1 M y last words to you, Christian brothers, are that you pray for us. Pray that the Word of the Lord will go out over all the land and prove its power just as it did with you.

Furthermore, brethren, do pray for us, that the Word of the Lord may speed on (spread rapidly and run its course) and be glorified (extolled) and triumph, even as with you,

2 P ray that we will be kept from sinful men, because not all men are Christians.

And that we may be delivered from perverse (improper, unrighteous) and wicked (actively malicious) men, for not everybody has faith and is held by it.

3 B ut the Lord is faithful. He will give you strength and keep you safe from the devil.

Yet the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and set you on a firm foundation and guard you from the evil.

4 W e have faith in the Lord for you. We believe you are doing and will keep on doing the things we told you.

And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do the things which we suggest and with which we charge you.

5 M ay the Lord lead your hearts into the love of God. May He help you as you wait for Christ.

May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness and patience of Christ and in waiting for His return.

6 N ow this is what we tell you to do, Christian brothers. In the name of the Lord Jesus, keep away from any Christian who is lazy and who does not do what we taught you.

Now we charge you, brethren, in the name and on the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) that you withdraw and keep away from every brother (fellow believer) who is slack in the performance of duty and is disorderly, living as a shirker and not walking in accord with the traditions and instructions that you have received from us.

7 Y ou know you should follow the way of life we lived when we were with you. We worked hard while we were there.

For you yourselves know how it is necessary to imitate our example, for we were not disorderly or shirking of duty when we were with you.

8 W e did not eat anyone’s food without paying for it. We worked hard night and day so none of you would have to give us anything.

Nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and struggle we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden or impose on any of you.

9 W e could have asked you to give us food. But we did not so that you might follow our way of living.

not because we do not have a right, but to make ourselves an example for you to follow.

10 W hen we were with you, we told you that if a man does not work, he should not eat.

For while we were yet with you, we gave you this rule and charge: If anyone will not work, neither let him eat.

11 W e hear that some are not working. But they are spending their time trying to see what others are doing.

Indeed, we hear that some among you are disorderly, being busy with other people’s affairs instead of their own and doing no work.

12 O ur words to such people are that they should be quiet and go to work. They should eat their own food. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we say this.

Now we charge and exhort such persons '> ministers in Him exhorting those] in the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) that they work in quietness and earn their own food and other necessities.

13 B ut you, Christian brothers, do not get tired of doing good.

And as for you, brethren, do not become weary or lose heart in doing right.

14 I f anyone does not want to listen to what we say in this letter, remember who he is and stay away from him. In that way, he will be put to shame.

But if anyone refuses to obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he may be ashamed.

15 D o not think of him as one who hates you. But talk to him as a Christian brother.

Do not regard him as an enemy, but simply admonish and warn him as a brother.

16 M ay the Lord of peace give you His peace at all times. The Lord be with you all.

Now may the Lord of peace Himself grant you His peace (the peace of His kingdom) at all times and in all ways. The Lord with you all.

17 I , Paul, write this last part with my own hand. It is the way I finish all my letters.

I, Paul, write you this final greeting with my own hand. This is the mark and sign in every letter of mine. It is the way I write.

18 M ay all of you have loving-favor from our Lord Jesus Christ.

The grace (spiritual blessing and favor) of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) be with you all. Amen (so be it).