2 Thessalonians 3

1 Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, even as also with you,

In conclusion, Brothers, pray for us — pray that the Lord’s Message may spread rapidly, and be received everywhere with honour, as it was among you;

2 and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and evil men; for not all have faith.

and that we may be preserved from wrong-headed and wicked men — for it is not every one who believes in Christ.

3 But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.

But the Lord will not fail you; he will give you strength, and guard you from Evil.

4 We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you both do and will do the things we command.

Yes, and the confidence that our union with the Lord enables us to place in you leads us to believe that you are doing, and will do, what we direct you.

5 May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and into the perseverance of Christ.

May the Lord bring you to the love of God, and to the patience of the Christ.

6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother who walks in rebellion and not after the tradition which they received from us.

We urge you, Brothers, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to avoid any Brother who is living an ill-ordered life, which is not in agreement with the teaching that you received from us.

7 For you know how you ought to imitate us. For we didn’t behave ourselves rebelliously among you,

For you know well that you ought to follow our example. When we were with you, our life was not ill-ordered,

8 neither did we eat bread from anyone’s hand without paying for it, but in labor and travail worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you.

nor did we eat any one’s bread without paying for it. Night and day, labouring and toiling, we used to work at our trades, so as not to be a burden upon any of you.

9 This was not because we don’t have the right, but to make ourselves an example to you, that you should imitate us.

This was not because we had not a right to receive support, but our object was to give you a pattern for you to copy.

10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: “If anyone is not willing to work, don’t let him eat.”

Indeed, when we were with you, what we urged upon you was — ‘If a man does not choose to work, then he shall not eat.’

11 For we hear of some who walk among you in rebellion, who don’t work at all, but are busybodies.

We hear that there are among you people who are living ill-ordered lives, and who, instead of attending to their own business, are mere busy-bodies.

12 Now those who are that way, we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that they work with quietness and eat their own bread.

All such people we urge, and entreat, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to attend quietly to their business, and earn their own living.

13 But you, brothers, don’t be weary in doing what is right.

You, Brothers, must not grow weary of doing what is right.

14 If any man doesn’t obey our word in this letter, note that man and have no company with him, to the end that he may be ashamed.

If any one disregards what we have said in this letter, mark that man and avoid his company, that he may feel ashamed.

15 Don’t count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Yet do not think of him as an enemy, but caution him as you would a Brother.

16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with you all.

May the Lord, from whom all peace comes, himself give you his peace at all times and in all ways. May he be with you all.

17 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, which is the sign in every letter. This is how I write.

I, Paul, add this greeting in my own handwriting. It is my signature to every letter. This is how I write.

18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

May the blessing of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.