⁴² Therefore be alert, since you don’t know what day^[a] your Lord is coming.^{(A) 43} But know this: If the homeowner had known what time^[b] the thief was coming, he would have stayed alert and not let his house be broken into.^{(B) 44} This is why you are also to be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.^(C)

No One Knows the Day or Hour

³² “Now concerning that day^(A) or hour no one knows—neither the angels^(B) in heaven nor the Son^(C) —but only the Father.^(D)

³³ “Watch! Be alert!^[a] For you don’t know when the time^(E) is coming.^(F)

³⁴ “It is like^(G) a man on a journey, who left his house, gave authority to his servants,^(H) gave each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to be alert. ³⁵ Therefore be alert,^(I) since you don’t know when the master^(J) of the house is coming—whether in the evening or at midnight or at the crowing of the rooster or early in the morning. ³⁶ Otherwise, when he comes suddenly he might find you sleeping.^{(K) 37} And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Be alert!”

Ready for the Master’s Return

³⁵ “Be ready for service^[a] and have your lamps lit.^{(A) 36} You are to be like people waiting for their master^(B) to return from the wedding banquet^(C) so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once.^{(D) 37} Blessed will be those servants the master finds alert^(E) when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will get ready,^[b] have them recline at the table, then come and serve them.^{(F) 38} If he comes in the middle of the night, or even near dawn,^[c] and finds them alert, blessed are those servants. ³⁹ But know this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming,^(G) he would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁰ You also be ready,^(H) because the Son of Man^(I) is coming at an hour you do not expect.”^(J)

The Day of the Lord

5 About the times and the seasons:^(A) Brothers and sisters, you do not need anything to be written to you. ² For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord^(B) will come just like a thief^(C) in the night. ³ When they say, “Peace and security,” then sudden destruction^(D) will come upon them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. ⁴ But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the dark, for this day to surprise you like a thief.^{(E) 5} For you are all children of light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness.^{(F) 6} So then, let us not sleep, like the rest, but let us stay awake and be self-controlled. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. ⁸ But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled^(G) and put on the armor^(H) of faith and love, and a helmet^(I) of the hope of salvation. ⁹ For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord^(J) Jesus Christ,^{(K) 10} who died for us,^(L) so that whether we are awake or asleep,^(M) we may live together with him.^{(N) 11} Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.

¹⁵ “Look, I am coming like a thief. Blessed^(A) is the one who is alert and remains clothed^[a](B) so that he may not go around naked and people see his shame.”^(C)