The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Thessalonians

⭑ Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

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- Chapter 3 -

For the rest, brethren, pray for us, that the word of God may run, and may be glorified, even as among you;

And that we may be delivered from importunate and evil men; for all men have not faith.

But God is faithful, who will strengthen and keep you from evil.

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

And the Lord direct your hearts, in the charity of God, and the patience of Christ.

A Warning against Idleness

And we charge you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother walking disorderly, and not according to the tradition which they have received of us.

For yourselves know how you ought to imitate us: for we were not disorderly among you;

Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nothing, but in labour and in toil we worked night and day, lest we should be chargeable to any of you.

Not as if we had not power: but that we might give ourselves a pattern unto you, to imitate us.

For also when we were with you, this we declared to you: that, if any man will not work, neither let him eat.

For we have heard there are some among you who walk disorderly, working not at all, but curiously meddling.

Now we charge them that are such, and beseech them by the Lord Jesus Christ, that, working with silence, they would eat their own bread.

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

And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed:

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

Signature and Final Greetings

(1 Corinthians 16:19–24; Colossians 4:15–18)

Now the Lord of peace himself give you everlasting peace in every place. The Lord be with you all.

The salutation of Paul with my own hand; which is the sign in every epistle. So I write.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, even as also with you,

and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and evil men; for not all have faith.

But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.

We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you both do and will do the things we command.

May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and into the perseverance of Christ.

A Warning against Idleness

Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother who walks in rebellion and not after the tradition which they received from us.

For you know how you ought to imitate us. For we didn’t behave ourselves rebelliously among you,

neither did we eat bread from anyone’s hand without paying for it, but in labor and travail worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you.

This was not because we don’t have the right, but to make ourselves an example to you, that you should imitate us.

For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: “If anyone is not willing to work, don’t let him eat.”

For we hear of some who walk among you in rebellion, who don’t work at all, but are busybodies.

Now those who are that way, we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that they work with quietness and eat their own bread.

But you, brothers, don’t be weary in doing what is right.

If any man doesn’t obey our word in this letter, note that man and have no company with him, to the end that he may be ashamed.

Don’t count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Signature and Final Greetings

(1 Corinthians 16:19–24; Colossians 4:15–18)

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with you all.

I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, which is the sign in every letter. This is how I write.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.