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

Request for Prayer

(A)Finally, brothers and sisters, (B)pray for us that (C)the word of the Lord will [a]spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it was also with you; and that we will be (D)rescued from troublesome and evil people; for not all have the faith. But (E)the Lord is faithful, [b]and He will strengthen and protect you [c]from (F)the evil one. We have (G)confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you (H)are doing, and will do, what we command. May the Lord (I)direct your hearts to the love of God and to the perseverance of Christ.

Now we command you, brothers and sisters, (J)in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you [d](K)keep away from every brother or sister who [e]leads a [f](L)disorderly life and not one in accordance with (M)the tradition which [g]you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to [h](N)follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined way among you, nor did we (O)eat [i]anyone’s bread [j]without paying for it, but with (P)labor and hardship we kept (Q)working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; not because we do not have (R)the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves (S)as a role model for you, so that you would [k]follow our example. 10 For even (T)when we were with you, we used to give you this order: (U)if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. 11 For we hear that some among you are (V)leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like (W)busybodies. 12 Now we command and (X)exhort such persons in the Lord Jesus Christ to (Y)work [l]peacefully and eat their own bread. 13 But as for you, (Z)brothers and sisters, (AA)do not grow weary of doing good.

14 If anyone does not obey our [m]instruction [n](AB)in this letter, take special note of that person so as (AC)not to associate with him, so that he will be (AD)put to shame. 15 And yet (AE)do not regard that person as an enemy, but [o](AF)admonish that one as a (AG)brother or sister.

16 Now (AH)may the Lord of peace (AI)Himself continually grant you peace in every [p]circumstance. (AJ)The Lord be with you all!

17 [q]I, Paul, write this greeting (AK)with my own hand, and this is a distinguishing mark in every letter; this is the way I write. 18 (AL)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Thessalonians 3:1 Lit run
  2. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 Lit who will
  3. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 Or from evil
  4. 2 Thessalonians 3:6 Or avoid
  5. 2 Thessalonians 3:6 Lit walks disorderly
  6. 2 Thessalonians 3:6 Or undisciplined
  7. 2 Thessalonians 3:6 One early ms they
  8. 2 Thessalonians 3:7 Or imitate us
  9. 2 Thessalonians 3:8 Lit from anyone
  10. 2 Thessalonians 3:8 Lit freely
  11. 2 Thessalonians 3:9 Or imitate us
  12. 2 Thessalonians 3:12 Lit with quietness
  13. 2 Thessalonians 3:14 Lit word
  14. 2 Thessalonians 3:14 Lit through
  15. 2 Thessalonians 3:15 Or keep admonishing
  16. 2 Thessalonians 3:16 Lit way
  17. 2 Thessalonians 3:17 Lit The greeting by my hand of Paul