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.

Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is 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 unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.

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

But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.

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, both that you do and will do the things we command you.

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

Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ. Warning Against Idleness

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.

But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he 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 you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among 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 free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to 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 authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.

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

For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.

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

For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.

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 those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.

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

But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.

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.

And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, 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.

Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. Benediction

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 give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.

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

The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is a sign in every epistle; so I write.

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

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.