2Thessalonians 1-3; Psalms 18 - Prayer Tents

Greetings from Paul

1This letter is from Paul, Silas, and Timothy. We are writing to the church in Thessalonica, to you who belong to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.G3972G2532G4610G2532G5095G1577G2331G1722G2316G2257G3962G2532G2962G2424G5547 2May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.G5485G5213G2532G1515G575G2316G2257G3962G2532G2962G2424G5547

Encouragement during Persecution

3Dear brothers and sisters, we can't help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing.G3784G2168G2316G3842G4012G5216G80G2531G2076G514G3754G5216G4102G5232G2532G26G1538G1520G5216G3956G1519G240G4121 4We proudly tell God's other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering.G5620G2248G846G2744G1722G5213G1722G1577G2316G5228G5216G5281G2532G4102G1722G3956G5216G1375G2532G2347G3739G430 5And God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering.G1730G1342G2920G2316G1519G5209G2661G932G2316G5228G3739G3958G2532G3958 6In his justice he will pay back those who persecute you.G1512G1342G3844G2316G467G2347G2346G5209 7And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels,G2532G5213G2346G425G3326G2257G1722G2962G2424G602G575G3772G3326G846G1411G32 8in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don't know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus.G1722G5395G4442G1325G1557G1492G3361G2316G2532G5219G3361G2098G2257G2962G2424G5547 9They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power.G3748G1349G5099G166G3639G575G4383G2962G2532G575G1391G846G2479 10When he comes on that day, he will receive glory from his holy people—praise from all who believe. And this includes you, for you believed what we told you about him.G3752G2064G1740G1722G846G40G2532G2296G1722G3956G4100G3754G2257G3142G1909G5209G4100G1722G1565G2250 11So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.G1519G3739G2532G4336G3842G4012G5216G2443G2257G2316G515G5209G515G2821G2532G4137G3956G2107G19G2532G2041G4102G1722G1411 12Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.G3704G3686G2257G2962G2424G5547G1740G1722G5213G2532G5210G1722G846G2596G5485G2257G2316G2532G2962G2424G5547

Events prior to the Lord’s Second Coming

2Now, dear brothers and sisters, let us clarify some things about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered to meet him.G1161G2065G5209G80G5228G3952G2257G2962G2424G5547G2532G2257G1997G1909G846 2Don't be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. Don't believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us.G1519G5209G4531G3361G5030G4531G575G3563G3383G2360G3383G1223G4151G3383G1223G3056G3383G1223G1992G5613G1223G2257G5613G3754G2250G5547G1764 3Don't be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed—the one who brings destruction.G1818G3361G5100G1818G5209G2596G3367G5158G3754G3362G2064G646G4412G2532G444G266G601G5207G684 4He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God.G3588G480G2532G5229G1909G3956G3004G2316G2228G4574G5620G846G5613G2316G2523G1519G3485G2316G584G1438G3754G2076G2316 5Don't you remember that I told you about all this when I was with you?G3421G3756G3754G5607G2089G4314G5209G3004G5213G5023 6And you know what is holding him back, for he can be revealed only when his time comes.G2532G3568G1492G2722G1519G846G601G1722G1438G2540 7For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way.G1063G3466G458G1754G2235G1754G3440G737G2722G2193G1096G1537G3319 8Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will kill him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming.G2532G5119G601G459G601G3739G2962G355G4151G846G4750G2532G2673G2015G846G3952 9This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles.G3739G3952G2076G2596G1753G4567G1722G3956G1411G2532G4592G2532G5579G5059 10He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them.G2532G1722G3956G539G93G1722G622G473G3739G1209G3756G26G225G1519G846G4982 11So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies.G2532G5124G1223G2316G3992G846G1753G4106G1519G846G4100G5579 12Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth.G2443G3956G2919G3588G4100G3361G225G235G2106G1722G93

Believers Should Stand Firm

13As for us, we can't help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation—a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth.G1161G2249G3784G2168G3842G2316G4012G5216G80G25G5259G2962G3754G2316G138G575G746G138G5209G1519G4991G1722G38G4151G2532G4102G225 14He called you to salvation when we told you the Good News; now you can share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.G1519G3739G2564G5209G1223G2257G2098G1519G4047G1391G2257G2962G2424G5547 15With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you both in person and by letter.G686G3767G80G4739G2532G2902G3862G3739G1321G1535G1223G3056G1535G1223G2257G1992 16Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope,G1161G2257G2962G2424G5547G846G2532G2316G2532G2257G3962G3588G25G2248G2532G1325G166G3874G2532G18G1680G1722G5485 17comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.G3870G5216G2588G2532G4741G5209G1722G3956G18G3056G2532G2041

