2 Thessalonians 3

1Finally, brothers and sisters, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was among you,

2and that we may be rescued from perverse and evil people, for not everyone has faith.

3But the Lord is faithful. He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.

4And we are confident in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will keep doing what we command.

5May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the endurance of Christ.

6Now we command you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother or sister who is living in idleness and not according to the tradition that they received from us.

7For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you,

8nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, we worked with labor and hardship night and day, so that we would not be a burden to any of you.

9It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate.

10For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is not willing to work, he should not eat.”

11For we hear that some among you are living in idleness. They are not busy working; they are busybodies.

12Now such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and earn their own living.

13As for you, brothers and sisters, do not grow weary in doing good.

14If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he may be ashamed.

15Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

16Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.

17I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the mark of genuineness in every letter; this is how I write.

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