主来的日子
1弟兄姊妹，这件事会在什么日期、什么时候发生，不必我写信告诉你们， 2因为你们已经清楚知道，将来有一天，主会突然来到，像贼在夜里忽然出现一样。 3当人们正在说一切平安稳妥的时候，灾祸会像产痛临到孕妇一样突然临到他们，令他们无法逃脱。
4然而，弟兄姊妹，你们不是活在黑暗里，因此那日子不会像贼一样突然临到你们。 5你们都是光明之子，白昼之子。我们既不属于黑夜，也不属于黑暗。 6所以不要像其他人一样沉睡，要警醒戒备， 7因为睡觉的人是在夜里睡，醉酒的人是在夜里醉。 8我们既属于白昼，就应当保持清醒，要把信心和爱心当作护心镜遮胸，把得救的盼望当作头盔戴上。 9因为上帝不是预定我们受惩罚，而是预定我们靠着主耶稣基督得救。 10主替我们死，使我们无论是醒是睡5:10 “是醒是睡”或译“是生是死”。，都可以与祂同活。 11所以，你们要彼此鼓励、互相造就，正如你们一向所做的。
劝勉与问候
12弟兄姊妹，我劝你们要敬重那些在你们当中辛勤工作、在主里领导和劝诫你们的人。 13因为他们的工作，你们要怀着爱心格外敬重他们。你们要彼此和睦相处。 14此外，我劝你们要告诫懒惰的人，鼓励灰心的人，扶持软弱的人，耐心对待所有的人。 15你们要小心，谁都不可冤冤相报，总要彼此善待，也要善待众人。
16要常常喜乐， 17不断地祷告， 18凡事谢恩，因为这是上帝在基督耶稣里给你们的旨意。
19不要抑制圣灵的感动， 20不要轻视先知的信息。 21凡事都要小心察验，持守良善的事， 22杜绝所有的恶事。
23愿赐平安的上帝使你们完全圣洁！愿祂保守你们的灵、魂、体，使你们在主耶稣基督再来的时候无可指责！ 24呼召你们的主是信实可靠的，祂必为你们成就这事。
25弟兄姊妹，请为我们祷告。 26要以圣洁的吻问候众弟兄姊妹。 27最后，我奉主的名吩咐你们把这封信读给所有弟兄姊妹听。
28愿我们主耶稣基督的恩典与你们同在！
The Day of the Lord
1Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
4But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Final Instructions
12Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
16Rejoice always, 17pray continually, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
19Do not quench the Spirit. 20Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21but test them all; hold on to what is good, 22reject every kind of evil.
23May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
25Brothers and sisters, pray for us. 26Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss. 27I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.
28The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
