2 Thessalonians 3:1-13

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, ²and ^(C)that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For ^(D)not all have faith. ³But ^(E)the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and ^(F)guard you against ^(G)the evil one.^[c] ⁴And ^(H)we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. ⁵May the Lord ^(I)direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

Warning Against Idleness

⁶Now 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. ⁷For you yourselves know ^(N)how you ought to imitate us, because ^(O)we were not idle when we were with you, ⁸nor 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. ⁹It was ^(Q)not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves ^(R)an example to imitate. ¹⁰For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: ^(S)If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. ¹¹For we hear that some among you ^(T)walk in idleness, not busy at work, but ^(U)busybodies. ¹²Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.^[d]