1 Thessalonians 5
Worldwide English (New Testament)
5 My brothers, you do not need anyone to write to you about the day or the year when these things will happen.
2 You your-selves surely know that the day of the Lord will come just like a person who comes to steal in the night.
3 When people are saying, `Everything is quiet and safe,' they will be destroyed. It will all happen very quickly. And there will be no way out. It will be like the pain that a woman has when a child is born.
4 But you, my brothers, are not in the dark. That day should not surprise you like a person who comes to steal.
5 You all belong to the light. You belong to the day. We do not belong to the night or to the dark.
6 So then, we must not go to sleep like other people. No, we must keep watching and not get drunk.
7 Because we belong to the day, we must not get drunk. But we must be ready like people dressed for war. We must keep believing in God. We must be loving towards each other. Faith and love will be like strong clothes to cover our bodies. The hope of being saved will protect us like a hat or helmet covers our head.
8 God did not choose us so that he might be angry with us. But he chose us so that we might be saved through our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 He died for us so that, if we are alive or dead, we will live with him.
10 So comfort and strengthen one another, just as you are doing. you to respect those who are working among you. They are your leaders in the Lord's work, and they tell you what you should do.
11 ) My brothers, we beg you, tell this to people who do not do what they should do. Talk to those who fear, and say something that will make them strong. Help those who are weak. Be patient with all people.
12 Do not let anyone do a wrong thing to a person if that person did a wrong thing to him. Always do good to one another. Be good to each other and to all men.
13 Always be happy.
14 Talk to God at all times.
15 Thank God for everything. This is what God wants you to do through Christ Jesus.
16 Do not stop the Spirit when he wants to do something.
17 Do not despise people who speak words from God.
18 But test everything that is said. Keep what is good.
19 Have nothing to do with any kind of wrong thing.
20 May God himself, who gives peace, make you pure and clean. You are set apart and belong only to him. And may your spirit and soul and body all together be kept free from fault until our Lord Jesus Christ comes.
21 ) It is God who calls you, and he can be trusted. He will surely do what he has said.
22 My brothers, ask God to help us.
23 Greet all the brothers with a kiss that is holy.
24 I give you this order from the Lord. Read this letter to all the Christian brothers.
25 May our Lord Jesus Christ bless you. May it be so.
1 Thessalonians 5
New King James Version
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 For (L)God did not appoint us to wrath, (M)but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 (N)who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
11 Therefore [b]comfort each other and [c]edify one another, just as you also are doing.
Various Exhortations
12 And we urge you, brethren, (O)to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and [d]admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. (P)Be at peace among yourselves.
14 Now we [e]exhort you, brethren, (Q)warn those who are [f]unruly, (R)comfort the fainthearted, (S)uphold the weak, (T)be patient with all. 15 (U)See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always (V)pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.
16 (W)Rejoice always, 17 (X)pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
19 (Y)Do not quench the Spirit. 20 (Z)Do not despise prophecies. 21 (AA)Test all things; (AB)hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
Blessing and Admonition
23 Now may (AC)the God of peace Himself (AD)sanctify[g] you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body (AE)be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is (AF)faithful, who also will (AG)do it.
25 Brethren, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.
27 I charge you by the Lord that this [h]epistle be read to all the [i]holy brethren.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Footnotes
- 1 Thessalonians 5:6 self-controlled
- 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Or encourage
- 1 Thessalonians 5:11 build one another up
- 1 Thessalonians 5:12 instruct or warn
- 1 Thessalonians 5:14 encourage
- 1 Thessalonians 5:14 insubordinate or idle
- 1 Thessalonians 5:23 set you apart
- 1 Thessalonians 5:27 letter
- 1 Thessalonians 5:27 NU omits holy
1 Thessalonians 5
Good News Translation
Be Ready for the Lord's Coming
5 There is no need to write you, friends, about the times and occasions when these things will happen. 2 (A)For you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lord will come as a thief comes at night. 3 When people say, “Everything is quiet and safe,” then suddenly destruction will hit them! It will come as suddenly as the pains that come upon a woman in labor, and people will not escape. 4 But you, friends, are not in the darkness, and the Day should not take you by surprise like a thief. 5 All of you are people who belong to the light, who belong to the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, we should not be sleeping like the others; we should be awake and sober. 7 It is at night when people sleep; it is at night when they get drunk. 8 (B)But we belong to the day, and we should be sober. We must wear faith and love as a breastplate, and our hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 God did not choose us to suffer his anger, but to possess salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us in order that we might live together with him, whether we are alive or dead when he comes. 11 And so encourage one another and help one another, just as you are now doing.
Final Instructions and Greetings
12 We beg you, our friends, to pay proper respect to those who work among you, who guide and instruct you in the Christian life. 13 Treat them with the greatest respect and love because of the work they do. Be at peace among yourselves.
14 We urge you, our friends, to warn the idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 See that no one pays back wrong for wrong, but at all times make it your aim to do good to one another and to all people.
16 Be joyful always, 17 pray at all times, 18 be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus.
19 Do not restrain the Holy Spirit; 20 do not despise inspired messages. 21 Put all things to the test: keep what is good 22 and avoid every kind of evil.
23 May the God who gives us peace make you holy in every way and keep your whole being—spirit, soul, and body—free from every fault at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you will do it, because he is faithful.
25 Pray also for us, friends.
26 Greet all the believers with the kiss of peace.
27 I urge you by the authority of the Lord to read this letter to all the believers.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
1 Thessalonians 5
Revised Standard Version
5 But as to the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 When people say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as travail comes upon a woman with child, and there will be no escape. 4 But you are not in darkness, brethren, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all sons of light and sons of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But, since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we wake or sleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
Final Exhortations, Greetings, and Benediction
12 But we beseech you, brethren, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we exhort you, brethren, admonish the idlers, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray constantly, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit, 20 do not despise prophesying, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good, 22 abstain from every form of evil.
23 May the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
25 Brethren, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.
27 I adjure you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the brethren.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
© 1969, 1971, 1996, 1998 by SOON Educational Publications
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Good News Translation® (Today’s English Version, Second Edition) © 1992 American Bible Society. All rights reserved. For more information about GNT, visit www.bibles.com and www.gnt.bible.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.