2 Thessalonians 3
What Happens in This Chapter
Paul closes his letter to the church in Thessalonica. He asks them to pray for him and for the safe spread of God's message, and he says the Lord will make them strong. He then tells them to stay away from believers who refuse to work, reminds them of his rule that a person who will not work should not eat, and says such a person should be warned as a brother, not treated as an enemy. He ends with a wish for peace and signs the letter in his own handwriting.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:
1Last of all, brothers and sisters, please pray for us. Pray that God's message spreads fast. Pray that people give it honor, just like you did.
2And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.
2Pray that God keeps us safe from cruel and wicked men. Not everyone believes.
3But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
3But the Lord always keeps His word. He will make you strong. He will guard you from the evil one.
4And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you.
4The Lord makes us sure about you. You are doing what we told you. We know you will keep doing it.
5And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.
5May the Lord lead your hearts into God's love. May He lead you into the patience that Christ has.
6Now 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.
6Now we tell you this, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Stay away from any believer who lives a lazy, careless life. That is not the way we taught you to live.
7For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
7You know you should live the way we did. We were not lazy when we were with you.
8Neither 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:
8We never ate anyone's food without paying for it. We worked hard, night and day. We did not want to be a load for anyone.
"Bread" in old English meant food of any kind, and "for nought" meant without paying for it.
9Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
9We had the right to ask you to feed us. But we worked so you would have an example to copy.
The KJV says "power" here, but it means the right to ask for help, not strength.
10For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
10Even when we were with you, we gave you this rule. If a person will not work, he should not eat.
11For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
11We hear that some of you are living careless lives. They do no work at all. They only poke into other people's business.
12Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
12We tell those people this, and we ask them, in the name of the Lord Jesus. Work quietly. Earn your own food.
13But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
13But you, brothers and sisters, do not get tired of doing good.
14And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
14Someone may not obey what we say in this letter. Take note of that person. Do not spend time with him. Then he may feel ashamed.
"Epistle" is an old word for a letter.
15Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
15Still, do not treat him like an enemy. Warn him kindly, the way you would warn a brother.
16Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.
16May the Lord of peace Himself give you peace all the time, in every way. May the Lord be with you all.
17The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.
17I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. I do this in every letter. That is how you know it is really from me.
18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
18May our Lord Jesus Christ be kind and good to you all. Amen.
← → to turn the page · P for plain English · click a verse to sit with it