Montgomery - I Thessalonians - 5

5:1  Now as to the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that anything be written to you.

5:2  You yourselves know perfectly that the Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night.

5:3  While men are saying "Peace and safety," then, like birth-pangs upon a woman with child, destruction will come upon them suddenly. In no wise will they escape.

5:4  But you, brothers, are not in darkness, that "the Day" should come upon you like a bandit.

5:5  For you are all sons of light, and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness.

5:6  So then let us not be sleeping as do the rest, but let us be watchful and self-controlled.

5:7  For those who are sleeping, sleep in the night, and those who are drunken, are drunken in the night.

5:8  But let us who are of the day be self-controlled, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.

5:9  For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to win salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

5:10  He died for us, in order that whether we are keeping vigil in life or sleeping in death we may ever be living together with him.

5:11  So comfort one another, and try to build one another up, as indeed you are doing.

5:12  I entreat you, brothers, to acknowledge those who are toiling among you and are your leaders in the Lord, and give you counsel.

5:13  Esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Live in peace among yourselves.

5:14  And, brothers, we urge you to admonish the disorderly, comfort the faint-hearted, sustain the weak, lose patience with none.

5:15  Take care that none of you ever return evil for evil, but always pursue what is kind to one another and to all.

5:16  Always be joyful.

5:17  Pray without ceasing.

5:18  Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

5:19  Quench not the Spirit.

5:20  Do not despise prophesyings.

5:21  But try all, holding fast to the good.

5:22  Hold aloof from every form of evil.

5:23  May the God of peace consecrate you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept altogether faultless until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

5:24  He who calls you is faithful; he will fulfil my prayer.

5:25  Brothers, pray for me.

5:26  Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

5:27  I adjure you, in the name of the Lord, to have this letter read to all the brothers.

5:28  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.