| 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. |
