Now concerning the times and dates, brothers and sisters, you do not need anything to be written to you
because you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
When they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then disaster will suddenly come upon them like labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will surely not escape.
But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness that the Day would surprise you like a thief,
because you are all children of light and children of the day. We are not of the night, nor of the darkness.
So then, let us not be asleep like the rest of humankind, but let us be awake and clearheaded.
For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.
But since we are of the day, let us be clearheaded, putting on a breastplate of trust and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.
For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
who died in our place so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with him.
Therefore encourage one another and each one of you build up the other one, just as you are already doing.
Final Instructions and Benediction
Now, brothers and sisters, we request that you respect those who labor among you and are leading you in the Lord and are admonishing you,
and to hold them in very high regard with love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.
Now we urge you, brothers and sisters, admonish the undisciplined, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
See to it that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always diligently pursue what is good for one another and for all people.
Rejoice always;
never stop praying;
in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
Do not quench the spirit.
Do not treat prophecies with contempt,
but test everything and hold on firmly to what is good.
Stay away from every kind of evil.
Now may the God of peace himself make you completely holy, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.
Brothers and sisters, pray for us.
Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss.
I put you under oath before the Lord that this letter be read to all the brothers and sisters.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.