2 Thessalonians 3:6-15
English Standard Version
Warning Against Idleness
6 Now we command you, brothers, (A)in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, (B)that you keep away from any (C)brother (D)who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know (E)how you ought to imitate us, because (F)we were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but (G)with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 9 It was (H)not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves (I)an example to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: (J)If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. 11 For we hear that some among you (K)walk in idleness, not busy at work, but (L)busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.[a]
13 As for you, brothers, (M)do not grow weary in doing good. 14 If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and (N)have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 (O)Do not regard him as an enemy, but (P)warn him as a brother.
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- 2 Thessalonians 3:12 Greek to eat their own bread
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]
Read full chapterThe Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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.