2 Thessalonians 3

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

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

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

⁴And we are confident in the Lord concerning you, that what we command you, you both are doing and will do.

⁵Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.

⁶Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother walking in a disorderly manner and not according to the tradition that they received from us.

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

⁸nor did we eat bread from anyone without payment, but in labor and hardship, working night and day, in order not to burden any of you;

⁹not that we do not have the right, but in order that we might give ourselves to you as an example, so that you should imitate us.

¹⁰For even when we were with you, this we used to command you: if anyone is not willing to work, neither let him eat.

¹¹For we hear that some are walking among you in a disorderly way, doing no work at all, but being busybodies.

¹²Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that working with quietness they may eat their own bread.

¹³But you yourselves, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.

¹⁴And if anyone does not obey our word through this letter, take note of this man, not to associate with him, so that he may be put to shame;

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

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

¹⁷The greeting in my own hand, of Paul, which is a sign in every letter; thus I write.

¹⁸The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. To the Thessalonians, the second, written from Athens.