Pray for Us

¹Finally, brothers,1 jpray for us, that kthe word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored,2 as happened among you, ²and lthat we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For mnot all have faith. ³But nthe Lord is faithful. He will establish you and oguard you against pthe evil one.3 ⁴And qwe have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. ⁵May the Lord rdirect your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

Warning Against Idleness

⁶Now we command you, brothers, sin the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, tthat you keep away from any ubrother vwho is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. ⁷For you yourselves know whow you ought to imitate us, because xwe were not idle when we were with you, ⁸nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but ywith toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. ⁹It was znot because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves aan example to imitate. ¹⁰For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: bIf anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. ¹¹For we hear that some among you cwalk in idleness, not busy at work, but dbusybodies. ¹²Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.4

¹³As for you, brothers, edo not grow weary in doing good. ¹⁴If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and fhave nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. ¹⁵gDo not regard him as an enemy, but hwarn him as a brother.

Benediction

¹⁶Now may ithe Lord of peace himself jgive you peace at all times in every way. kThe Lord be with you all.

¹⁷I, Paul, write lthis greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. ¹⁸mThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.