2 Thessalonians 3 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

¹ Finally, brothers, pray for us, so that the Lord’s message will spread quickly and be honored [by people], even as it was among you.

² And [pray] that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people, because not everyone has faith.

³ But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one [Note: The Greek says just “the evil”].

⁴ And we have confidence in [the fellowship of] the Lord concerning you, that you are doing, and will continue to do the things we command you.

⁵ And may the Lord direct your hearts to love [people] as God does, and to be steadfast as Christ was.

⁶ Now we command you, brothers, in the name [i.e., by the authority] of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you people stay away from every brother [or sister] who lives an idle life [See note on I Thess. 5:14], and not according to the [inspired] tradition which you received from us.

⁷ For you, yourselves, know how you ought to follow our example, for we did not live in idleness when we were among you;

⁸ neither did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. But by hard labor and toil, we worked night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you.

⁹ [We did this], not because we did not have a right [to support], but so we could become an example for you to imitate.

¹⁰ For even when we were with you, we gave you this order: If any person does not [want to] work, he should not [get to] eat.

¹¹ For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, refusing to work, but [instead] are just being busybodies.

¹² Now we command and urge such people, in [the fellowship of] the Lord Jesus Christ, that they work quietly and earn their own living.

¹³ But you, brothers, should not get tired of doing what is right.

¹⁴ And if any person does not obey our instructions, [given] in this letter, you should take note of him so that you do not associate with him, in hope that he will become ashamed [of his conduct].

¹⁵ And yet do not consider him to be an enemy, but warn him as [you would] a [Christian] brother.

¹⁶ Now may the Lord Himself, [who is the source] of peace, give you peace at all times and in every circumstance. May the Lord be with all of you.

¹⁷ This greeting [is being written] by me, Paul, in my own handwriting; it is the signature I write in every letter.

¹⁸ May the unearned favor of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.