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

Paul’s Prayer Request

Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may progress and be honored, just as also it was with you, and that we may be delivered from evil and wicked people, for not all have the faith[a]. But the Lord is faithful, who will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are both doing and you will do the things that we are commanding. Now may the Lord direct your hearts toward the love of God and toward the patient endurance of Christ.

Warning Against Lazy, Irresponsible Behavior

But we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who lives irresponsibly and not according to the tradition that they received from us. For you yourselves know how it is necessary to imitate us, that we did not behave irresponsibly among you, nor did we eat bread from anyone without paying, but with toil and labor, we were working night and day in order not to be a burden to any of you, not that we do not have the right, but so that we may give ourselves as an example to you, so that you may imitate us. 10 For even when we were with you, we used to command this to you: that if anyone does not want to work, neither should he eat. 11 For we hear that some among you are living irresponsibly, working at nothing, but being busybodies. 12 Now we command and we exhort such people in the Lord Jesus Christ that, working with quietness, they eat their own bread. 13 But as for you, brothers, do not be discouraged while[b] doing what is right. 14 But if anyone does not obey our message through this letter, take note not to associate with him, in order that he may be put to shame. 15 And do not consider him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Final Greeting and Benediction

16 Now may the Lord of peace himself grant you peace through everything in every way. May the Lord be with all of you. 17 The greeting is by my hand, Paul’s, which is a sign of genuineness[c] in every letter: this is how I write[d]. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Thessalonians 3:2 Literally “for not of all is the faith”
  2. 2 Thessalonians 3:13 Here “while” is supplied as a component of the participle (“doing what is right”) which is understood as temporal
  3. 2 Thessalonians 3:17 Literally “a sign”
  4. 2 Thessalonians 3:17 Literally “in this way I write”