Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians, that believe in God our father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ.

We are bound to thank God always for you brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and every one of you swimmeth in love toward another between yourselves,

so that we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions which you endure.

This is an obvious sign of the righteous judgment of God, to the end that you may be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God, for which you also suffer.

It is verily a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you,

And, unto you that are afflicted, release, with us, - by the revealing of the Lord Jesus from heaven, with his messengers of power,

in flaming fire, rendering vengeance unto them that know not God, and to them that obey not unto the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ,

these shall suffer punishment in that day, even eternal destruction, far from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power,

when he comes to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired among all those who have believed (because our testimony to you was believed) in that day.

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

that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in that we shall assemble unto him,

not to be quickly shaken in your mind, nor yet be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by letter as from us, saying that the day of the Lord had come.

Let no man deceive you by any means, for the Lord cometh not, except there come a departing first, and that that sinful man be opened, the son of perdition;

he who opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshiped; so that he sits in the temple of God, setting himself up as God.

Do you not remember that, when I was still with you, I told you these things?

Now you know what is restraining him, to the end that he may be revealed in his own season.

For the mystery of that iniquity doth he already work, which only looketh, till he be taken out of the way

And then will come the revelation of that evil one, whom the Lord Jesus will put to death with the breath of his mouth, and give to destruction by the revelation of his coming;

that is, the representative of lawlessness, whose coming is in accordance with the working of Satan, with his plenitude of power and pretended signs and wonders,

and with all deception of wickedness for those who are being lost, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

Because of this, God sends them a working of error, that they should believe a lie;

that they all might be judged who did not believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

But it is right for us to give praise to God at all times for you, brothers, loved by the Lord, because it was the purpose of God from the first that you might have salvation, being made holy by the Spirit and by faith in what is true:

And in this purpose he gave you a part through the good news of which we were the preachers, even that you might have part in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

so, then, brethren, stand ye fast, and hold the deliverances that ye were taught, whether through word, whether through our letter;

May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and graciously given us encouragement that is eternal, and a hope that is well-founded,

encourage you and strengthen you to do and say everything that is right.

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.

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

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 yourselves know how it is necessary to imitate us, that we did not behave irresponsibly 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;

not because we do not have the right, but to make ourselves an example to you, that you should imitate us.

For when we were with you, this we warned you of, that if there were any which would not work, that the same should not eat.

For it has come to our ears that there are some among you whose behaviour is uncontrolled, who do no work at all, but are over-interested in the business of others.

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

If any man does not obey our word in this letter, note that man, that you have no company with him, to the end that he may be ashamed.

I, Paul, write you this final greeting with my own hand. This is the distinguishing mark in every letter [of mine, that shows it is genuine]. It is the way I write [my handwriting and signature].