And be like men who are looking for their lord, when he comes back from the bride-feast; so that when he comes to the door, it will be open to him quickly.

And may the God of peace himself make you holy in every way; and may your spirit and soul and body be free from all sin at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I give you orders before God, the giver of life, and Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate gave witness to the faith, To keep the word untouched by evil, clear from all shame, till the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which at the right time he will make clear, who is the eternal and only Ruler, King of kings, and Lord of lords;

But you, O man of God, keep yourself from these things, and go after righteousness, religion, faith, love, a quiet mind, gentle behaviour. Be fighting the good fight of the faith; take for yourself the life eternal, for which you were marked out, and of which you gave witness in the eyes of all. I give you orders before God, the giver of life, and Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate gave witness to the faith,read more.
To keep the word untouched by evil, clear from all shame, till the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which at the right time he will make clear, who is the eternal and only Ruler, King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only has life for ever, living in light to which no man may come near; whom no man has seen or is able to see: to whom be honour and power for ever. So be it.

So you are to keep watch: because you are not certain when the master of the house is coming, in the evening, or in the middle of the night, or at the cock's cry, or in the morning;

Go on waiting calmly, my brothers, till the coming of the Lord, like the farmer waiting for the good fruit of the earth till the early and late rains have come.

And while they went to get oil, the master came; and those who were ready went in with him to the feast: and the door was shut.

Let us be glad with delight, and let us give glory to him: because the time is come for the Lamb to be married, and his wife has made herself ready.

Be ready, dressed as for a journey, with your lights burning.

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

The Bishop, then, is to be a man of good name, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, serious-minded, having respect for order, opening his house freely to guests, a ready teacher; Not quickly moved to wrath or blows, but gentle; no fighter, no lover of money; Ruling his house well, having his children under control with all serious behaviour;read more.
(For if a man has not the art of ruling his house, how will he take care of the church of God?) Not one newly taken into the church, for fear that, through his high opinion of himself, he may come into the same sin as the Evil One. And he is to have a good name among those outside the church, so that nothing may be said against him and he may not be taken by the designs of the Evil One. Deacons, in the same way, are to be serious in their behaviour, not false in word, not given to taking much wine or greatly desiring the wealth of this world; Keeping the secret of the faith in a heart free from sin. And let these first be put to the test; then let them become Deacons if there is nothing against them. Women are to be serious in behaviour, saying no evil of others, controlling themselves, true in all things.

But opening his house freely to guests; a lover of what is good, serious-minded, upright, holy, self-controlled;

That old men are to be simple in their tastes, serious, wise, true in faith, in love, and of a quiet mind. That old women are to be self-respecting in behaviour, not saying evil of others, not given to taking much wine, teachers of that which is good, Training the younger women to have love for their husbands and children,read more.
To be wise in mind, clean in heart, kind; working in their houses, living under the authority of their husbands; so that no evil may be said of the word of God. To the young men give orders to be wise and serious-minded: In all things see that you are an example of good works; holy in your teaching, serious in behaviour, Saying true and right words, against which no protest may be made, so that he who is not on our side may be put to shame, unable to say any evil of us. Servants are to be under the authority of their masters, pleasing them in all things, without argument; Not taking what is not theirs, but giving clear signs of their good faith, in all things doing credit to the teaching of God our Saviour. For the grace of God has come, giving salvation to all men, Training us so that, turning away from evil and the desires of this world, we may be living wisely and uprightly in the knowledge of God in this present life;

So make your minds ready, and keep on the watch, hoping with all your power for the grace which is to come to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

But the end of all things is near: so be serious in your behaviour and keep on the watch with prayer;