1 Maar oor die tye en geleenthede, broeders, het julle nie nodig dat aan julle geskryf word nie;

2 want julle weet self baie goed dat die dag van die Here kom net soos 'n dief in die nag.

3 Want wanneer hulle sê: Vrede en veiligheid -- dan oorval 'n skielike verderf hulle soos die barensnood 'n swanger vrou, en hulle sal sekerlik nie ontvlug nie.

4 Maar julle, broeders, is nie in duisternis, dat die dag julle soos 'n dief sou oorval nie.

5 Julle is almal kinders van die lig en kinders van die dag; ons is nie van die nag of die duisternis nie.

6 Laat ons dan nie slaap soos die ander nie, maar laat ons waak en nugter wees.

7 Want die wat slaap, slaap in die nag; en die wat dronk word, is in die nag dronk.

8 Maar laat ons wat van die dag is, nugter wees, met die borswapen van geloof en liefde aan, en as helm die hoop op die saligheid.

9 Want God het ons nie bestem tot toorn nie, maar om die saligheid te verkry deur onse Here Jesus Christus

10 wat vir ons gesterf het, sodat ons, of ons waak en of ons slaap, saam met Hom kan lewe.

11 Daarom, bemoedig mekaar en bou die een die ander op, soos julle ook doen.

12 Maar ons vra julle, broeders, erken die wat onder julle arbei en julle voorgangers in die Here is en julle vermaan;

13 en bewys hulle in liefde die hoogste agting ter wille van hulle werk. Hou vrede onder mekaar.

14 En ons versoek julle, broeders, vermaan die onordelikes, bemoedig die kleinmoediges, ondersteun die swakkes, wees lankmoedig teenoor almal.

15 Sorg dat niemand 'n ander kwaad vir kwaad vergeld nie; maar jaag altyd n wat goed is, teenoor mekaar sowel as teenoor almal.

16 Wees altyddeur bly.

17 Bid sonder ophou.

18 Wees in alles dankbaar, want dit is die wil van God in Christus Jesus oor julle.

19 Blus die Gees nie uit nie.

20 Verag die profesieë nie.

21 Beproef alle dinge; behou die goeie.

22 Onthou julle van elke vorm van kwaad.

23 En mag Hy, die God van die vrede, julle volkome heilig maak, en mag julle gees en siel en liggaam geheel en al onberispelik bewaar word by die wederkoms van onse Here Jesus Christus!

24 Hy wat julle roep, is getrou; Hy sal dit ook doen.

25 Broeders, bid vir ons.

26 Groet die broeders almal met 'n heilige kus.

27 Ek besweer julle by die Here dat hierdie brief aan al die heilige broeders voorgelees word.

28 Die genade van onse Here Jesus Christus sy met julle! Amen.

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.