1 But as to times and dates, brothers, you have no need of anyone's writing you,
2 for you yourselves know perfectly well that the day of the Lord is coming like a thief in the night.
3 When people say, "Such peace and security!" then suddenly destruction falls upon them, like birth pains upon a woman who is about to become a mother, but they shall not escape, no, not at all.
4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness, so that that day, like a thief, should take you by surprise;
5 for you are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness.
6 So let us stop sleeping as others do, but let us stay awake and keep sober.
7 For those who sleep at night and those who get drunk are drunken at night,
8 but let us who belong to the day keep sober, clothed with faith and love for a coat of mail and with the hope of salvation for a helmet.
9 For God appointed us not to reap His wrath but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 who died for us, so that whether we still live or sleep we may live in fellowship with Him.
11 So continue encouraging one another and helping one another in character building.
12 We beg you, brothers, to practice showing respect to those who labor among you, who are your leaders in the Lord's work, and who advise you;
13 continue to hold them in the highest esteem for the sake of the work they do. Practice living at peace with one another.
14 We beg you, brothers, continue to warn the shirkers, to cheer the faint-hearted, to hold up the weak, and to be patient with everybody.
15 Take care that none of you ever pays back evil for evil, but always keep looking for ways to show kindness to one another and everybody.
16 Always be joyful.
17 Never stop praying.
18 Make it a habit to give thanks for everything, for this is God's will for you through Christ Jesus.
19 Stop stifling the Spirit.
20 Stop treating the messages of prophecy with contempt,
21 but continue to prove all things until you can approve them, and then hold on to what is good.
22 Continue to abstain from every sort of evil.
23 May God Himself, who gave you peace, consecrate your whole being. May you be safely kept, spirit, soul, and body, so as to be blameless when our Lord Jesus Christ comes back.
24 He who calls you is trustworthy and He will do this.
25 Brothers, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brothers with a sacred kiss.
27 I solemnly charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.
28 The spiritual blessing of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.