1 B ut relative to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and our gathering together to Him, we beg you, brethren,

Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him,

2 N ot to allow your minds to be quickly unsettled or disturbed or kept excited or alarmed, whether it be by some revelation of Spirit or by word or by letter from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has arrived and is here.

that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.

3 L et no one deceive or beguile you in any way, for that day will not come except the apostasy comes first '> falling away of those who have professed to be Christians has come], and the man of lawlessness (sin) is revealed, who is the son of doom (of perdition),

Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,

4 W ho opposes and exalts himself so proudly and insolently against and over all that is called God or that is worshiped, taking his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming that he himself is God.

who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.

5 D o you not recollect that when I was still with you, I told you these things?

Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things?

6 A nd now you know what is restraining him; it is so that he may be manifested (revealed) in his own time.

And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed.

7 F or the mystery of lawlessness (that hidden principle of rebellion against constituted authority) is already at work in the world, restrained only until he who restrains is taken out of the way.

For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.

8 A nd then the lawless one (the antichrist) will be revealed and the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of His mouth and bring him to an end by His appearing at His coming.

Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming;

9 T he coming is through the activity and working of Satan and will be attended by great power and with all sorts of miracles and signs and delusive marvels— lying wonders—

that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders,

10 A nd by unlimited seduction to evil and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing (going to perdition) because they did not welcome the Truth but refused to love it that they might be saved.

and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.

11 T herefore God sends upon them a misleading influence, a working of error and a strong delusion to make them believe what is false,

For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false,

12 I n order that all may be judged and condemned who did not believe in the Truth, but took pleasure in unrighteousness.

in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.

13 B ut we, brethren beloved by the Lord, ought and are obligated to give thanks always to God for you, because God chose you from the beginning as His firstfruits (first converts) for salvation through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and belief in (adherence to, trust in, and reliance on) the Truth.

But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

14 t o this end that He called you through our Gospel, so that you may obtain and share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah).

It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

15 S o then, brethren, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions and instructions which you were taught by us, whether by our word of mouth or by letter.

So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.

16 N ow may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, Who loved us and gave us everlasting consolation and encouragement and well-founded hope through grace (unmerited favor),

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace,

17 C omfort and encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.

comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.