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2 Thessalonians 3:6-15
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
2 Thessalonians 3:6-15
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Warning against Idleness
6 Now we command you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from every brother or sister living irresponsibly and not according to the tradition that they[a] received from us.(A) 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not irresponsible when we were with you,(B) 8 and we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day so that we might not burden any of you.(C) 9 This was not because we do not have that right but in order to give you an example to imitate.(D) 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: anyone unwilling to work should not eat. 11 For we hear that some of you are living irresponsibly, mere busybodies, not doing any work.(E) 12 Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.(F) 13 Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right.
14 Take note of those who do not obey what we say in this letter; have nothing to do with them, so that they may be ashamed.(G) 15 Do not regard them as enemies, but admonish them as brothers and sisters.
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- 3.6 Other ancient authorities read you
2 Thessalonians 3:6-15
New Living Translation
2 Thessalonians 3:6-15
New Living Translation
An Exhortation to Proper Living
6 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we give you this command in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: Stay away from all believers[a] who live idle lives and don’t follow the tradition they received[b] from us. 7 For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you. 8 We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We certainly had the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow. 10 Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.”
11 Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business. 12 We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living. 13 As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.
14 Take note of those who refuse to obey what we say in this letter. Stay away from them so they will be ashamed. 15 Don’t think of them as enemies, but warn them as you would a brother or sister.[c]
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2 Thessalonians 3:6-15
New International Version
2 Thessalonians 3:6-15
New International Version
Warning Against Idleness
6 In 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) 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example.(E) We were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor 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. 9 We 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) 10 For even when we were with you,(I) we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work(J) shall not eat.”
11 We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies.(K) 12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ(L) to settle down and earn the food they eat.(M) 13 And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.(N)
14 Take 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) 15 Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.(Q)
Footnotes
- 2 Thessalonians 3:6 Or tradition
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.