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2 Thessalonians 3
New Life Version
2 Thessalonians 3
New Life Version
Christian Brothers, Pray for Us
3 My last words to you, Christian brothers, are that you pray for us. Pray that the Word of the Lord will go out over all the land and prove its power just as it did with you. 2 Pray that we will be kept from sinful men, because not all men are Christians. 3 But the Lord is faithful. He will give you strength and keep you safe from the devil. 4 We have faith in the Lord for you. We believe you are doing and will keep on doing the things we told you. 5 May the Lord lead your hearts into the love of God. May He help you as you wait for Christ.
6 Now this is what we tell you to do, Christian brothers. In the name of the Lord Jesus, keep away from any Christian who is lazy and who does not do what we taught you. 7 You know you should follow the way of life we lived when we were with you. We worked hard while we were there. 8 We did not eat anyone’s food without paying for it. We worked hard night and day so none of you would have to give us anything. 9 We could have asked you to give us food. But we did not so that you might follow our way of living. 10 When we were with you, we told you that if a man does not work, he should not eat. 11 We hear that some are not working. But they are spending their time trying to see what others are doing. 12 Our words to such people are that they should be quiet and go to work. They should eat their own food. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we say this. 13 But you, Christian brothers, do not get tired of doing good. 14 If anyone does not want to listen to what we say in this letter, remember who he is and stay away from him. In that way, he will be put to shame. 15 Do not think of him as one who hates you. But talk to him as a Christian brother.
16 May the Lord of peace give you His peace at all times. The Lord be with you all. 17 I, Paul, write this last part with my own hand. It is the way I finish all my letters. 18 May all of you have loving-favor from our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 3
New King James Version
2 Thessalonians 3
New King James Version
Pray for Us
3 Finally, brethren, (A)pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, 2 and (B)that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; (C)for not all have faith.
3 But (D)the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and (E)guard you from the evil one. 4 And (F)we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you.
5 Now may (G)the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.
Warning Against Idleness
6 But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, (H)that you withdraw (I)from every brother who walks (J)disorderly and not according to the tradition which [a]he received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread [b]free of charge, but worked with (K)labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, 9 not because we do not have (L)authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.
10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are (M)busybodies. 12 Now those who are such we command and [c]exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ (N)that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.
13 But as for you, brethren, (O)do not grow weary in doing good. 14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this [d]epistle, note that person and (P)do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 (Q)Yet do not count him as an enemy, (R)but [e]admonish him as a brother.
Benediction
16 Now may (S)the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.
17 (T)The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is a sign in every [f]epistle; so I write.
18 (U)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Footnotes
- 2 Thessalonians 3:6 NU, M they
- 2 Thessalonians 3:8 Lit. for nothing
- 2 Thessalonians 3:12 encourage
- 2 Thessalonians 3:14 letter
- 2 Thessalonians 3:15 warn
- 2 Thessalonians 3:17 letter
2 Thessalonians 3
New International Version
2 Thessalonians 3
New International Version
Request for Prayer
3 As for other matters, brothers and sisters,(A) pray for us(B) that the message of the Lord(C) may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.(D) 2 And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people,(E) for not everyone has faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful,(F) and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.(G) 4 We have confidence(H) in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts(I) into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.
Warning Against Idleness
6 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,(J) we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from(K) every believer who is idle and disruptive(L) and does not live according to the teaching[a] you received from us.(M) 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example.(N) We were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked(O) night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help,(P) but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate.(Q) 10 For even when we were with you,(R) we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work(S) shall not eat.”
11 We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies.(T) 12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ(U) to settle down and earn the food they eat.(V) 13 And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.(W)
14 Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them,(X) in order that they may feel ashamed.(Y) 15 Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.(Z)
Final Greetings
16 Now may the Lord of peace(AA) himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.(AB)
17 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand,(AC) which is the distinguishing mark in all my letters. This is how I write.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.(AD)
Footnotes
- 2 Thessalonians 3:6 Or tradition
New Life Version (NLV)
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New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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