請求代禱

弟兄姊妹,最後我還要請你們為我們禱告,好使主的道像在你們那裡一樣迅速傳開,受到尊崇, 並使我們能避開那些邪惡的人,因為不是人人都有信心。

主是信實的,祂必使你們剛強,保護你們脫離那惡者。 我們靠著主深信你們現在遵行了我們的吩咐,而且以後還會繼續遵行。

願主引導你們的心領悟上帝的愛和基督的堅忍。

不可遊手好閒

弟兄姊妹,現在我們奉主耶穌基督的名吩咐你們,要遠離那些遊手好閒、不遵守我們教導的信徒。 你們自己知道應該怎樣效法我們,因為我們在你們那裡的時候,並沒有懶懶散散, 也沒有白吃誰的飯,而是晝夜辛勤工作,免得成為你們任何人的負擔。 我們並不是沒有權利接受供應,而是要給你們樹立學習的榜樣。 10 我們在你們那裡的時候,曾吩咐過你們:不肯工作的人沒有資格吃飯。 11 我們聽說在你們當中有些人遊手好閒,無所事事,卻專管閒事。 12 我們奉主耶穌基督的名吩咐並勸誡這些人要安分守己,自食其力。

13 弟兄姊妹,你們要堅持行善,不要灰心。 14 如果有人不聽從這信上的教導,要注意提防他,不要和他來往,好使他羞愧。 15 只是不可把他當作仇人,要像對待弟兄姊妹一樣勸誡他。

問候

16 願平安之主隨時隨地親自賜你們平安!願主與你們同在! 17 我保羅在這裡親筆問候你們,這是我的筆跡,我所有的信都以此為記號。

18 願我們主耶穌基督的恩典與你們眾人同在!

为我们祈祷

最后,兄弟们,请为我们祈祷,让主的信息得到迅速地传播,并得到赞美,就像在你们中间发生的那样; 也请为我们祈祷,让我们从邪恶的人们中解救出来。(不是所有的人都信主。)

主是守信的,他会给你们力量,保护你们不受魔鬼的侵害。 我们在主内对你们有信心,并相信你们正在坚持做我们吩咐你们做的事情,并将继续做下去。 愿主引导你们的心归于上帝的爱和基督的忍耐。

工作义务

兄弟们,我们现在以我们主耶稣基督的名义命令你们,要疏远那些过懒散生活和不遵守从我们这里领受到教导的人。 因为你们明白,应该如何效仿我们,我们在你们中间不曾懒惰, 也没有吃东西不付账,相反,我们日夜辛劳,为的是不给你们任何人增添负担。 这并非因为我们无权要求你们的帮助,而是要给你们树立一个榜样,使你们可以模仿。 10 所以,我们和你们在一起时,给了你们这条规则∶“不劳者不得食。”

11 我们说这些,是因为我们听说你们中间有人生活懒散,游手好闲,专管别人的事。 12 我们在主耶稣基督里命令和督促这些人,他们应该安静地工作,自食其力。 13 不过,兄弟们,做为你们不要放弃行善。

14 如果有人不服从这封信里我们的指示,那么就记住他,不要跟他来往,让他感到惭愧。 15 但是,不要像对待敌人一样对待他,而是应该像对待兄弟一样警告他。

最后的话

16 愿主,和平之源时时处处赐予你们平安。愿主与你们所有的人同在。

17 我,保罗亲笔写下了这问候。这是我签每封信和写每封信的方式。

18 愿我们的主耶稣基督的恩典与你们所有的人同在。

Pray for Us

Finally, brothers,[a] (A)pray for us, that (B)the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored,[b] as happened among you, and (C)that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For (D)not all have faith. But (E)the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and (F)guard you against (G)the evil one.[c] And (H)we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. May the Lord (I)direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

Warning Against Idleness

Now we command you, brothers, (J)in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, (K)that you keep away from any (L)brother (M)who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. For you yourselves know (N)how you ought to imitate us, because (O)we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but (P)with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was (Q)not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves (R)an example to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: (S)If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. 11 For we hear that some among you (T)walk in idleness, not busy at work, but (U)busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.[d]

13 As for you, brothers, (V)do not grow weary in doing good. 14 If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and (W)have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 (X)Do not regard him as an enemy, but (Y)warn him as a brother.

Benediction

16 Now may (Z)the Lord of peace himself (AA)give you peace at all times in every way. (AB)The Lord be with you all.

17 I, Paul, write (AC)this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. 18 (AD)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Thessalonians 3:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 6, 13
  2. 2 Thessalonians 3:1 Or glorified
  3. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 Or evil
  4. 2 Thessalonians 3:12 Greek to eat their own bread