3In addition, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you,^b ²and that we may be delivered^c from wicked and evil people, for not all have faith.^B ³But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.^d ⁴We have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command. ⁵May the Lord direct your hearts to God’s love and Christ’s endurance.^e

WARNING AGAINST IRRESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR

⁶Now we command you, brothers and sisters, in the name^f of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from every brother or sister^g who is idle and does not live^C according to the tradition^h receivedⁱ from us. ⁷For you yourselves know how you should imitate^j us: We were not idle among you; ⁸we did not eat^k anyone’s food free of charge;^l instead, we labored^m and toiled,ⁿ working^o night and day, so that we would not be a burden^p to any of you. ⁹It is not that we don’t have the right^q to support, but we did it to make ourselves an example to you so that you would imitate^r us. ¹⁰In fact, when we were with you, this is what we commanded you: “If anyone isn’t willing to work, he should not eat.”^s ¹¹For we hear that there are some among you who are idle. They are not busy but busybodies.^t ¹²Now we command and exhort such people by the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and provide for themselves.^D ¹³But as for you, brothers and sisters, do not grow weary^u in doing good.

¹⁴If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take note of that person; don’t associate with him, so that he may be ashamed. ¹⁵Yet don’t consider him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

FINAL GREETINGS

¹⁶May the Lord of peace^v himself give you peace always in every way.^w The Lord be with all of you.^x ¹⁷I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand,^y which is an authenticating mark in every letter; this is how I write. ¹⁸The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

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Footnotes

BOr for the faith is not in everyone
C walk
D they may eat their own bread

Cross references

b 1Th 2:13
c Mt 27:43; Rm 15:31
d Mt 5:37; 6:13; 13:19,38; Jn 17:15; Eph 6:16; 1Jn 2:13–14; 3:12; 5:18–19
e Rm 15:5; Rv 13:10
f Jn 14:13; Ac 3:16; 15:14; Php 2:10
g Mt 18:17; 1Co 5:11; 2Tm 3:5; 2Jn 10
h Mk 7:3
i Jd 3
j 3Jn 11
k 1Co 10:25
l 1Th 2:7
m Rv 14:13
n 2Co 11:27; 1Th 2:9
o Ac 18:3; Eph 4:28; 2Jn 8
p 2Co 2:5; 1Th 2:9
q Mk 1:22; Ac 9:14; Rm 13:1; 1Co 9:4–14
r Heb 8:5
s 1Th 4:11
t 1Tm 5:13
u Lk 18:1; 2Co 4:1,16; Gl 6:9; Eph 3:13
v 1Th 5:23
w Nm 6:26; Eph 6:23
x Rm 15:33; 1Co 16:24; 2Co 13:13; Ti 3:15; Heb 13:25
y 1Co 16:21