2 Thessalonians 3
1 For the rest, my brothers, let there be prayer for us that the word of the Lord may go forward with increasing glory, even as it does with you;
Finally, brethren, pray for us, asking that the Lord's Message may be spread rapidly and its glory be displayed, as it was displayed among you;
2 And that we may be made free from foolish and evil men; for not all have faith.
and that we may be delivered from wrong-headed and wicked men; for it is not everybody who has faith.
3 But the Lord is true, who will give you strength and keep you safe from evil.
But the Lord is faithful, and He will make you stedfast and will guard you from the Evil one.
4 And we have faith in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things about which we give you orders.
And we have confidence in the Lord in regard to you that you are doing, and will do, what we command.
5 And may your hearts be guided by the Lord into the love of God and quiet waiting for Christ.
And may the Lord guide your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.
6 Now we give you orders, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from all those whose behaviour is not well ordered and in harmony with the teaching which they had from us.
But, by the authority of the Lord, we command you, brethren, to stand aloof from every brother whose life is disorderly and not in accordance with the teaching which all received from us.
7 For you yourselves are used to taking us as your example, because our life among you was ruled by order,
For you yourselves know that it is your duty to follow our example. There was no disorder in our lives among you,
8 And we did not take food from any man for nothing, but were working hard night and day not to be a trouble to any of you:
nor did we eat any one's bread without paying for it, but we laboured and toiled, working hard night and day in order not to be a burden to any of you.
9 Not because we have not the right, but to make ourselves an example to you, so that you might do the same.
This was not because we had not a claim upon you, but it arose from a desire to set you an example--for you to imitate us.
10 For even when we were with you we gave you orders, saying, If any man does no work, let him not have food.
For even when we were with you, we laid down this rule for you: "If a man does not choose to work, neither shall he eat."
11 For it has come to our ears that there are some among you whose behaviour is uncontrolled, who do no work at all, but are over-interested in the business of others.
For we hear that there are some of you who live disorderly lives and are mere idle busybodies.
12 Now to such we give orders and make request in the Lord Jesus, that, working quietly, they get their living.
To persons of that sort our injunction--and our command by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ--is that they are to work quietly and eat their own honestly-earned bread.
13 And you, my brothers, do not get tired of well-doing.
But you, brethren, must not grow weary in the path of duty;
14 And if any man does not give attention to what we have said in this letter, take note of that man, and keep away from him, so that he may be shamed.
and if any one refuses to obey these our written instructions, mark that man and hold no communication with him--so that he may be made to feel ashamed.
15 Have no feeling of hate for him, but take him in hand seriously as a brother.
And yet do not regard him as an enemy, but caution him as a brother.
16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. May the Lord be with you all.
And may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every sense. The Lord be with you all.
17 These words of love to you at the end are in my writing, Paul's writing, and this is the mark of every letter from me.
I Paul add the greeting with my own hand, which is the credential in every letter of mine.
18 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
This is my handwriting. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
