2 Thessalonians 2

New International Version

The Man of Lawlessness

2 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ^(A) and our being gathered to him,^(B) we ask you, brothers and sisters, ²not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter^(C)—asserting that the day of the Lord^(D) has already come.^(E) ³Don’t let anyone deceive you^(F) in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion^(G) occurs and the man of lawlessness^[a] is revealed,^(H) the man doomed to destruction. ⁴He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God^(I) or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.^(J)

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

Stand Firm

¹³But we ought always to thank God for you,^(Y) brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits^[b]^(Z) to be saved^(AA) through the sanctifying work of the Spirit^(AB) and through belief in the truth. ¹⁴He called you^(AC) to this through our gospel,^(AD) that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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

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

Footnotes

2 Thessalonians 2:3 Some manuscripts sin
2 Thessalonians 2:13 Some manuscripts because from the beginning God chose you
2 Thessalonians 2:15 Or traditions

Psalm 149

New International Version

Psalm 149

¹Praise the Lord.^[a]^(A)

Sing to the Lord a new song,^(B)
his praise in the assembly^(C) of his faithful people.

²Let Israel rejoice^(D) in their Maker;^(E)
    let the people of Zion be glad in their King.^(F)
³Let them praise his name with dancing^(G)
    and make music to him with timbrel and harp.^(H)
⁴For the Lord takes delight^(I) in his people;
    he crowns the humble with victory.^(J)
⁵Let his faithful people rejoice^(K) in this honor
    and sing for joy on their beds.^(L)

⁶May the praise of God be in their mouths^(M)
    and a double-edged^(N) sword in their hands,^(O)
⁷to inflict vengeance^(P) on the nations
    and punishment^(Q) on the peoples,
⁸to bind their kings with fetters,^(R)
    their nobles with shackles of iron,^(S)
⁹to carry out the sentence written against them—^(T)
    this is the glory of all his faithful people.^(U)