1BUT regarding times and dates, brethren, you do not need to have me write to you. 2For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3When they are saying, "Peace and safety," then sudden destruction is upon them, like the pangs upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. 4But you, brethren, are not in darkness so that the day can take you like a thief. 5You are all sons of light and sons of day. We do not belong to night or to darkness. 6Then let us not be sleeping like the rest of men, but let us watch and be sober. 7For those who sleep sleep in the night and those who drink drink in the night. 8But let us who are of the day be sober. Let us put on the breastplate of faith and love and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9For God has not destined us to wrath, but to the winning of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10who died for us that whether we are waking or sleeping we may live in company with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, as indeed you are doing. 12We beg you, brethren, to regard those who are laboring among you and who preside over you in the Lord and give you counsel, 13and to esteem them very highly in love on account of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14We urge you, brethren, to warn the disorderly, encourage the faint-hearted, help the weak, be patient with all. 15Take care that no one repays evil with evil, but always seek eagerly what is good in dealing with one another and with every one. 16Always be joyful. 17Pray without ceasing. 18In everything give thanks, for this is God's will in Christ for you. 19Do not quench the Spirit. 20Do not despise prophecies. 21Test all things; hold fast the good. 22Avoid every kind of evil. 23May the God of peace himself make you completely holy, and may your spirits and souls and bodies be kept faultless and blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24He is faithful who calls you and he will do it. 25Brethren, pray for us. 26Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss. 27I solemnly charge you in the Lord's name to have this letter read to all the brethren. 28The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.