2 Thessalonians 3
1 Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread quickly and be held in honor, just as it was with you.
In conclusion, friends, pray for us – pray that the Lord’s message may spread rapidly, and be received everywhere with honor, as it was among you;
2 And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men; for not everyone holds to the faith.
and that we may be preserved from wrong-headed and wicked people – for it is not everyone who believes in Christ.
3 But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.
But the Lord will not fail you. He will give you strength, and guard you from evil.
4 And we have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do what we command.
Yes, and the confidence that our union with the Lord enables us to place in you leads us to believe that you are doing, and will do, what we direct you.
5 May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.
May the Lord bring you to the love of God, and to the patience of the Christ.
6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who leads an undisciplined life that is not in keeping with the tradition you received from us.
We beg you, friends, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to avoid any follower who is living an ill-ordered life, which is not in agreement with the teaching that you received from us.
7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not undisciplined among you,
For you know well that you ought to follow our example. When we were with you, our life was not ill-ordered,
8 nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, in labor and toil, we worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you.
nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it. Night and day, laboring and toiling, we used to work at our trades, so as not to be a burden on any of you.
9 Not that we lack this right, but we wanted to offer ourselves as an example for you to imitate.
This was not because we had not a right to receive support, but our object was to give you a pattern for you to copy.
10 For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.”
Indeed, when we were with you, the rule we laid down was – ‘Whoever does not choose to work will not get to eat.’
11 Yet we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives and accomplishing nothing but being busybodies.
We hear that there are among you people who are living ill-ordered lives, and who, instead of attending to their own business, are mere busybodies.
12 We command and urge such people by our Lord Jesus Christ to begin working quietly to earn their own living.
All such people we beg, and implore, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to attend quietly to their business, and earn their own living.
13 But as for you, brothers, do not grow weary in well-doing.
You, friends, must not grow weary of doing what is right.
14 Take note of anyone who does not obey the instructions we have given in this letter. Do not associate with him, so that he may be ashamed.
If anyone disregards what we have said in this letter, take note of them and avoid their company, so that they may feel ashamed.
15 Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
Yet do not think of them as an enemy, but caution them as you would a brother or sister.
16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
May the Lord, from whom all peace comes, himself give you his peace at all times and in all ways. May he be with you all.
17 This greeting is in my own hand—Paul. This is my mark in every letter; it is the way I write.
I, Paul, add this greeting in my own handwriting. It is my signature to every letter. This is how I write.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.
May the blessing of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
