse
- 1 Thessalonians 5:14 Or disorderly, or undisciplined
1 Thessalonians 5
GOD’S WORD Translation
Be Ready for the Day of the Lord
5 Brothers and sisters, you don’t need anyone to write to you about times and dates. 2 You know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 When people say, “Everything is safe and sound!” destruction will suddenly strike them. It will be as sudden as labor pains come to a pregnant woman. They won’t be able to escape. 4 But, brothers and sisters, you don’t live in the dark. That day won’t take you by surprise as a thief would. 5 You belong to the day and the light not to the night and the dark. 6 Therefore, we must not fall asleep like other people, but we must stay awake and be sober. 7 People who sleep, sleep at night; people who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 Since we belong to the day, we must be sober. We must put on faith and love as a breastplate and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 It was not God’s intention that we experience his anger but that we obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake in this life or asleep in death, we will live together with him. 11 Therefore, encourage each other and strengthen one another as you are doing.
Paul Encourages the Thessalonians
12 Brothers and sisters, we ask you to show your appreciation for those leaders who work among you and instruct you. 13 We ask you to love them and think very highly of them because of the work they are doing. Live in peace with each other.
14 We encourage you, brothers and sisters, to instruct those who are not living right, cheer up those who are discouraged, help the weak, and be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that no one ever pays back one wrong with another wrong. Instead, always try to do what is good for each other and everyone else.
16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Whatever happens, give thanks, because it is God’s will in Christ Jesus that you do this.
19 Don’t put out the Spirit’s fire. 20 Don’t despise what God has revealed. 21 Instead, test everything. Hold on to what is good. 22 Keep away from every kind of evil.
Farewell
23 May the God who gives peace make you holy in every way. May he keep your whole being—spirit, soul, and body—blameless when our Lord Jesus Christ comes. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.
25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss.
27 In the Lord’s name, I order you to read this letter to all the brothers and sisters.
28 The good will [a] of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Footnotes
- 5:28 Or “grace.”
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
Copyright © 1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God’s Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.