³⁴ “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life,^(A) and that day will close on you suddenly^(B) like a trap.

¹⁹ but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth^(A) and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

⁴⁵ But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. ⁴⁶ The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of.^(A) He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

⁴⁰ You also must be ready,^(A) because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

³ For you have spent enough time in the past^(A) doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.^{(B) 4} They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.^{(C) 5} But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.^{(D) 6} For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead,^(E) so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

⁷ The end of all things is near.^(F) Therefore be alert and of sober mind^(G) so that you may pray.

² for you know very well that the day of the Lord^(A) will come like a thief in the night.^{(B) 3} While people are saying, “Peace and safety,”^(C) destruction will come on them suddenly,^(D) as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.^(E)

⁴ But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness^(F) so that this day should surprise you like a thief.^{(G) 5} You are all children of the light^(H) and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. ⁶ So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep,^(I) but let us be awake^(J) and sober.^{(K) 7} For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.^{(L) 8} But since we belong to the day,^(M) let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate,^(N) and the hope of salvation^(O) as a helmet.^(P)

¹⁰ nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers^(A) will inherit the kingdom of God.

¹⁴ So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless^(A) and at peace with him.