⁶ God is just:^(A) He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you^{(B) 7} and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven^(C) in blazing fire^(D) with his powerful angels.^{(E) 8} He will punish^(F) those who do not know God^(G) and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.^{(H) 9} They will be punished with everlasting destruction^(I) and shut out from the presence of the Lord^(J) and from the glory of his might^{(K) 10} on the day^(L) he comes to be glorified^(M) in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.^(N)

¹¹ With this in mind, we constantly pray for you,^(O) that our God may make you worthy^(P) of his calling,^(Q) and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness^(R) and your every deed prompted by faith.^{(S) 12} We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you,^(T) and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.^[a]

The Man of Lawlessness

2 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ^(U) and our being gathered to him,^(V) we ask you, brothers and sisters, ² not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter^(W)—asserting that the day of the Lord^(X) has already come.^{(Y) 3} Don’t let anyone deceive you^(Z) in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion^(AA) occurs and the man of lawlessness^[b] is revealed,^(AB) the man doomed to destruction. ⁴ He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God^(AC) or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.^(AD)

⁵ Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things?^{(AE) 6} And now you know what is holding him back,^(AF) so that he may be revealed at the proper time. ⁷ For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back^(AG) will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. ⁸ And then the lawless one will be revealed,^(AH) whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth^(AI) and destroy by the splendor of his coming.^{(AJ) 9} The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan^(AK) works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders^(AL) that serve the lie, ¹⁰ and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing.^(AM) They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.^{(AN) 11} For this reason God sends them^(AO) a powerful delusion^(AP) so that they will believe the lie^{(AQ) 12} and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.^(AR)

Stand Firm

¹³ But we ought always to thank God for you,^(AS) brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits^[c](AT) to be saved^(AU) through the sanctifying work of the Spirit^(AV) and through belief in the truth. ¹⁴ He called you^(AW) to this through our gospel,^(AX) that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

¹⁵ So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm^(AY) and hold fast to the teachings^[d] we passed on to you,^(AZ) whether by word of mouth or by letter.

¹⁶ May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father,^(BA) who loved us^(BB) and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, ¹⁷ encourage^(BC) your hearts and strengthen^(BD) you in every good deed and word.

Request for Prayer

3 As for other matters, brothers and sisters,^(BE) pray for us^(BF) that the message of the Lord^(BG) may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.^{(BH) 2} And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people,^(BI) for not everyone has faith. ³ But the Lord is faithful,^(BJ) and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.^{(BK) 4} We have confidence^(BL) in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. ⁵ May the Lord direct your hearts^(BM) into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.

Warning Against Idleness

⁶ In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,^(BN) we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from^(BO) every believer who is idle and disruptive^(BP) and does not live according to the teaching^[e] you received from us.^{(BQ) 7} For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example.^(BR) 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^(BS) 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,^(BT) but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate.^{(BU) 10} For even when we were with you,^(BV) we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work^(BW) shall not eat.”

¹¹ We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies.^{(BX) 12} Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ^(BY) to settle down and earn the food they eat.^{(BZ) 13} And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.^(CA)

¹⁴ Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them,^(CB) in order that they may feel ashamed.^{(CC) 15} Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.^(CD)

Final Greetings

¹⁶ Now may the Lord of peace^(CE) himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.^(CF)

¹⁷ I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand,^(CG) 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.^(CH)