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1 Thessalonians 5
New Testament for Everyone
1 Thessalonians 5
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.
Final exhortations
12 This, my dear family, is the request we make of you. Take note of those who work among you and exercise leadership over you in the Lord, those who give you instruction. 13 Give them the highest possible rank of love because of their work. Live at peace among yourselves.
14 And we beg you, my dear family: warn those who step out of line; console the downcast; help the weak; be warm-hearted and patient towards everybody. 15 Make sure nobody pays anyone back evil for evil. Instead, always find the way to do good to one another, and to everybody.
16 Always celebrate,
17 never stop praying;
18 in everything be thankful
(this is God’s will for you in the Messiah Jesus);
19 don’t quench the spirit,
20 don’t look down on prophecies,
21 test everything,
if something is good, hold it fast;
22 if something looks evil, keep well away.
Final blessings and charge
23 Now may the God of peace himself make you completely holy. May your complete spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus the Messiah. 24 The one who calls you is faithful; he will do it.
25 My dear family, pray for us.
26 Greet the whole family with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you by the Lord to have this letter read to the whole family.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus the Messiah be with you.
1 Thessalonians 5
New International Version
1 Thessalonians 5
New International Version
The Day of the Lord
5 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates(A) we do not need to write to you,(B) 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord(C) will come like a thief in the night.(D) 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,”(E) destruction will come on them suddenly,(F) as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.(G)
4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness(H) so that this day should surprise you like a thief.(I) 5 You are all children of the light(J) 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,(K) but let us be awake(L) and sober.(M) 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.(N) 8 But since we belong to the day,(O) let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate,(P) and the hope of salvation(Q) as a helmet.(R) 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath(S) but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.(T) 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.(U) 11 Therefore encourage one another(V) and build each other up,(W) just as in fact you are doing.
Final Instructions
12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard(X) among you, who care for you in the Lord(Y) and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.(Z) 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle(AA) and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak,(AB) be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong,(AC) but always strive to do what is good for each other(AD) and for everyone else.
16 Rejoice always,(AE) 17 pray continually,(AF) 18 give thanks in all circumstances;(AG) for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
19 Do not quench the Spirit.(AH) 20 Do not treat prophecies(AI) with contempt 21 but test them all;(AJ) hold on to what is good,(AK) 22 reject every kind of evil.
23 May God himself, the God of peace,(AL) sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul(AM) and body be kept blameless(AN) at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.(AO) 24 The one who calls(AP) you is faithful,(AQ) and he will do it.(AR)
25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us.(AS) 26 Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss.(AT) 27 I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.(AU)
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.(AV)
New Testament for Everyone (NTFE) 
Scripture quotations from The New Testament for Everyone are copyright © Nicholas Thomas Wright 2011, 2018, 2019.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.