1 TH 5:6 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

UST So, this is why, as God’s children, we must live ready for what will happen. We must not live unaware of what will happen like the rest of humanity, who are just like people who are sleeping. Instead, we must stay alert and remain attentive, expecting Jesus to return to earth.

BLB So then we should not sleep as the others, but we should watch and we should be sober.

AICNT So then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us stay awake and be sober.

OEB Therefore let us not sleep as others do. No, let us be watchful and self-controlled.

CSB So then, let us not sleep, like the rest, but let us stay awake and be self-controlled.

NLT So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.

NIV So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.

CEV Others may sleep, but we should stay awake and be alert.

ESV So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.

NASB so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.

LSB so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be awake and sober.

WEBBE so then let’s not sleep, as the rest do, but let’s watch and be sober.

WMBB (Same as above)

MSG ^(4-8)But friends, you’re not in the dark, so how could you be taken off guard by any of this? You’re sons of Light, daughters of Day. We live under wide open skies and know where we stand. So let’s not sleepwalk through life like those others. Let’s keep our eyes open and be smart. People sleep at night and get drunk at night. But not us! Since we’re creatures of Day, let’s act like it. Walk out into the daylight sober, dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation.

NET So then we must not sleep as the rest, but must stay alert and sober.

LSV so, then, we may not sleep as also the others, but watch and be sober,

FBV So then we shouldn't be sleeping like everybody else—we should stay awake and keep ourselves clear-headed.

TCNT So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us be watchful and sober.

T4T So we believers must be aware of what is happening. We must be watching carefully, as people who are awake watch for a thief [MET]. We must be self-controlled, as people who are ◄sober/not drunk► are able to control what they do [MET]. People who sleep [MET] are unaware of what is happening, and unbelievers are like that.

LEB So then, we must not sleep like the rest, but must be on the alert and be self-controlled.

NRSV So then let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober;

NKJV Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.

NAB Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us stay alert and sober.

BBE So then, let us not take our rest as the others do, but let us be self-controlled and awake.

Moff Well then, we must not sleep like the rest of men, but be wakeful and sober;

Wymth So then let us not sleep, like the rest of the world, but let us keep awake and be sober.

ASV so then let us not sleep, as do the rest, but let us watch and be sober.

DRA Therefore, let us not sleep, as others do; but let us watch, and be sober.

YLT so, then, we may not sleep as also the others, but watch and be sober,

Drby So then do not let us sleep as the rest do, but let us watch and be sober;

RV so then let us not sleep, as do the rest, but let us watch and be sober.

SLT Therefore let us not sleep, as also the rest; but let us watch and be sober.

Wbstr Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

KJB-1769 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

KJB-1611 Therefore let vs not sleepe, as doe others: but let vs watch and be sober.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from marking of added words (and possibly capitalisation and punctuation))

Bshps Therefore let vs not sleepe, as do other: but let vs watche and be sober.
(Therefore let us not sleep, as do other: but let us watch and be sober.)

Gnva Therefore let vs not sleepe as do other, but let vs watch and be sober.
(Therefore let us not sleep as do other, but let us watch and be sober. )

Cvdl Therfore let vs not slepe as do other, but let vs watch, and be sober.
(Therefore let us not sleep as do other, but let us watch, and be sober.)

TNT Therfore let vs not slepe as do other: but let vs watch and be sober.
(Therefore let us not sleep as do other: but let us watch and be sober. )

Wycl Therfor slepe we not as othere; but wake we, and be we sobre.
(Therefore sleep we not as other; but wake we, and be we sobre.)

Luth So lasset uns nun nicht schlafen wie die andern, sondern lasset uns wachen und nüchtern sein.
(So let us/to_us/ourselves now not sleep as/like the change/modify, rather let us/to_us/ourselves wake/watch(v) and sober be.)

ClVg Igitur non dormiamus sicut et ceteri, sed vigilemus, et sobrii simus.
(Therefore not/no sleepamus like and the_rest, but vigilemus, and sobrii we_are. )

UGNT ἄρα οὖν μὴ καθεύδωμεν ὡς οἱ λοιποί, ἀλλὰ γρηγορῶμεν καὶ νήφωμεν.
(ara oun maʸ katheudōmen hōs hoi loipoi, alla graʸgorōmen kai naʸfōmen.)

SBL-GNT ἄρα οὖν μὴ καθεύδωμεν ⸀ὡς οἱ λοιποί, ἀλλὰ γρηγορῶμεν καὶ νήφωμεν.
(ara oun maʸ katheudōmen ⸀hōs hoi loipoi, alla graʸgorōmen kai naʸfōmen.)

RP-GNT ἄρα οὖν μὴ καθεύδωμεν ὡς καὶ οἱ λοιποί, ἀλλὰ γρηγορῶμεν καὶ νήφωμεν.
(ara oun maʸ katheudōmen hōs kai hoi loipoi, alla graʸgorōmen kai naʸfōmen.)

