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,
But concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that anything be written to you.
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].
For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night.
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].
For when they are saying, “Peace and safety,” then sudden destruction will come on them, like birth pains on a pregnant woman. Then they will in no way escape.
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].
But you, brothers, aren’t in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief.
You are all children of light and children of the day. We don’t belong to the night, nor to darkness,
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].
so then let’s not sleep, as the rest do, but let’s watch and be sober.
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.
For those who sleep, sleep in the night; and those who are drunk are drunk in the night.
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].
But since we belong to the day, let’s be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.
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].
For God didn’t appoint us to wrath, but to the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
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].
who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
11 Because [you know that this is true], continue to encourage/comfort each other, as indeed you now are doing.
Therefore exhort one another, and build each other up, even as you also do.
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]).
But we beg you, brothers, to know those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,
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.
and to respect and honor them in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.
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.
We exhort you, brothers: Admonish the disorderly; encourage the faint-hearted; support the weak; be patient toward all.
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.
See that no one returns evil for evil to anyone, but always follow after that which is good for one another and for all.
16 Be joyful (at all times/always),
Always rejoice.
17 pray continually,
Pray without ceasing.
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).
In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you.
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]!
Don’t quench the Spirit.
20 [Specifically], do not despise messages that the Holy Spirit reveals to someone, [and reject them automatically].
Don’t despise prophecies.
21 On the contrary, evaluate all [such messages]. Accept the [messages that are truly from God, and obey them].
Test all things, and hold firmly that which is good.
22 Do not obey any kind of evil [message].
Abstain from every form of evil.
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].
May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 [Because God] has invited you [to be his people, you can] certainly trust him to keep on helping you to do that.
He who calls you is faithful, who will also do it.
25 My fellow believers, pray for me and for Silas and for Timothy.
Brothers, pray for us.
26 [When you gather together as believers], greet each other affectionately, as fellow believers [should].
Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.
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].
I solemnly command you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the holy brothers.
28 [I pray that] our Lord Jesus Christ [will continue to act] kindly toward you all.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
