¹ But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that aught be written unto you.² For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. ³ When they are saying, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall in no wise escape. ⁴ But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief: ⁵ for ye are all sons of light, and sons of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness; ⁶ so then let us not sleep, as do the rest, but let us watch and be sober. ⁷ For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that are drunken are drunken in the night. ⁸ But let us, since we are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. ⁹ For God appointed us not unto wrath, but unto the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁰ who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. ¹¹ Wherefore exhort one another, and build each other up, even as also ye do.

¹² But we beseech you, brethren, to know them that labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; ¹³ and to esteem them exceeding highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves. ¹⁴ And we exhort you, brethren, admonish the disorderly, encourage the fainthearted, support the weak, be longsuffering toward all. ¹⁵ See that none render unto any one evil for evil; but always follow after that which is good, one toward another, and toward all. ¹⁶ Rejoice always; ¹⁷ pray without ceasing; ¹⁸ in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus to you-ward. ¹⁹ Quench not the Spirit;²⁰ despise not prophesyings; ²¹ prove all things; hold fast that which is good; ²² abstain from every form of evil.

²³ And the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ Faithful is he that calleth you, who will also do it.

²⁵ Brethren, pray for us.

²⁶ Salute all the brethren with a holy kiss. ²⁷ I adjure you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the brethren.

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