The Sudden Arrival Of The Day Of The Lord

1 Now brothers, you do not need to have anything written to you about the times and dates [i.e., of Christ's second coming],

1 Now as to the (A)times and the epochs, brethren, you (B)have no need of anything to be written to you.

1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.

1 About the times and the seasons:(A) Brothers, you do not need anything to be written to you.

1 Now you do not need to have anything written to you about times and dates, brothers,

2 for you know perfectly well that the day of the Lord [i.e., when He returns, See II Thess. 2:1-2] will arrive like a thief coming in the night.

2 For you yourselves know full well that (C)the day of the Lord (a)will come (D)just like a thief in the night.

2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

2 For you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lord(B) will come just like a thief(C) in the night.

2 for you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

3 [For] when people are saying, "Peace," and "Safety," then [is when] destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not be able to escape it.

3 While they are saying, “(E)Peace and safety!” then (b)(F)destruction (c)will come upon them suddenly like (G)labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.

3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

3 When they say, “Peace and security,” then sudden destruction(D) comes on them, like labor pains come on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

3 When people say, "There is peace and security," destruction will strike them as suddenly as labor pains come to a pregnant woman, and they will not be able to escape.

4 But you brothers are not in the dark about that day, so that it sneaks up on you like a thief,

4 But you, brethren, are not in (H)darkness, that the day would overtake you (d)(I)like a thief;

4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

4 But you, brothers, are not in the dark, for this day to overtake you like a thief.(E)

4 However, brothers, you are not in the darkness, in order that the Day of the Lord might surprise you like a thief.

5 for all of you people belong to the light; you belong to the daytime. We do not belong to the night or to darkness. [Note: In this passage "light" and "daytime" refer to spiritual illumination, while "darkness" and "night" refer to spiritual ignorance].

5 for you are all (J)sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of (K)darkness;

5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

5 For you are all sons of light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness.(F)

5 For all of you are children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to darkness.

6 So then, we should not be [spiritually] asleep, like the rest [i.e., the unsaved world], but we should be alert and sober [i.e., in control of our senses].

6 so then let us not (L)sleep as (e)(M)others do, but let us be alert and (f)(N)sober.

6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

6 So then, we must not sleep, like the rest, but we must stay awake and be serious.

6 Therefore, let's not fall asleep like others do, but let's stay awake and be sober.

7 For people sleep at night, and get drunk at night [i.e., generally speaking].

7 For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get (O)drunk at night.

7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.

7 For people who go to sleep, go to sleep at night; and people who get drunk, get drunk at night.

8 But, since we belong to the daytime [i.e., are enlightened], we should be sober. We should put on the "flack jacket" of faith and love, and for a helmet, the hope of being saved.

8 But since (P)we are of the day, let us (Q)be (g)sober, having put on the (R)breastplate of (S)faith and love, and as a (T)helmet, the (U)hope of salvation.

8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

8 But since we belong to the day, we must be serious(G) and put the armor(H) of faith and love on our chests, and put on a helmet(I) of the hope of salvation.

8 But since we belong to the day, let's be sober. We must put on the breastplate of faith and love, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.

9 For God did not appoint us to [suffer His] wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ

9 For God has not destined us for (V)wrath, but for (W)obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord(J) Jesus Christ,(K)

9 For God has not destined us to receive wrath but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus, the Messiah,

10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep [i.e., alive or dead], we could live together with Him.

10 (X)who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.

10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

10 who died for us,(L) so that whether we are awake or asleep,(M) we will live together with Him.(N)

10 who died for us in order that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.

11 Therefore, [continue to] encourage one another, and build each other up [spiritually], just as you are also doing.

11 Therefore (h)encourage one another and (Y)build up one another, just as you also are doing.

11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.

11 So then, encourage one another and build each other up, as you are doing.

Final Exhortations And Benediction

12 But we urge you, brothers, to know [i.e., appreciate and respect] those who work hard among you, and who lead you and warn you in [the fellowship of] the Lord. [Note: These men were probably the elders. See Acts 20:28; Heb. 13:17].

12 But we request of you, brethren, that you (i)(Z)appreciate those (AA)who diligently labor among you, and (AB)have charge over you in the Lord and give you (j)instruction,

12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;

12 Now we ask you, brothers, to give recognition(O) to those who labor among you and lead you in the Lord and admonish you,

12 Brothers, we ask you to show your appreciation for those who work among you, set an example for you in the Lord, and instruct you.

