2Th 3 | ESV | STEP | Finally , brothers , pray for us , that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored , as happened among you ,

2 Thessalonians 3

Pray for Us

1 Finally, brothers, ^{▼▼Or brothers and sisters; also verses 6, 13} ^bpray for us, that ^cthe word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, ^{▼▼Or glorified} as happened among you, 2 and ^ethat we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For ^fnot all have faith. 3 But ^gthe Lord is faithful. He will establish you and ^hguard you against ⁱthe evil one. ^{▼▼Or evil} 4 And ^kwe have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. 5 May the Lord ^ldirect your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

Warning Against Idleness

6 Now we command you, brothers, ^min the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ⁿthat you keep away from any ^obrother ^pwho is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know ^qhow you ought to imitate us, because ^rwe were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but ^swith toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 9 It was ^tnot because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves ^uan example to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: ^vIf anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. 11 For we hear that some among you ^wwalk in idleness, not busy at work, but ^xbusybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. ^{▼▼Greek to eat their own bread}

13 As for you, brothers, ^zdo not grow weary in doing good. 14 If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and ^aahave nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 ^abDo not regard him as an enemy, but ^acwarn him as a brother.

Benediction

16 Now may ^adthe Lord of peace himself ^aegive you peace at all times in every way. ^afThe Lord be with you all.

17 I, Paul, write ^agthis greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. 18 ^ahThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.