2 Thessalonians 3:6-10

New Living Translation

An Exhortation to Proper Living

⁶And now, dear brothers and sisters, we give you this command in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: Stay away from all believers^[a] who live idle lives and don’t follow the tradition they received^[b] from us. ⁷For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you. ⁸We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you. ⁹We certainly had the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow. ¹⁰Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.”

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Footnotes

3:6a Greek from every brother.
3:6b Some manuscripts read you received.

2 Thessalonians 3:6-10

New International Version

Warning Against Idleness

⁶In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,^(A) we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from^(B) every believer who is idle and disruptive^(C) and does not live according to the teaching^[a] you received from us.^(D) ⁷For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example.^(E) We were not idle when we were with you, ⁸nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked^(F) night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. ⁹We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help,^(G) but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate.^(H) ¹⁰For even when we were with you,^(I) we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work^(J) shall not eat.”