13 And regard them very highly, in a loving way, because of the work they do. You should live at peace with one another.

13 and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. (AC)Live in peace with one another.

13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

13 and to regard them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace(P) among yourselves.

13 Hold them in the highest regard, loving them because of their work. Live in peace with each other.

14 And we urge you, brothers, to warn those who are idle [Note: The word "idle" originally meant, "insubordinate, or unruly." See II Thess. 3:6-7, 11], encourage those who are timid, help the [spiritually] weak and be patient with everyone.

14 We urge you, brethren, admonish (AD)the (k)unruly, encourage (AE)the fainthearted, help (AF)the weak, be (AG)patient with everyone.

14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

14 And we exhort you, brothers:(Q) warn those who are irresponsible,(a) comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient(R) with everyone.

14 We urge you, brothers, to admonish those who are idle, cheer up those who are discouraged, and help those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.

15 Make sure that no one does anything wrong to someone who wrongs him, but always look for something good you can do for one another and for everyone.

15 See that (AH)no one repays another with evil for evil, but always (AI)seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.

15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

15 See to it that no one repays evil for evil(S) to anyone,(T) but always pursue what is good for one another and for all.(U)

15 Make sure that no one pays back evil for evil. Instead, always pursue what is good for each other and for everyone else.

16 You should be joyful at all times.

16 (AJ)Rejoice always;

16 Rejoice evermore.

16 Rejoice(V) always!

16 Always be joyful.

17 Never stop praying.

17 (AK)pray without ceasing;

17 Pray without ceasing.

17 Pray constantly.

17 Continually be prayerful.

18 Thank [God] for everything, for this is what God wants for you in [the fellowship of] Christ Jesus.

18 in everything (AL)give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

18 Give thanks in everything,for this is God’s will(W) for you in Christ Jesus.

18 In everything be thankful, because this is God's will for you in the Messiah Jesus.

19 Do not squelch the [influence of the] Holy Spirit [in your lives].

19 (AM)Do not quench the Spirit;

19 Quench not the Spirit.

19 Don’t stifle the Spirit.

19 Do not put out the Spirit's fire.

20 Do not look down on prophetic messages.

20 do not despise (AN)prophetic (l)utterances.

20 Despise not prophesyings.

20 Don’t despise prophecies,

20 Do not despise prophecies.

21 Put everything [i.e., speakers and their messages] to the test, [then] hold onto what is good.

21 But (AO)examine everything carefully; (AP)hold fast to that which is good;

21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

21 but test all things.(X)Hold on to what is good.

21 Instead, test everything. Hold on to what is good.

22 Avoid [the practice of] every kind of evil.

22 abstain from every (m)form of evil.

22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

22 Stay away(Y) from every kind of evil.

22 Keep away from every kind of evil.

23 And may God Himself, who gives peace, dedicate you completely, and may your spirit, soul and body [i.e., your entire person] be kept without just blame at [i.e., until] the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.

23 Now (AQ)may the God of peace (AR)Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your (AS)spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, (AT)without blame at (AU)the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

23 Now may the God of peace(Z) Himself sanctify you completely. And may your spirit,(AA) soul, and body be kept sound and blameless for the coming(AB) of our Lord(AC) Jesus Christ.(AD)

23 May the God of peace himself make you holy in every way. And may your whole being spirit, soul, and body remain blameless when our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, appears.

24 God, who calls you [into His fellowship] is faithful; He will also do [what He promises].

24 (AV)Faithful is He who (AW)calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.

24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

24 He who calls(AE) you(AF) is faithful, who also will do it.

24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will continue to be faithful.

25 Brothers, pray for us.

25 Brethren, (AX)pray for us(n).

25 Brethren, pray for us.

25 Brothers, pray for us also.

25 Brothers, pray for us.

26 Greet all of the brothers [and sisters] with a holy kiss [i.e., to signify affection, yet without sensuality].

26 (AY)Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.

26 Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.

26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

27 I am ordering you, by [the authority of] the Lord, that this letter be read to all the brothers.

27 I adjure you by the Lord to (AZ)have this letter read to all the (BA)brethren.

27 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.

27 I charge you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the brothers.(AG)

27 I order you by the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.

28 May the unearned favor of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

28 (BB)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

28 May the grace of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, be with you! Amen.

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