| Chapter 5 |
1 |
And concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need of my writing to you,
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2 |
for yourselves have known thoroughly that the day of the Lord as a thief in the night doth so come,
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3 |
for when they may say, Peace and surety, then sudden destruction doth stand by them, as the travail [doth] her who is with child, and they shall not escape;
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4 |
and ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day may catch you as a thief;
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5 |
all ye are sons of light, and sons of day; we are not of night, nor of darkness,
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6 |
so, then, we may not sleep as also the others, but watch and be sober,
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7 |
for those sleeping, by night do sleep, and those making themselves drunk, by night are drunken,
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8 |
and we, being of the day -- let us be sober, putting on a breastplate of faith and love, and an helmet -- a hope of salvation,
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9 |
because God did not appoint us to anger, but to the acquiring of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
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10 |
who did die for us, that whether we wake -- whether we sleep -- together with him we may live;
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11 |
wherefore, comfort ye one another, and build ye up, one the one, as also ye do.
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12 |
And we ask you, brethren, to know those labouring among you, and leading you in the Lord, and admonishing you,
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13 |
and to esteem them very abundantly in love, because of their work; be at peace among yourselves;
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14 |
and we exhort you, brethren, admonish the disorderly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the infirm, be patient unto all;
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15 |
see no one evil for evil may render to any one, but always that which is good pursue ye, both to one another and to all;
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16 |
always rejoice ye;
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17 |
continually pray ye;
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18 |
in every thing give thanks, for this [is] the will of God in Christ Jesus in regard to you.
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19 |
The Spirit quench not;
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20 |
prophesyings despise not;
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21 |
all things prove; that which is good hold fast;
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22 |
from all appearance of evil abstain ye;
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23 |
and the God of the peace Himself sanctify you wholly, and may your whole spirit, and soul, and body, be preserved unblameably in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ;
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24 |
stedfast is He who is calling you, who also will do [it].
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25 |
Brethren, pray for us;
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26 |
salute all the brethren in an holy kiss;
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27 |
I charge you [by] the Lord, that the letter be read to all the holy brethren;
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28 |
the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [is] with you! Amen.
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