Good News [1976], GOOD NEWS BIBLE WITH DEUTEROCANONICALS / APOCRYPHA Today's English Version (AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY, New York) [word count] [B15000].
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Be Ready for the Lord's Coming
1 There is no need to write you,
brothers, about the times and
occasions when these things will
happen.
2 For you yourselves know
very well that the Day of the Lord
will come as a thief comes at night.
3 When people say, “Everything is
quiet and safe,” then suddenly destruction
will hit them! It will come
as suddenly as the pains that come
upon a woman in labor, and people
will not escape.
4 But you, brothers,
are not in the darkness, and the Day
should not take you by surprise like
a thief.
5 All of you are people who
belong to the light, who belong to
the day. We do not belong to the
night or to the darkness. note
6 So then,
we should not be sleeping like the
others; we should be awake and sober.
7 It is at night when people
sleep; it is at night when they get
drunk.
8 But we belong to the day,
and we should be sober. We must
wear faith and love as a breastplate,
and our hope of salvation as a helmet. note
9 God did not choose us to suffer
his anger, but to possess salvation
through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 who died for us in order that we
might live together with him,
whether we are alive or dead when
he comes.
11 And so encourage one
another and help one another, just
as you are now doing.
Final Instructions and Greetings
12 We beg you, our brothers, to pay
proper respect to those who work
among you, who guide and instruct
you in the Christian life.
13 Treat
them with the greatest respect and
love because of the work they do. Be
at peace among yourselves.
14 We urge you, our brothers, to
warn the idle, encourage the timid,
help the weak, be patient with
everyone.
15 See that no one pays
back wrong for wrong, but at all
times make it your aim to do good to
one another and to all people.
16 Be joyful always,
17 pray at all
times,
18 be thankful in all circumstances.
This is what God wants
from you in your life in union with
Christ Jesus.
19 Do not restrain the Holy Spirit;
20 do not despise inspired messages.
21 Put all things to the test: keep
what is good
22 and avoid every kind
of evil.
23 May the God who gives us peace
make you holy in every way and
keep your whole being—spirit, soul,
and body—free from every fault at
the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 He who calls you will do it, because
he is faithful.
25 Pray also for us, brothers.
26 Greet all the believers with a
brotherly kiss.
27 I urge you by the authority of
the Lord to read this letter to all the
believers.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ be with you.
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Good News [1976], GOOD NEWS BIBLE WITH DEUTEROCANONICALS / APOCRYPHA Today's English Version (AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY, New York) [word count] [B15000].
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