-
And concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need of my writing to you,
-
for yourselves have known thoroughly that the day of the Lord as a thief in the night doth so come,
-
for when they may say, Peace and surety, then sudden destruction doth stand by them, as the travail doth her who is with child, and they shall not escape;
-
and ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day may catch you as a thief;
-
all ye are sons of light, and sons of day; we are not of night, nor of darkness,
-
so, then, we may not sleep as also the others, but watch and be sober,
-
for those sleeping, by night do sleep, and those making themselves drunk, by night are drunken,
-
and we, being of the day--let us be sober, putting on a breastplate of faith and love, and an helmet--a hope of salvation,
-
because God did not appoint us to anger, but to the acquiring of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
-
who did die for us, that whether we wake--whether we sleep--together with him we may live;
-
wherefore, comfort ye one another, and build ye up, one the one, as also ye do.
-
And we ask you, brethren, to know those labouring among you, and leading you in the Lord, and admonishing you,
-
and to esteem them very abundantly in love, because of their work; be at peace among yourselves;
-
and we exhort you, brethren, admonish the disorderly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the infirm, be patient unto all;
-
see no one evil for evil may render to any one, but always that which is good pursue ye, both to one another and to all;
-
always rejoice ye;
-
continually pray ye;
-
in every thing give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus in regard to you.
-
The Spirit quench not;
-
prophesyings despise not;
-
all things prove; that which is good hold fast;
-
from all appearance of evil abstain ye;
-
and the God of the peace Himself sanctify you wholly, and may your whole spirit, and soul, and body, be preserved unblameably in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ;
-
stedfast is He who is calling you, who also will do it .
-
Brethren, pray for us;
-
salute all the brethren in an holy kiss;
-
I charge you by the Lord, that the letter be read to all the holy brethren;
-
the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is with you! Amen.