1 Thessalonians 5:1-8

1Friends, we do not need to write anything to you about the dates and times when these things will happen.

2You know very well about how the great day of the Lord will happen. That day will surprise people very much, like when a robber comes in the night.

3At that time, people will be saying, ‘We are safe and there is no trouble for us.’ But then, when they are not ready for it, great punishment will suddenly happen to them. It will be impossible for them to run away. Pain will suddenly come to them, like a woman who is giving birth to a baby.

4But you, our Christian friends, know about these things. You are not like people who live in the dark. So when the great day of the Lord happens, it should not suddenly surprise you, like a robber might surprise you.

5All of you are people who belong to the light and to the day. We who are believers do not belong to the night or to the dark.

6So we must watch carefully. We should be like people who stay awake. We should not be like other people who are sleeping.

7It is at night that people sleep. It is at night that people become drunk.

8But we belong to the day, not to the night. So we should think clearly. We must prepare ourselves like a soldier who puts on his armour. We must continue to trust God and to love him. That will be like a metal shirt that keeps our body safe. We must also continue to hope that God will save us. That will be like a strong hat that keeps our head safe.