2 Thessalonians 3

1 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;

Finally, brethren, pray for us, asking that the Lord's Message may be spread rapidly and its glory be displayed, as it was displayed among you;

2 and that we may be preserved from wrong-headed and wicked people – for it is not everyone who believes in Christ.

and that we may be delivered from wrong-headed and wicked men; for it is not everybody who has faith.

3 But the Lord will not fail you. He will give you strength, and guard you from evil.

But the Lord is faithful, and He will make you stedfast and will guard you from the Evil one.

4 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.

And we have confidence in the Lord in regard to you that you are doing, and will do, what we command.

5 May the Lord bring you to the love of God, and to the patience of the Christ.

And may the Lord guide your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.

6 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.

But, by the authority of the Lord, we command you, brethren, to stand aloof from every brother whose life is disorderly and not in accordance with the teaching which all received from us.

7 For you know well that you ought to follow our example. When we were with you, our life was not ill-ordered,

For you yourselves know that it is your duty to follow our example. There was no disorder in our lives among you,

8 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.

nor did we eat any one's bread without paying for it, but we laboured and toiled, working hard night and day in order not to be a burden to any of you.

9 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.

This was not because we had not a claim upon you, but it arose from a desire to set you an example--for you to imitate us.

10 Indeed, when we were with you, the rule we laid down was – ‘Whoever does not choose to work will not get to eat.’

For even when we were with you, we laid down this rule for you: "If a man does not choose to work, neither shall he eat."

11 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.

For we hear that there are some of you who live disorderly lives and are mere idle busybodies.

12 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.

To persons of that sort our injunction--and our command by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ--is that they are to work quietly and eat their own honestly-earned bread.

13 You, friends, must not grow weary of doing what is right.

But you, brethren, must not grow weary in the path of duty;

14 If anyone disregards what we have said in this letter, take note of them and avoid their company, so that they may feel ashamed.

and if any one refuses to obey these our written instructions, mark that man and hold no communication with him--so that he may be made to feel ashamed.

15 Yet do not think of them as an enemy, but caution them as you would a brother or sister.

And yet do not regard him as an enemy, but caution him as a brother.

16 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.

And may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every sense. The Lord be with you all.

17 I, Paul, add this greeting in my own handwriting. It is my signature to every letter. This is how I write.

I Paul add the greeting with my own hand, which is the credential in every letter of mine.

18 May the blessing of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

This is my handwriting. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.