1 Finally, 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.

2 Also pray that we may be rescued from worthless and evil people, since not everyone holds to the faith.

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

4 We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do what we command.

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

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

7 For you yourselves know what you must do to imitate us. We did not live in idleness among you.

8 We 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.

9 It is not as though we did not have that right, but, we wanted to give you an example to follow.

10 While we were with you, we gave this order: "If anyone doesn't want to work, he shouldn't eat."

11 We hear that some of you are living in idleness. You are not busy working—you are busy interfering in other people's lives!

12 We order and encourage such people by the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.

13 Brothers, do not get tired of doing what is right.

14 If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of him. Have nothing to do with him so that he will feel ashamed.

15 Yet, don't treat him like an enemy, but warn him like a brother.

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

17 I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand. This is the mark in every letter of mine. It is the way I write.

18 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you. Amen.