2 Thessalonians 3

1 Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, as also with you,

Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it was with you.

2 and that we may be delivered from evil and malignant men; for not all have faith.

And pray that we may be rescued from deviant and evil men, for not all have faith.

3 But the Lord is faithful, who will strengthen you and guard you from the malignant one.

But the Lord is faithful; he will establish you and guard you from the evil one.

4 We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you both do and will do the things we command.

We have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command you.

5 Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the perseverance of Christ.

May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and the steadfastness of Christ.

6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who behaves irresponsibly and not according to the tradition that they received from us.

Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from every brother who walks in idleness and does not live according to the teaching we passed on to them.

7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we did not behave irresponsibly among you;

For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you,

8 neither did we eat anyone's bread without paying; rather we worked night and day, with difficulty and hardship, so as not to be a burden to any of you;

nor did we eat bread from anyone free of charge. On the contrary, with labor and hardship we worked day and night so as not to be a burden to any of you.

9 not because we do not have the right, but in order to offer ourselves to you as a model for you to imitate.

We did this, not because we do not have the right to be supported, but to present ourselves as an example for you to imitate.

10 Yes, because when we were with you we gave you this command: “If anyone does not want to work, neither let him eat!”

For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is not willing to work, neither should he eat.”

11 Yet we hear that some among you are behaving irresponsibly; not working, just meddling.

For we hear that some among you are walking in idleness, not working at all, but being busybodies.

12 Now to such individuals we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.

Now we command and exhort such people by our Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and eat their own bread.

13 But as for you, brothers, do not lose heart in well doing.

But as for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.

14 If anyone does not obey our word in this letter, take note of him and do not associate with him, that he may be shamed;

If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of him and do not associate with him, so that he will feel ashamed.

15 yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you the peace during every situation, in every way. The Lord be with you all.

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with you all.

17 The greeting of Paul, with my own hand, which is the ‘trademark’ in every letter that I write.

I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the distinguishing mark in all my letters; it is the way I write.

18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.