(Zephaniah 1:7–18; Malachi 4:1–6; 2 Peter 3:8–13)
1
And concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need of my writing to you,
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for you have thoroughly known that the Day of the LORD so comes as a thief in the night,
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for when they may say, “Peace and security,” then sudden destruction comes [on] them, as the travail [on] her who is with child, and they will not escape;
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but you, brothers, are not in darkness, that the Day may catch you as a thief;
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you are all sons of light, and sons of day; we are not of night, nor of darkness,
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so, then, we may not sleep as also the others, but watch and be sober,
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for those sleeping, sleep by night, and those making themselves drunk, are drunken by night,
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and we, being of the day—let us be sober, putting on a breastplate of faith and love, and a helmet—a hope of salvation,
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because God did not appoint us to anger, but to the acquiring of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
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who died for us, that whether we wake—whether we sleep—we may live together with Him;
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for this reason, comfort one another, and build up one another, as also you do.
Christian Living
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And we ask you, brothers, to know those laboring among you and leading you in the LORD and admonishing you,
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and to esteem them very abundantly in love, because of their work; be at peace among yourselves;
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and we exhort you, brothers, admonish the disorderly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, be patient to all;
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see [that] no one may render evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue that which is good, both to one another and to all;
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give thanks in everything, for this [is] the will of God in Christ Jesus in regard to you.
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Do not quench the Spirit;
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do not despise prophesyings;
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prove all things; hold fast [to] that which is good;
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abstain from all appearance of evil;
Final Blessings and Instructions
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and may the God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved, unblameably at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ;
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He who is calling you is steadfast, who also will do [it].
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Brothers, pray for us.
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Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.
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I charge you [by] the LORD, that the letter be read to all the holy brothers.
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The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [is] with you! Amen.
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