2 Thessalonians 3

Modern

Literal

Request for Prayer

¹Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread quickly and be held in honor, just as it was with you.

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

²And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men; for not everyone holds to the faith.

²and that we may be delivered from perverse and evil men; for the faith is not unto all.

³But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.^a

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

⁴And we have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do what we command.

⁴And we are persuaded in the Lord as to you, that both you are doing and you will do what we command.

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

⁵And may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the perseverance of Christ.

A Warning against Idleness

⁶Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who leads an undisciplined life that is not in keeping with the tradition you received^a from us.

⁶Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to withdraw yourselves from every brother walking in an unruly manner and not according to the tradition that you received from us.

⁷For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not undisciplined among you,

⁷For you yourselves know how it is necessary to imitate us, because we were not unruly among you,

⁸nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, in labor and toil, we worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you.

⁸nor did we eat bread from anyone without payment, but in labor and toil, working night and day in order not to be burdensome upon any of you,

⁹Not that we lack this right, but we wanted to offer ourselves as an example for you to imitate.

⁹not that we do not have authority, but so that we might give ourselves as a pattern to you for you to imitate us.

¹⁰For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.”

¹⁰For even when we were with you, we were commanding you this, that “if anyone is not willing to work, neither let him eat.”

¹¹For we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives, accomplishing nothing, but being busybodies.

¹¹For we hear some are walking among you in an unruly manner, not working at all, but being busybodies.

¹²We command and urge such people by our Lord Jesus Christ to begin working quietly to earn their own living.

¹²Now to such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that, working with quietness, they should eat their own bread.

¹³But as for you, brothers, do not grow weary in well-doing.

¹³Now you, brothers, should not grow weary in well-doing.

¹⁴Take note of anyone who does not obey the instructions we have given in this letter. Do not associate with him, so that he may be ashamed.

¹⁴And if anyone does not obey our word through the letter, take note of this one not to mix with him, so that he may be ashamed.

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

¹⁵And do not deem him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Signature and Final Greetings

¹⁶Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.

¹⁶Now may the Lord of peace Himself give to you peace through everything in every way. The Lord be with all of you.

¹⁷This greeting is in my own hand—Paul. This is my mark in every letter; it is the way I write.

¹⁷The greeting is in my own hand—Paul, which is my sign in every letter. In this way I write.

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

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