The Day of the Lord
(Zephaniah 1:7–18; Malachi 4:1–6; 2 Peter 3:8–13)

1But of the tymes & seasons brethre, ye haue no neede that I write vnto you. 2For ye your selues knowe perfectlye that the day of the Lord shall so come euen as a theefe in the nyght. 3For when they shal say peace & safetie, then shall sodeyne destruction come vppon them, as sorowe vpon a woman with chylde, and they shall not escape. 4But ye brethren are not in darknesse, that that day shoulde ouertake you as a theefe. 5Ye are all the chyldren of lyght, and the chyldren of the daye: We are not of the nyght, neither of darkenesse. 6Therefore let vs not sleepe, as do other: but let vs watche and be sober. 7For they that sleepe, sleepe in the night: and they that be druncken, are druncken in the nyght. 8But let vs which are of the day, be sober, puttyng on the brest plate of fayth and loue, and a helmet, the hope of saluation. 9For God hath not appoynted vs to wrath: but to obtayne saluation, by our Lorde Iesus Christe, 10Whiche dyed for vs, that whether we wake or sleepe, we shoulde lyue together with hym. 11Wherefore comfort your selues together, and edifie euery one another, euen as ye do.

Christian Living

12And we beseche you brethren to know them whiche labour among you, and haue the ouersight of you in the Lorde, and admonishe you: 13That ye haue them in hye reputation, in loue for their worke, and be at peace among your selues. 14We exhort you brethren, warne them that are vnruly, comfort the feeble mynded, lyft vp the weake, be pacient towarde all men. 15See that none recompence euyll for euyll vnto any man: but euer folowe that whiche is good, both among your selues, and to all men. 16Reioyce euer. 17Pray continually. 18In all thinges geue thankes. For this is the wyl of God in Christe Iesus towarde you. 19Quenche not the spirite. 20Despise not prophesiynges. 21Examine all thynges, holde fast that which is good. 22Abstayne from all appearaunce of euyll.

Final Blessings and Instructions

23And the very God of peace santifie you throughout And I pray God that your whole spirite, and soule, and body, may be preserued blamelesse in the comming of our Lorde Iesus Christe. 24Faythfull is he whiche called you, whiche wyll also do it.

25Brethren, pray for vs.

26Greete all the brethren in an holy kysse. 27I charge you in the Lorde, that this epistle be read vnto al the holy brethren.

28The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be with you. Amen. The first (epistle) vnto the Thessalonians, written from Athens.