1 Thessalonians 5:4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. When Gordon Pasha was taken prisoner by the Abyssinians he completely checkmated King John. The King received his prisoner sitting on his throne, or whatever piece of furniture did duty for that exalted seat, a chair being placed for the prisoner considerably lower than the seat on which the King sat. The first thing the Pasha did was to seize this chair, place it alongside of his Majesty, and sit down on it: the next to inform him that he met him as an equal and would only treat him as such. This somewhat disconcerted his sable majesty, but on recovering himself he said, "Do you know, Gordon Pasha, that I could kill you on the spot if I liked?" "I am perfectly well aware of it, your Majesty," said the Pasha. "Do so at once if it is your Royal pleasure. I am ready." This disconcerted the King still mores and he exclaimed, "What I ready to be killed?" "Certainly," replied the Pasha, "I am always ready to die, and so far from fearing your putting me to death, you would confer a favour on me by so doing, for you would be doing for me that which I am precluded by my religious scruples from doing for myself — you would relieve me from all the troubles and misfortunes which the future may have in store for me." This completely staggered King John, who gasped out in despair, "Then my power has no terrors for you?" "None whatever," was the Pasha's laconic reply. His Majesty, it is needless to add, instantly collapsed. Parallel Verses KJV: But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.WEB: But you, brothers, aren't in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief. |
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