1 M y last words to you, Christian brothers, are that you pray for us. Pray that the Word of the Lord will go out over all the land and prove its power just as it did with you.

Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:

2 P ray that we will be kept from sinful men, because not all men are Christians.

and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.

3 B ut the Lord is faithful. He will give you strength and keep you safe from the devil.

But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.

4 W e have faith in the Lord for you. We believe you are doing and will keep on doing the things we told you.

And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you.

5 M ay the Lord lead your hearts into the love of God. May He help you as you wait for Christ.

And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.

6 N ow this is what we tell you to do, Christian brothers. In the name of the Lord Jesus, keep away from any Christian who is lazy and who does not do what we taught you.

Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

7 Y ou know you should follow the way of life we lived when we were with you. We worked hard while we were there.

For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;

8 W e did not eat anyone’s food without paying for it. We worked hard night and day so none of you would have to give us anything.

neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:

9 W e could have asked you to give us food. But we did not so that you might follow our way of living.

not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.

10 W hen we were with you, we told you that if a man does not work, he should not eat.

For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

11 W e hear that some are not working. But they are spending their time trying to see what others are doing.

For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

12 O ur words to such people are that they should be quiet and go to work. They should eat their own food. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we say this.

Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

13 B ut you, Christian brothers, do not get tired of doing good.

But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.

14 I f anyone does not want to listen to what we say in this letter, remember who he is and stay away from him. In that way, he will be put to shame.

And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.

15 D o not think of him as one who hates you. But talk to him as a Christian brother.

Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

16 M ay the Lord of peace give you His peace at all times. The Lord be with you all.

Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.

17 I , Paul, write this last part with my own hand. It is the way I finish all my letters.

The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.

18 M ay all of you have loving-favor from our Lord Jesus Christ.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. The second epistle to the Thessalonians was written from Athens.