1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

New Testament for Everyone

Children of light

5 Now when it comes to specific times and dates, my dear family, you don’t need to have anyone write to you. ² You yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a midnight robber. ³ When people say, “Peace and security!” then swift ruin will arrive at their doorstep, like the pains that come over a woman in labor, and they won’t have a chance to escape.

⁴ But as for you, my dear family—you are not in darkness. That day won’t surprise you like a robber. ⁵ You are all children of light, children of the day! We don’t belong to the night, or to darkness. ⁶ So, then, let’s not go to sleep, like the others, but let’s keep awake and stay sober.

⁷ People who sleep, you see, sleep at night. People who get drunk get drunk at night. ⁸ But we daytime people should be self-controlled, clothing ourselves with the breastplate of faith and love, and with the helmet of the hope of salvation; ⁹ because the road on which God has placed us leads, not to fury, but to gaining salvation, through our Lord Jesus the Messiah. ¹⁰ He died for us, so that whether we stay awake or go to sleep we should live together with him. ¹¹ So strengthen one another, and build each other up, just as you are doing.