| New Living Translation | NET Bible |
| 1Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don’t really need to write you. | 1Now on the topic of times and seasons, brothers and sisters, you have no need for anything to be written to you. |
| 2For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. | 2For you know quite well that the day of the Lord will come in the same way as a thief in the night. |
| 3When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape. | 3Now when they are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction comes on them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will surely not escape. |
| 4But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. | 4But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the darkness for the day to overtake you like a thief would. |
| 5For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. | 5For you all are sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of the darkness. |
| 6So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. | 6So then we must not sleep as the rest, but must stay alert and sober. |
| 7Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. | 7For those who sleep, sleep at night and those who get drunk are drunk at night. |
| 8But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. | 8But since we are of the day, we must stay sober by putting on the breastplate of faith and love and as a helmet our hope for salvation. |
| 9For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. | 9For God did not destine us for wrath but for gaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. |
| 10Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. | 10He died for us so that whether we are alert or asleep we will come to life together with him. |
| 11So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. Paul’s Final Advice | 11Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, just as you are in fact doing. |
| 12Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. | 12Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who labor among you and preside over you in the Lord and admonish you, |
| 13Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other. | 13and to esteem them most highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. |
| 14Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. | 14And we urge you, brothers and sisters, admonish the undisciplined, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient toward all. |
| 15See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people. | 15See that no one pays back evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all. |
| 16Always be joyful. | 16Always rejoice, |
| 17Never stop praying. | 17constantly pray, |
| 18Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. | 18in everything give thanks. For this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. |
| 19Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. | 19Do not extinguish the Spirit. |
| 20Do not scoff at prophecies, | 20Do not treat prophecies with contempt. |
| 21but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. | 21But examine all things; hold fast to what is good. |
| 22Stay away from every kind of evil. Paul’s Final Greetings | 22Stay away from every form of evil. |
| 23Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. | 23Now may the God of peace himself make you completely holy and may your spirit and soul and body be kept entirely blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. |
| 24God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful. | 24He who calls you is trustworthy, and he will in fact do this. |
| 25Dear brothers and sisters, pray for us. | 25Brothers and sisters, pray for us too. |
| 26Greet all the brothers and sisters with a sacred kiss. | 26Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss. |
| 27I command you in the name of the Lord to read this letter to all the brothers and sisters. | 27I call on you solemnly in the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters. |
| 28May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. | 28The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. |
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