2 Thessalonians 3:6-15

21st Century King James Version

⁶Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother who walketh disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.

⁷For you yourselves know how ye ought to follow us, for we did not behave disorderly among you;

⁸neither did we eat any man’s bread for naught, but wrought with labor and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you,

⁹not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an example unto you to follow us.

¹⁰For even when we were with you, this we commanded you: that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

¹¹For we hear that there are some among you who walk disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

¹²Now those who are such, we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ that they work with quietness and eat their own bread.

¹³But ye, brethren, be not weary in well-doing.

¹⁴And if any man obey not our word in this epistle, note that man and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.

¹⁵Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Read full chapter

2 Thessalonians 3:6-15

New International Version

Warning Against Idleness

⁶In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,^(A) we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from^(B) every believer who is idle and disruptive^(C) and does not live according to the teaching^[a] you received from us.^(D) ⁷For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example.^(E) We were not idle when we were with you, ⁸nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked^(F) night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. ⁹We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help,^(G) but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate.^(H) ¹⁰For even when we were with you,^(I) we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work^(J) shall not eat.”

¹¹We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies.^(K) ¹²Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ^(L) to settle down and earn the food they eat.^(M) ¹³And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.^(N)

¹⁴Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them,^(O) in order that they may feel ashamed.^(P) ¹⁵Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.^(Q)

Read full chapter