2 Thessalonians 3
English Standard Version
Pray for Us
3 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, 2 and (C)that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For (D)not all have faith. 3 But (E)the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and (F)guard you against (G)the evil one.[c] 4 And (H)we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. 5 May the Lord (I)direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.
Warning Against Idleness
6 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. 7 For you yourselves know (N)how you ought to imitate us, because (O)we were not idle when we were with you, 8 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. 9 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
- 2 Thessalonians 3:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 6, 13
- 2 Thessalonians 3:1 Or glorified
- 2 Thessalonians 3:3 Or evil
- 2 Thessalonians 3:12 Greek to eat their own bread
2 Thessalonians 3
International Standard Version
An Example to Follow
3 Finally, brothers, pray for us—that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly, and that it may be honored the way it is among you. 2 Also pray[a] that we may be rescued from worthless and evil people, since not everyone holds to the faith.[b] 3 But the Lord is faithful and will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. 4 We have confidence in the Lord[c] that you are doing and will continue to do what we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the endurance of the Messiah.[d]
6 In the name of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah,[e] we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is living in idleness[f] and not living[g] according to the tradition that they received[h] from us. 7 For you yourselves know what you must do to imitate us. We never lived in idleness[i] among you. 8 We did not eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, with toil and labor we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to any of you. 9 It is not as though we did not have that right, but we wanted[j] to give you an example to follow. 10 While we were with you, we gave this order: “If anyone doesn’t want to work, he shouldn’t eat.”
11 We hear that some of you are living in idleness.[k] You are not busy working[l]—you are busy interfering[m] in other people’s lives! 12 We order and encourage such people by the Lord Jesus, the Messiah,[n] to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. 13 Brothers, do not get tired of doing what is right.
14 If anyone does not obey what we say[o] in this letter, take note of him. Have nothing to do with him so that he will feel ashamed. 15 Yet, don’t treat him like an enemy, but warn[p] him like a brother. 16 Now may the Lord of peace give you his peace at all times and in every way. May the Lord be with all of you.
Final Greeting
17 I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand. This is the mark in every letter of mine. It is the way I write. 18 May the grace of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah,[q] be with all of you. Amen.[r]
Footnotes
- 2 Thessalonians 3:2 The Gk. lacks pray
- 2 Thessalonians 3:2 Or has faith
- 2 Thessalonians 3:4 Lit. in the Lord concerning you
- 2 Thessalonians 3:5 Or Christ
- 2 Thessalonians 3:6 Or Christ
- 2 Thessalonians 3:6 Or is leading a disorderly life
- 2 Thessalonians 3:6 The Gk. lacks living
- 2 Thessalonians 3:6 Other mss. read you received
- 2 Thessalonians 3:7 Or We did not lead a disorderly life
- 2 Thessalonians 3:9 The Gk. lacks we wanted
- 2 Thessalonians 3:11 Or living disorderly lives
- 2 Thessalonians 3:11 Lit. ergazomenous (working)
- 2 Thessalonians 3:11 Lit. periergazomenous (uselessly working)
- 2 Thessalonians 3:12 Or Christ
- 2 Thessalonians 3:14 Lit. our word
- 2 Thessalonians 3:15 Or instruct
- 2 Thessalonians 3:18 Or Christ
- 2 Thessalonians 3:18 Other mss. lack Amen
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