2 Thessalonians 3

Pray for Us

1 And now, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the Lord’s teaching will continue to spread quickly and that people will give honor to that teaching, just as happened with you.

2 And pray that we will be protected from stubborn and evil people, because not all people believe.
3 But the Lord is faithful and will give you strength and will protect you from the Evil One.4 The Lord makes us feel sure that you are doing and will continue to do the things we told you.

5 May the Lord lead your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s patience.

The Duty to Work

6 Brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ we command you to stay away from any believer who refuses to work and does not follow the teaching we gave you.7 You yourselves know that you should live as we live. We were not lazy when we were with you.8 And when we ate another person’s food, we always paid for it. We worked very hard night and day so we would not be an expense to any of you.9 We had the right to ask you to help us, but we worked to take care of ourselves so we would be an example for you to follow.

10 When we were with you, we gave you this rule: “Anyone who refuses to work should not eat.”
11 We hear that some people in your group refuse to work. They do nothing but busy themselves in other people’s lives.12 We command those people and beg them in the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and earn their own food.

13 But you, brothers and sisters, never become tired of doing good.
14 If some people do not obey what we tell you in this letter, then take note of them. Have nothing to do with them so they will feel ashamed.

15 But do not treat them as enemies. Warn them as fellow believers.

Final Words

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

17 I, Paul, end this letter now in my own handwriting. All my letters have this to show they are from me. This is the way I write.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

2 Thessalonians 3

1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified, even as also it is with you;2 and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and evil men; for all have not faith.3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and guard you from the evil one.4 And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command.5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patience of Christ.6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which they received of us.7 For yourselves know how ye ought to imitate us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;8 neither did we eat bread for nought at any man’s hand, but in labor and travail, working night and day, that we might not burden any of you:9 not because we have not the right, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you, that ye should imitate us.10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, If any will not work, neither let him eat.11 For we hear of some that walk among you disorderly, that work not at all, but are busybodies.12 Now them that are such we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well-doing.14 And if any man obeyeth not our word by this epistle, note that man, that ye have no company with him, to the end that he may be ashamed.15 And yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with you all.17 The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.