We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater;

therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.

This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.

For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,

and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire,

when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.

To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power,

Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,

For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.

and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.

For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false,

But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you;

and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith.

For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you,

nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you;

not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example.

For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.

For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies.

But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good.