An Example to Follow

1Finally, brothers, pray for us—that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly, and that it may be honored the way it is among you. 2Also praya that we may be rescued from worthless and evil people, since not everyone holds to the faith.b 3But the Lord is faithful and will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. 4We have confidence in the Lordc that you are doing and will continue to do what we command. 5May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the endurance of the Messiah.d

6In the name of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah,e we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is living in idlenessf and not livingg according to the tradition that they receivedh from us. 7For you yourselves know what you must do to imitate us. We never lived in idlenessi among you. 8We did not eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, with toil and labor we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to any of you. 9It is not as though we did not have that right, but we wantedj to give you an example to follow. 10While we were with you, we gave this order: “If anyone doesn’t want to work, he shouldn’t eat.”

11We hear that some of you are living in idleness.k You are not busy workingl —you are busy interferingm in other people’s lives! 12We order and encourage such people by the Lord Jesus, the Messiah,n to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. 13Brothers, do not get tired of doing what is right.

14If anyone does not obey what we sayo in this letter, take note of him. Have nothing to do with him so that he will feel ashamed. 15Yet, don’t treat him like an enemy, but warnp him like a brother. 16Now may the Lord of peace give you his peace at all times and in every way. May the Lord be with all of you.

Final Greeting

17I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand. This is the mark in every letter of mine. It is the way I write. 18May the grace of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah,q be with all of you. Amen.r