Paul’s Request for Prayer

3Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we ask you to pray for us. Pray that the Lord's message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you.G3063G80G4336G4012G2257G2443G3056G2962G5143G2532G1392G2532G2531G4314G5209 2Pray, too, that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people, for not everyone is a believer.G2532G2443G4506G575G824G2532G4190G444G1063G3956G3756G4102 3But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.G1161G2962G2076G4103G3739G4741G5209G2532G5442G575G4190 4And we are confident in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we commanded you.G1161G3982G1722G2962G1909G5209G3754G2532G4160G2532G4160G3739G3853G5213 5May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.G1161G2962G2720G5216G2588G1519G26G2316G2532G1519G5281G5547

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 who live idle lives and don't follow the tradition they received from us.G1161G3853G5213G80G1722G3686G2257G2962G2424G5547G4724G5209G575G3956G80G4043G814G2532G3361G2596G3862G3739G3880G3844G2257 7For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you.G1063G846G1492G4459G1163G3401G2248G3754G812G3756G812G1722G5213 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.G3761G5315G3844G5100G740G1432G235G2038G1722G2873G2532G3449G3571G2532G2250G4314G1912G3361G1912G5100G5216 9We certainly had the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow.G3756G3754G2192G3756G1849G235G2443G1325G1438G5179G5213G1519G3401G2248 10Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: "Those unwilling to work will not get to eat."G1063G2532G3753G2258G4314G5209G5124G3853G5213G3754G1536G2309G3756G2038G3366G2068 11Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people's business.G1063G191G5100G4043G1722G5213G814G2038G3367G235G4020 12We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living.G1161G5108G3853G2532G3870G1223G2257G2962G2424G5547G2443G3326G2271G2038G2068G1438G740 13As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.G1161G5210G80G1573G3361G1573G2569 14Take note of those who refuse to obey what we say in this letter. Stay away from them so they will be ashamed.G1161G1536G5219G3756G2257G3056G1223G1992G4593G5126G2532G4874G3361G4874G846G2443G1788 15Don't think of them as enemies, but warn them as you would a brother or sister.G2532G2233G3361G5613G2190G235G3560G5613G80

Paul’s Final Greetings

16Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.G1161G2962G1515G846G1325G5213G1515G1223G3956G1722G3956G5158G2962G3326G5216G3956 17HERE IS MY GREETING IN MY OWN HANDWRITING—PAUL. I DO THIS IN ALL MY LETTERS TO PROVE THEY ARE FROM ME.G783G3972G1699G5495G3739G2076G4592G1722G3956G1992G3779G1125 18May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.G5485G2257G2962G2424G5547G3326G5216G3956G281

