⁶Brothers and sisters, here is a command we give you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Keep away from every believer who doesn’t want to work. Keep away from anyone who doesn’t live up to the teaching you received from us.

⁷You know how you should follow our example. We worked when we were with you. ⁸We didn’t eat anyone’s food without paying for it. In fact, it was just the opposite. We worked night and day. We worked very hard so that we wouldn’t cause any expense to any of you.

⁹We worked, even though we have the right to receive help from you. We did it in order to be a model for you to follow. ¹⁰Even when we were with you, we gave you a rule. We said, “Anyone who will not work will not eat.”

¹¹We hear that some people among you don’t want to work. They aren’t really busy. Instead, they are bothering others. ¹²We belong to the Lord Jesus Christ. So we strongly command people like that to settle down. They have to earn the food they eat.

¹³Brothers and sisters, don’t ever get tired of doing the right thing.

¹⁴Keep an eye on anyone who doesn’t obey the directions in our letter. Watch that person closely. Have nothing to do with him. Then he will feel ashamed. ¹⁵But don’t think of him as an enemy. Instead, warn him as a brother or sister.

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