2 Thessalonians

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.

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

3But the Lord is faithful, and He 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.

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

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 receivedfrom us.

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

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

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

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

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

13But as for you, brothers, do 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.

15Yet do not regard 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

6Now 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

14If 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.

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

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

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

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