TC-GNT ἄρα οὖν μὴ καθεύδωμεν ὡς [fn]καὶ οἱ λοιποί, ἀλλὰ γρηγορῶμεν καὶ νήφωμεν.
(ara oun maʸ katheudōmen hōs kai hoi loipoi, alla graʸgorōmen kai naʸfōmen. )

5:6 και ¦ — CT

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 4:13–5:11: Paul taught about when the Lord Jesus would return

Paul explained that when the Lord Jesus returns, God will cause both the Christians who have died and those who will still be alive to ascend to meet the Lord Jesus in the sky. He also explained how the Thessalonians should behave as they waited for the Lord to return.

Paragraph 5:4–11

Because the Lord will return suddenly but people do not know when this will happen, Paul told the believers at Thessalonica that they should be prepared for the Lord Jesus to return at any time.

5:6a

So then, let us not sleep as the others do,

Therefore, let us^(incl) not be asleep like others who are not aware that Jesus will come back.
So let us^(incl) not be like unbelievers who are like people who are asleep and unaware of what is going to happen.

So then: This introduces the clause that follows logically from 5:4–5. Paul was telling the Thessalonians that since they were sons of light and the day, they should not behave like unbelievers.

let us not sleep: This time Paul was not using sleep as a euphemism for “death.” Rather, he meant that unbelievers were like people who are sound asleep, unaware of what is happening. He was continuing the metaphor of a thief coming in the night (5:2b). Unbelievers are like a homeowner who is sleeping when the thief comes; they will not be ready when Jesus returns. However, Paul was warning believers not to be like this. They should be expecting Jesus to return. See also Matthew 25:1–13.

us: This refers to all believers, not just Paul and his companions.

as the others do: Paul was warning all who claimed to be believers to behave as believers should and not like unbelievers who did not believe that Jesus would come again.

5:6b

but let us remain awake and sober.

Instead, we^(incl) should be alert and control ourselves^(incl),
On the contrary, we^(incl) should be like those who are awake and ready for Jesus’ return and we^(incl) should be self-controlled.

but let us remain awake: This metaphor is the opposite of the one in 5:6a, so it means “we should be aware” that Jesus will return suddenly, and we should be ready for him. See Matthew 25:13; Mark 13:35–37.

sober: The Greek verb nēphō literally means “to be sober” and usually refers to not being drunk. However, in this context, many commentators agree that it does not just refer to avoiding being intoxicated. Rather, its meaning is extended to mean being self-controlled. Here is another way to translate this:

self-controlled (NIV)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

ἄρα οὖν

consequently (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἄρα Οὖν μή καθεύδωμεν ὡς οἱ λοιποί ἀλλά γρηγορῶμεν καί νήφωμεν)

Here, the phrase So then introduces what Paul wants believers to do in response to what he has said about Jesus’ second coming. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces the application of a specific teaching. Alternate translation: [Because those things are true] or [Now that I have taught you these things]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

μὴ καθεύδωμεν & γρηγορῶμεν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἄρα Οὖν μή καθεύδωμεν ὡς οἱ λοιποί ἀλλά γρηγορῶμεν καί νήφωμεν)

Here, both times Paul uses the word us, it includes Paul, his fellow workers, and the Thessalonians. Your language may require you to mark these forms.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

μὴ καθεύδωμεν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἄρα Οὖν μή καθεύδωμεν ὡς οἱ λοιποί ἀλλά γρηγορῶμεν καί νήφωμεν)

Here Paul speaks about the people “of the night” and “of the darkness” as if they were sleeping. He means that they are unaware of or unprepared for the Lord’s return because they are living sinfully. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable figure of speech or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [let us not behave sinfully and ignorantly] or [let us not act as if the Lord is not coming]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

οἱ λοιποί

the rest

Paul is using the adjective rest as a noun to refer to a group of people that includes everyone who does not believe. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate this word with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: [the rest of people] or [everyone else]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

οἱ λοιποί

the rest

Paul is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You could supply these words from earlier in the sentence if it would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: [the rest sleep]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

γρηγορῶμεν καὶ νήφωμεν

˱we˲_˓may_be˒_watching (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἄρα Οὖν μή καθεύδωμεν ὡς οἱ λοιποί ἀλλά γρηγορῶμεν καί νήφωμεν)

Here, Paul speaks as if believers were guards who needed to keep watch and be sober. He means that believers should be aware of and prepared for the Lord’s return, and they should be self-controlled so that they live in a way that pleases God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable figure of speech or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [let us be spiritually alert and self-controlled] or [let us confidently expect the Lord to return and live in a way that pleases God]

Parallel 1 TH 5:6

Section 4:13–5:11: Paul taught about when the Lord Jesus would return

Paragraph 5:4–11

5:6a

5:6b

Parallel 1 TH 5:6