Moffatt(i)
1 As regards the course and periods of time, brothers, you have no need of being written to.
2 You know perfectly well that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night;
3 when 'all's well' and 'all is safe' are on the lips of men, then all of a sudden Destruction is upon them, like pangs on a pregnant woman — escape there is none.
4 But, brothers, you are not in the darkness for the Day to surprise you like thieves;
5 you are all sons of the Light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness.
6 Well then, we must not sleep like the rest of men, but be wakeful and sober;
7 for sleepers sleep by night and drunkards are drunk by night,
8 but we must be sober, we who belong to the day, clad in faith and love as our coat of mail, with the hope of salvation as our helmet —
9 for God destined us not for Wrath but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 who died for us that waking in life or sleeping in death we should live together with him.
11 Encourage one another, therefore, and let each edify the other — as indeed you are doing.
12 Brothers, we beg you to respect those who are working among you, presiding over you in the Lord and maintaining discipline;
13 hold them in special esteem and affection, for the sake of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.
14 We beseech you, brothers, keep a check upon loafers, encourage the faint-hearted, sustain weak souls, never lose your temper with anyone;
15 see that none of you pays back evil for evil, but always aim at what is kind to one another and to all the world;
16 rejoice at all times,
17 never give up prayer,
18 thank God for everything — such is his will for you in Christ Jesus;
19 never quench the fire of the Spirit,
20 never disdain prophetic revelations
21 but test them all, retaining what is good
22 and abstaining from whatever kind is evil.
23 May the God of peace consecrate you through and through! Spirit, soul, and body, may you be kept without break or blame till the arrival of our Lord Jesus Christ!
24 He who calls you is faithful, he will do this.
25 Pray for us too, brothers.
26 Salute everyone of the brothers with a holy kiss.
27 I adjure you by the Lord to have this letter read aloud to all the [holy] brothers.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. [Amen.]