2 Thessalonians 3:6–15

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.