5:1   There is no need to write you, friends, about the times and occasions when these things will happen.

5:2   For you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lord will come as a thief comes at night.

5:3   When people say, "Everything is quiet and safe," then suddenly destruction will hit them! It will come as suddenly as the pains that come upon a woman in labor, and people will not escape.

5:4   But you, friends, are not in the darkness, and the Day should not take you by surprise like a thief.

5:5   All of you are people who belong to the light, who belong to the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.

5:6   So then, we should not be sleeping like the others; we should be awake and sober.

5:7   It is at night when people sleep; it is at night when they get drunk.

5:8   But we belong to the day, and we should be sober. We must wear faith and love as a breastplate, and our hope of salvation as a helmet.

5:9   God did not choose us to suffer his anger, but to possess salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

5:10   who died for us in order that we might live together with him, whether we are alive or dead when he comes.

5:11   And so encourage one another and help one another, just as you are now doing.

5:12   We beg you, our friends, to pay proper respect to those who work among you, who guide and instruct you in the Christian life.

5:13   Treat them with the greatest respect and love because of the work they do. Be at peace among yourselves.

5:14   We urge you, our friends, to warn the idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

5:15   See that no one pays back wrong for wrong, but at all times make it your aim to do good to one another and to all people.

5:16   Be joyful always,

5:17   pray at all times,

5:18   be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus.

5:19   Do not restrain the Holy Spirit;

5:20   do not despise inspired messages.

5:21   Put all things to the test: keep what is good

5:22   and avoid every kind of evil.

5:23   May the God who gives us peace make you holy in every way and keep your whole being---spirit, soul, and body---free from every fault at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

5:24   He who calls you will do it, because he is faithful.

5:25   Pray also for us, friends.

5:26   Greet all the believers with the kiss of peace.

5:27   I urge you by the authority of the Lord to read this letter to all the believers.

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