ISV - II Thessalonians - 3

3:1  An Example to FollowFinally, brothers, pray for us—that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly, and that it may be honored the way it is among you.

3:2  Also prayThe Gk. lacks pray that we may be rescued from worthless and evil people, since not everyone holds to the faith.Or has faith

3:3  But the Lord is faithful and will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.

3:4  We have confidence in the LordLit. in the Lord concerning you that you are doing and will continue to do what we command.

3:5  May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the endurance of Christ.

3:6  In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is living in idlenessOr is leading a disorderly life and not livingThe Gk. lacks living according to the tradition that they receivedOther mss. read you received from us.

3:7  For you yourselves know what you must do to imitate us. We did not live in idlenessOr We did not lead a disorderly life among you.

3:8  We did not eat anyone's food without paying for it. Instead, with toil and labor we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to any of you.

3:9  It is not as though we did not have that right, but, we wantedThe Gk. lacks we wanted to give you an example to follow.

3:10  While we were with you, we gave this order: “If anyone doesn't want to work, he shouldn't eat.”

3:11  We hear that some of you are living in idleness.Or living disorderly lives You are not busy workingGk. ergazomenous (working)—you are busy interferingGk. periergazomenous (uselessly working) in other people's lives!

3:12  We order and encourage such people by the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.

3:13  Brothers, do not get tired of doing what is right.

3:14  If anyone does not obey what we sayLit. our word in this letter, take note of him. Have nothing to do with him so that he will feel ashamed.

3:15  Yet, don't treat him like an enemy, but warnOr instruct him like a brother.

3:16  Now may the Lord of peace give you his peace at all times and in every way. May the Lord be with all of you.

3:17  Final GreetingI, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand. This is the mark in every letter of mine. It is the way I write.

3:18  May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you. Amen.Other mss. lack Amen