JMNT(i)
1 But concerning the times and the fitting situations (or: specific seasons or occasions; fertile periods; mature moments), brothers (= fellow believers), you have no need [for it] to be continually written to you,
2 for you yourselves are accurately aware (know exactly from having seen) that a day of, from and which is the Lord [= Yahweh] thus continually comes (is habitually and repeatedly coming and going; is presently coming) as a thief in a night (or: within [the] night). [comment: the day of Yahweh was a term that figured a time of judging and hard times, in the Old Testament; e.g., cf Joel 1:15 and 2:1-2; Jer. 30:7; Amos 5:18; Zeph. 1:14-18]
3 So whenever they may be repeatedly saying, "Peace and security from falling (or: safety; stability), " then (at that time) sudden and unexpected ruin (or: a surprise of destruction) is presently standing upon them, just as the birth-pang for the pregnant woman (or: to the one having [a child] in the womb), and they may by no means flee out or make an escape.
4 Yet you yourselves, brothers (= believers), are not continuously in darkness (dimness from being in a shadow; obscurity of gloom; absence of daylight) to the end that the day may (or: would) suddenly take you down (grasp or seize you in a corresponding manner) as a thief,
5 for you see, you all are (or: exist being) sons of (= associated with and having the qualities of) Light and sons of (= associated with and having qualities of) Day! We are not (or: do not exist) of night, nor of darkness (or: we do not belong to or have the characteristics of night, nor to or of dim obscurity from shadows and gloom).
6 Consequently, then, we may not continuously fall asleep [into death? in awareness?] even as the rest (= as other folks), but rather, we can and should continuously be aroused and stirred up from sleep [comment: thus, awake to be alertly watchful; also a figure for being alive] and sober (or: clear-headed).
7 You see, the folks continuously falling asleep (or: drowsing) are sleeping at (or: from [the]) night, and the ones continuously being made drunk are becoming drunk at (or: from [the]) night.
8 We, on the other hand, being of Day (belonging to and having characteristics of [the] Day; having [the] Day as our source), can and should continuously be sober (clear-headed), putting on (or: clothing ourselves with; enveloping ourselves in; entering within) a breastplate (or: thorax) of faith and love (or: which is and is composed of faith and love; = have trust & love as body armor) and, as a helmet, an expectation (or: expectant hope) of deliverance (health and wholeness; rescue and salvation; restoration to our original state and condition),
9 because God Himself did not (or: does not) place or set us into anger (inherent fervor; violent emotion; wrath; or: teeming, passionate desire), but rather, into an encompassing of deliverance (or: unto establishing a perimeter of safety; into making health and wholeness encircle [us]; into the forming of an encompassing salvation around [us]) through our Lord, Jesus Christ –
10 the One dying concerning and on behalf of us (or: = while encompassing our [situation]; [other MSS: over our {situation}]), to the end that whether we can or would exist being continuously awake (attentively watching) or continuously falling asleep [note: a metaphor for "being alive or being dead"], we can at the same time be alive (or: live) together with Him (= share His life).
11 Wherefore, keep on calling each other to [your] side (to encourage, aid, urge, comfort or exhort), and by habit let one person build up (or: edify) the [other] person [comment: a one-on-one endeavor], just as you are even continuously doing.