1 But concerning the times and seasons, my brethren, ye need not that I write to you:
2 for ye know assuredly, that the day of our Lord so cometh, as a thief by night.
3 While they will be saying, Peace and quietness, then suddenly destruction will burst upon them, as distress upon a child-bearer, and they will not escape.
4 But ye, my brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 For ye are all children of the light, and children of the day; and are not children of the night, and children of darkness.
6 Let us not therefore sleep, like others; but let us be vigilant and considerate.
7 For they who sleep, sleep in the night; and they who are drunken, are drunken in the night.
8 But let us who are children of the day, be wakeful in mind, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and take the helmet of the hope of life.
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to the acquisition of life, by our Lord Jesus the Messiah:
10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we might live together with him.
11 Therefore comfort one another, and edify one another, as also ye have done.
12 And we entreat you, my brethren, that ye recognize them who labor among you, and who stand before your faces in our Lord, and instruct you :
13 that they may be esteemed by you with abundant love; and, on account of their work, live ye in harmony with them.
14 And we entreat you, my brethren, that ye admonish the faulty, and encourage the faint-hearted, and bear the burdens of the weak, and be long suffering towards all men.
15 And beware, lest any of you return evil for evil, but always follow good deeds, towards one another, and towards all men.
16 And be joyful always.
17 And pray without ceasing.
18 And in every thing be thankful: For this is the pleasure of God in Jesus the Messiah, concerning you.
19 Quench not the Spirit.
20 Despise not prophesying.
21 Explore every thing, and hold fast the good:
22 and fly from every thing evil.
23 And may the God of peace sanctify you all, perfectly, and keep blameless your whole spirit, and your soul, and your body, till the coming of our Lord Jesus the Messiah.
24 Faithful is he that hath called you, who will do it.
25 My brethren, pray for us.
26 Salute all our brethren with a holy kiss.
27 I conjure you by our Lord, that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus the Messiah be with you. Amen.
End of the first Epistle to the Thessalonians; which was written from Athens, and was sent by the hands of Timothy.
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