Chapter 3

Exhortation

1 aFinally, brethren, bpray for us that cthe word of the Lord will 1spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you;

2 and that we will be arescued from 1perverse and evil men; for not all have 2faith.

3 But athe Lord is faithful, 1and He will strengthen and protect you 2from bthe evil one.

4 We have aconfidence in the Lord concerning you, that you bare doing and will continue to do what we command.

5 May the Lord adirect your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.

6 Now we command you, brethren, ain the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you 1bkeep away from every brother who 2leads an 3cunruly life and not according to dthe tradition which 4you received from us.

7 For you yourselves know how you ought to 1afollow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you,

8 nor did we aeat 1anyone’s bread 2without paying for it, but with blabor and hardship we kept cworking night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you;

9 not because we do not have athe right to this, but in order to offer ourselves bas a model for you, so that you would 1follow our example.

10 For even awhen we were with you, we used to give you this order: bif anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.

11 For we hear that some among you are aleading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like bbusybodies.

12 Now such persons we command and aexhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to bwork in quiet fashion and eat their own bread.

13 But as for you, abrethren, bdo not grow weary of doing good.

14 If anyone does not obey our 1instruction 2ain this letter, take special note of that person 3band do not associate with him, so that he will be cput to shame.

15 Yet ado not regard him as an enemy, but 1badmonish him as a cbrother.

16 Now amay the Lord of peace bHimself continually grant you peace in every 1circumstance. cThe Lord be with you all!

17 1I, Paul, write this greeting awith my own hand, and this is a distinguishing mark in every letter; this is the way I write.

18 aThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.