King James Version KJV
The Message Bible MSG
1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:
1
One more thing, friends: Pray for us. Pray that the Master's Word will simply take off and race through the country to a groundswell of response, just as it did among you.
2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.
2
And pray that we'll be rescued from these scoundrels who are trying to do us in. I'm finding that not all "believers" are believers.
3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
3
But the Master never lets us down. He'll stick by you and protect you from evil.
4 And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you.
4
Because of the Master, we have great confidence in you. We know you're doing everything we told you and will continue doing it.
5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.
5
May the Master take you by the hand and lead you along the path of God's love and Christ's endurance.
6 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.
6
Our orders - backed up by the Master, Jesus - are to refuse to have anything to do with those among you who are lazy and refuse to work the way we taught you. Don't permit them to freeload on the rest.
7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
7
We showed you how to pull your weight when we were with you, so get on with it.
8 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:
8
We didn't sit around on our hands expecting others to take care of us. In fact, we worked our fingers to the bone, up half the night moonlighting so you wouldn't be burdened with taking care of us.
9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
9
And it wasn't because we didn't have a right to your support; we did. We simply wanted to provide an example of diligence, hoping it would prove contagious.
10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
10
Don't you remember the rule we had when we lived with you? "If you don't work, you don't eat."
11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
11
And now we're getting reports that a bunch of lazy good-for-nothings are taking advantage of you.
12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
12
This must not be tolerated. We command them to get to work immediately - no excuses, no arguments - and earn their own keep.
13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
13
Friends, don't slack off in doing your duty.
14 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.
14
If anyone refuses to obey our clear command written in this letter, don't let him get by with it. Point out such a person and refuse to subsidize his freeloading. Maybe then he'll think twice.
15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
15
But don't treat him as an enemy. Sit him down and talk about the problem as someone who cares.
16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.
16
May the Master of Peace himself give you the gift of getting along with each other at all times, in all ways. May the Master be truly among you!
17 The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.
17
I, Paul, bid you good-bye in my own handwriting. I do this in all my letters, so examine my signature as proof that the letter is genuine.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. [The second epistle to the Thessalonians was written from Athens.]
18
The incredible grace of our Master, Jesus Christ, be with all of you!
The King James Version is in the public domain.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.