| 1 | But as to the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need to have anything written to you. |
| 2 | For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. |
| 3 | When people say, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as travail comes upon a woman with child, and there will be no escape. |
| 4 | But you are not in darkness, brethren, for that day to surprise you like a thief. |
| 5 | For you are all sons of light and sons of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. |
| 6 | So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. |
| 7 | For those who sleep sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. |
| 8 | But, since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. |
| 9 | For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, |
| 10 | who died for us so that whether we wake or sleep we might live with him. |
| 11 | Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. |
| 12 | But we beseech you, brethren, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, |
| 13 | and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. |
| 14 | And we exhort you, brethren, admonish the idlers, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. |
| 15 | See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. |
| 16 | Rejoice always, |
| 17 | pray constantly, |
| 18 | give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. |
| 19 | Do not quench the Spirit, |
| 20 | do not despise prophesying, |
| 21 | but test everything; hold fast what is good, |
| 22 | abstain from every form of evil. |
| 23 | May the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. |
| 24 | He who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. |
| 25 | Brethren, pray for us. |
| 26 | Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss. |
| 27 | I adjure you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the brethren. |
| 28 | The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. |