2 Thessalonians 3:7

Revised Standard Version

For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you,

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
For you yourselves know how you should imitate us: We were not idle among you;

King James Version (1611)
For your selues know how yee ought to follow vs: for wee behaued not our selues disorderly among you,

King James Version
For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;

English Standard Version
For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you,

New American Standard Bible
For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined way among you,

New Century Version
You yourselves know that you should live as we live. We were not lazy when we were with you.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you,

Legacy Standard Bible
For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we did not act in an unruly manner among you,

Berean Standard Bible
For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not undisciplined among you,

Contemporary English Version
You surely know that you should follow our example. We didn't waste our time loafing,

Complete Jewish Bible
For you yourselves know how you must imitate us, that we were not idle when we were among you.

Darby Translation
For ye know yourselves how ye ought to imitate us, because we have not walked disorderly among you;

Easy-to-Read Version
You yourselves know that you should live like we do. We were not lazy when we were with you.

Geneva Bible (1587)
For ye your selues know, how ye ought to follow vs: for we behaued not our selues inordinately among you,

George Lamsa Translation
For you know well how you ought to imitate us; for our behaviour was not disorderly among you;

Good News Translation
You yourselves know very well that you should do just what we did. We were not lazy when we were with you.

Lexham English Bible
For you yourselves know how it is necessary to imitate us, that we did not behave irresponsibly among you,

Literal Translation
For you yourselves know how it is right to act like us, because we were not disorderly among you;

Amplified Bible
For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined or inappropriate manner when we were with you [we were never idle or lazy, nor did we avoid our duties],

American Standard Version
For yourselves know how ye ought to imitate us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;

Bible in Basic English
For you yourselves are used to taking us as your example, because our life among you was ruled by order,

Hebrew Names Version
For you know how you ought to imitate us. For we didn't behave ourselves rebelliously among you,

International Standard Version
For you yourselves know what you must do to imitate us. We did not live in idlenessWe did not lead a disorderly life">[fn] among you.1 Corinthians 4:16; 11:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:6-7; 2:10;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
For you know how it behoveth to imitate us who walked not wickedly among you.

Murdock Translation
For ye know how ye ought to imitate us, who did not walk wickedly among you.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
For ye your selues knowe howe ye ought to folowe vs: For we behaued not our selues inordinately among you,

English Revised Version
For yourselves know how ye ought to imitate us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;

World English Bible
For you know how you ought to imitate us. For we didn't behave ourselves rebelliously among you,

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For yourselves know how ye ought to imitate us: we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you,

Weymouth's New Testament
For you yourselves know that it is your duty to follow our example. There was no disorder in our lives among you,

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For `ye silf witen, hou it bihoueth to sue vs. For we weren not vnpesible among you,

Update Bible Version
For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us: for we did not behave ourselves disorderly among you;

Webster's Bible Translation
For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;

New English Translation
For you know yourselves how you must imitate us, because we did not behave without discipline among you,

New King James Version
For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you;

New Living Translation
For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you.

New Life Bible
You know you should follow the way of life we lived when we were with you. We worked hard while we were there.

New Revised Standard
For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you,

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For, ye yourselves, know, how needful it is to be imitating us, in that we were not disorderly among you,

Douay-Rheims Bible
For yourselves know how you ought to imitate us. For we were not disorderly among you.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Ye youre selves knowe how ye ought to folowe vs. For we behaved not oure selves inordinatly amonge you.

Young's Literal Translation
for yourselves have known how it behoveth [you] to imitate us, because we did not act disorderly among you;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For ye yor selues knowe, how ye oughte to folowe vs: for we behaued not oure selues inordinatly amonge you,

Mace New Testament (1729)
for you know what an example we have given for your imitation: that our conduct among you was regular:

Simplified Cowboy Version
Y'all know the way we taught y'all . . . so do it. We weren't lazy when we were with you,

Contextual Overview

⁶ Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is living in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. ⁷ For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, ⁸ we did not eat any one's bread without paying, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you. ⁹ It was not because we have not that right, but to give you in our conduct an example to imitate. ¹⁰ For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: If any one will not work, let him not eat. ¹¹ For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. ¹² Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work in quietness and to earn their own living. ¹³ Brethren, do not be weary in well-doing. ¹⁴ If any one refuses to obey what we say in this letter, note that man, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. ¹⁵ Do not look on him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

how: 2 Thessalonians 3:9, 1 Corinthians 4:16, 1 Corinthians 11:1, Philippians 3:17, Philippians 4:9, 1 Thessalonians 1:6, 1 Thessalonians 1:7, 1 Timothy 4:12, Titus 2:7, 1 Peter 5:3

for: 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 1 Thessalonians 2:10

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 2:6 - General 2 Kings 4:7 - pay Proverbs 31:18 - her candle John 21:3 - I go Acts 20:18 - after 1 Corinthians 9:6 - have 1 Corinthians 13:5 - behave 2 Corinthians 7:2 - we have wronged 1 Thessalonians 1:5 - what 1 Thessalonians 2:9 - our 1 Thessalonians 4:11 - to work Hebrews 13:7 - whose

Cross-References

Genesis 2:25
And the man and his wife were both naked, and were not ashamed.

Genesis 3:5
For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

Genesis 3:10
And he said, "I heard the sound of thee in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself."

Genesis 3:11
He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?"

Deuteronomy 28:34
so that you shall be driven mad by the sight which your eyes shall see.

2 Kings 6:20
As soon as they entered Sama'ria, Eli'sha said, "O LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see." So the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and lo, they were in the midst of Sama'ria.

Isaiah 28:20
For the bed is too short to stretch oneself on it, and the covering too narrow to wrap oneself in it.

Isaiah 59:6
Their webs will not serve as clothing; men will not cover themselves with what they make. Their works are works of iniquity, and deeds of violence are in their hands.

Luke 16:23
and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham far off and Laz'arus in his bosom.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us,.... The apostle goes on to dissuade from that which denominates persons disorderly walkers, and exposes them to the censure of the church, and that partly by the example of the apostles, and partly by their command. He appeals to them, to their knowledge and judgment, it being a thing well known to them, that they ought to walk as they had the apostles for ensamples; for who should they follow but their spiritual fathers, shepherds, and guides? and especially so far as they were followers of Christ, as they were, in the case referred unto, working with their own hands:

for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; they could appeal to them as witnesses, and God also, how holily, justly, and unblamably they walked among them; see 1 Thessalonians 2:10 and particularly, that they did not live an idle and inactive life among them.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us - You know what you should do in order to imitate us.

For we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you - See the notes on 1 Thessalonians 2:10.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 7. We behaved not ourselves disorderly — ουκ ητακτησαμεν. We did not go out of our rank-we kept our place, and discharged all its duties.