1 Thessalonians 5
1 My fellow believers, [I want to tell you more] about the time or period [when the Lord Jesus will come back. Really], you do not need me to you about that,
Maar van de tijden en de gelegenheden, broeders! hebt gij niet van node, dat men u schrijve.
2 because you yourselves know accurately [what will happen! You know] that the Lord [Jesus will return] [MTY] [unexpectedly] (OR, [when some people are unprepared]). [People will not expect him, just like no one knows when] a thief [comes unexpectedly] at night [SIM].
Want gij weet zelven zeer wel, dat de dag des Heeren alzo zal komen, gelijk een dief in de nacht.
3 [At a future time] many people will say, “[All is] peaceful and [we are] safe!” Then suddenly the Lord Jesus will come to punish people severely! Just like a pregnant woman who [experiences] birth pains [cannot stop those pains], those people will definitely not [have any way to] escape [their punishment].
Want wanneer zij zullen zeggen: Het is vrede, en zonder gevaar; dan zal een haastig verderf hun overkomen, gelijk de barensnood een bevruchte vrouw; en zij zullen het geenszins ontvlieden;
4 [Just like people] in the dark [are unaware of what is happening around them, most people will not be aware of what is about to happen to them] [MET, PRS]. Just like a thief [comes unexpectedly for people who are unaware, that time of punishment will come when people are not expecting it] [SIM]. But you, my fellow believers, are people who are very much aware [LIT] of what is going to happen. As a result, you will be expecting [LIT] those things [MTY] to happen [PRS]. All of us [believers] are people [IDM] [who do what is right, as people usually do in] the daytime [MET] [when their actions can be seen]. We are not [people who do evil things, as some people do when it is] dark [MET].
Maar gij, broeders, gij zijt niet in duisternis, dat u die dag als een dief zou bevangen.
Gij zijt allen kinderen des lichts, en kinderen des daags; wij zijn niet des nachts, noch der duisternis.
6 So we believers must be aware of what is happening. We must be watching carefully, [as people who are awake watch for a thief] [MET]. We must be self-controlled, as people who are (sober/not drunk) are able to control what they do [MET]. People who sleep [MET] [are unaware of what is happening, and unbelievers are like that].
Zo laat ons dan niet slapen, gelijk als de anderen, maar laat ons waken, en nuchteren zijn.
7 It is at night when people become drunk [and they do very wrong actions/things, and are unaware of what is happening because they] are asleep.
Want die slapen, slapen des nachts, en die dronken zijn, zijn des nachts dronken;
8 But we believers are people who [should do what is right] [MET], so we must be self-controlled, [as people] in the daytime [are usually not drunk and are able to control what they do] [MET]. [As Roman soldiers protect themselves by] putting on breastplates and helmets [MET], we [believers] must [protect ourselves by continuing to] trust and love [the Lord Jesus] and by continuing to confidently expect that he will save [us from God’s punishing us at the time when he will punish other people].
Maar wij, die des daags zijn, laat ons nuchteren zijn, aangedaan hebbende het borstwapen des geloofs en der liefde, en tot een helm, de hoop der zaligheid.
9 When God chose us, he did not plan for us to [be people whom he will severely] punish [MTY]. On the contrary, [he decided] that he would save us because of [our trusting in what] our Lord Jesus Christ [has done for us].
Want God heeft ons niet gesteld tot toorn, maar tot verkrijging der zaligheid, door onzen Heere Jezus Christus;
10 Jesus died [to atone/pay] for our [sins] in order that we might be able to live together with him, whether we are alive [MET] or whether we are dead [EUP] [when he returns to earth].
Die voor ons gestorven is, opdat wij, hetzij dat wij waken, hetzij dat wij slapen, te zamen met Hem leven zouden.
11 Because [you know that this is true], continue to encourage/comfort each other, as indeed you now are doing.
Daarom vermaant elkander, en sticht de een den anderen, gelijk gij ook doet.
12 My fellow believers, we [three] ask that you recognize/honor [as leaders] those people who work hard for you. [Specifically], respect those who lead you as fellow believers who (have a close relationship with/are united to) the Lord [Jesus]. They warn you [to stop doing what is wrong] (OR, they teach you [to do what is right]).
En wij bidden u, broeders, erkent degenen, die onder u arbeiden, en uw voorstanders zijn in den Heere, en u vermanen;
13 That is, we [ask that you] consider those leaders to be very important and that you love them, because they work [hard to help you]. We also urge you to live peacefully with each other.
En acht hen zeer veel in liefde, om huns werks wil. Zijt vreedzaam onder elkander.
14 My fellow believers, we urge that you warn [believers] who will not work [in order to] ([obtain/earn the money to buy]) [things that they need to live. Tell them that they are behaving wrongly]. We urge you that you encourage [believers] who are fearful (OR, discouraged), and that you help all people who are weak [in any way]. We also urge you to be patient with everyone.
En wij bidden u, broeders, vermaant de ongeregelden, vertroost de kleinmoedigen, ondersteunt de zwakken, zijt lankmoedig jegens allen.
15 Make sure that none [of you] does evil things to anyone [who has done] evil to you. On the contrary, you must always try to do good [things] for each other (OR, to fellow believers) and to everyone else.
Ziet, dat niemand kwaad voor kwaad iemand vergelde; maar jaagt allen tijd het goede na, zo jegens elkander als jegens allen.
16 Be joyful (at all times/always),
Verblijdt u te allen tijd.
17 pray continually,
Bidt zonder ophouden.
18 and thank [God] (in all [circumstances/] [of what happens]). God wants you [to behave] like that [because of what] Christ Jesus [has done for you] (OR, because you have a close relationship with Christ Jesus).
Dankt God in alles; want dit is de wil van God in Christus Jezus over u.
19 Do not [refuse the urging from God’s] Spirit [when he is working] [MTY] [among you. That would be like] throwing water on [a fire] [MET]!
Blust den Geest niet uit.
20 [Specifically], do not despise messages that the Holy Spirit reveals to someone, [and reject them automatically].
Veracht de profetieen niet.
21 On the contrary, evaluate all [such messages]. Accept the [messages that are truly from God, and obey them].
Beproeft alle dingen; behoudt het goede.
22 Do not obey any kind of evil [message].
Onthoudt u van allen schijn des kwaads.
23 [We pray to] God that he will change you to become more and more like his people should be. He is the one who causes [his people] to have [inner] peace. [That is, we pray] that he will help you so that in all that you think, in all that you desire, and in all that you do, you will be without fault. We ask him that he will keep doing that [until] our Lord Jesus Christ comes back [to earth].
En de God des vredes Zelf heilige u geheel en al; en uw geheel oprechte geest, en ziel, en lichaam worde onberispelijk bewaard in de toekomst van onzen Heere Jezus Christus.
24 [Because God] has invited you [to be his people, you can] certainly trust him to keep on helping you to do that.
Hij, Die u roept, is getrouw, Die het ook doen zal.
25 My fellow believers, pray for me and for Silas and for Timothy.
Broeders, bidt voor ons.
26 [When you gather together as believers], greet each other affectionately, as fellow believers [should].
Groet al de broeders met een heiligen kus.
27 Make certain that you read this letter to all the believers who may be absent when you read it at first, [knowing that] the Lord [Jesus wants you to do it].
Ik bezweer ulieden bij den Heere, dat deze zendbrief al den heiligen broederen gelezen worde.
28 [I pray that] our Lord Jesus Christ [will continue to act] kindly toward you all.
De genade van onzen Heere Jezus Christus zij met ulieden. Amen.