18[For the choir director: A psalm of David, the servant of the LORD. He sang this song to the LORD on the day the LORD rescued him from all his enemies and from Saul. He sang.] I love you, LORD; you are my strength.H5329H1732H5650H3068H1696H3068H1697H7892H3117H3068H5337H3709H341H3027H7586H559H7355H3068H2391 2The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.H3068H5553H4686H6403H410H6697H2620H4043H7161H3468H4869 3I called on the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies.H7121H3068H1984H3467H341 4The ropes of death entangled me; floods of destruction swept over me.H2256H4194H661H5158H1100H1204 5The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path.H2256H7585H5437H4170H4194H6923 6But in my distress I cried out to the LORD; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears.H6862H7121H3068H7768H430H8085H6963H1964H7775H935H6440H241 7Then the earth quaked and trembled. The foundations of the mountains shook; they quaked because of his anger.H776H1607H7493H4146H2022H7264H1607H2734 8Smoke poured from his nostrils; fierce flames leaped from his mouth. Glowing coals blazed forth from him.H5927H6227H639H784H6310H398H1513H1197 9He opened the heavens and came down; dark storm clouds were beneath his feet.H5186H8064H3381H6205H7272 10Mounted on a mighty angelic being, he flew, soaring on the wings of the wind.H7392H3742H5774H1675H3671H7307 11He shrouded himself in darkness, veiling his approach with dark rain clouds.H7896H2822H5643H5521H5439H2824H4325H5645H7834 12Thick clouds shielded the brightness around him and rained down hail and burning coals.H5051H5645H5674H1259H1513H784 13The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded amid the hail and burning coals.H3068H7481H8064H5945H5414H6963H1259H1513H784 14He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies; his lightning flashed, and they were greatly confused.H7971H2671H6327H7232H1300H2000 15Then at your command, O LORD, at the blast of your breath, the bottom of the sea could be seen, and the foundations of the earth were laid bare.H650H4325H7200H4146H8398H1540H1606H3068H5397H7307H639 16He reached down from heaven and rescued me; he drew me out of deep waters.H7971H4791H3947H4871H7227H4325 17He rescued me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and were too strong for me.H5337H5794H341H8130H553 18They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress, but the LORD supported me.H6923H3117H343H3068H4937 19He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because he delights in me.H3318H4800H2502H2654 20The LORD rewarded me for doing right; he restored me because of my innocence.H3068H1580H6664H1252H3027H7725 21For I have kept the ways of the LORD; I have not turned from my God to follow evil.H8104H1870H3068H7561H430 22I have followed all his regulations; I have never abandoned his decrees.H4941H5493H2708 23I am blameless before God; I have kept myself from sin.H8549H8104H5771 24The LORD rewarded me for doing right. He has seen my innocence.H3068H7725H6664H1252H3027H5869 25To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity.H2623H2616H8549H1399H8552 26To the pure you show yourself pure, but to the wicked you show yourself hostile.H1305H1305H6141H6617 27You rescue the humble, but you humiliate the proud.H3467H6041H5971H8213H7311H5869 28You light a lamp for me. The LORD, my God, lights up my darkness.H215H5216H3068H430H5050H2822 29In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall.H7323H1416H430H1801H7791 30God's way is perfect. All the LORD's promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.H410H1870H8549H565H3068H6884H4043H2620 31For who is God except the LORD? Who but our God is a solid rock?H433H1107H3068H6697H2108H430 32God arms me with strength, and he makes my way perfect.H410H247H2428H5414H1870H8549 33He makes me as surefooted as a deer, enabling me to stand on mountain heights.H7737H7272H355H5975H1116 34He trains my hands for battle; he strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow.H3925H3027H4421H7198H5154H5181H2220 35You have given me your shield of victory. Your right hand supports me; your help has made me great.H5414H4043H3468H3225H5582H6037H7235 36You have made a wide path for my feet to keep them from slipping.H7337H6806H7166H4571 37I chased my enemies and caught them; I did not stop until they were conquered.H7291H341H5381H7725H3615 38I struck them down so they could not get up; they fell beneath my feet.H4272H3201H6965H5307H7272 39You have armed me with strength for the battle; you have subdued my enemies under my feet.H247H2428H4421H3766H6965 40You placed my foot on their necks. I have destroyed all who hated me.H5414H6203H341H6789H8130 41They called for help, but no one came to their rescue. They even cried to the LORD, but he refused to answer.H7768H3467H3068H6030 42I ground them as fine as dust in the wind. I swept them into the gutter like dirt.H7833H6083H6440H7307H7324H2916H2351 43You gave me victory over my accusers. You appointed me ruler over nations; people I don't even know now serve me.H6403H7379H5971H7760H7218H1471H5971H3045H5647 44As soon as they hear of me, they submit; foreign nations cringe before me.H8088H241H8085H1121H5236H3584 45They all lose their courage and come trembling from their strongholds.H1121H5236H5034H2727H4526 46The LORD lives! Praise to my Rock! May the God of my salvation be exalted!H3068H2416H1288H6697H430H3468H7311 47He is the God who pays back those who harm me; he subdues the nations under meH410H5414H5360H1696H5971 48and rescues me from my enemies. You hold me safe beyond the reach of my enemies; you save me from violent opponents.H6403H341H7311H6965H5337H2555H376 49For this, O LORD, I will praise you among the nations; I will sing praises to your name.H3034H3068H1471H2167H8034 50You give great victories to your king; you show unfailing love to your anointed, to David and all his descendants forever.H1431H3444H4428H6213H2617H4899H1732H2233H5704H5769