2 Thessalonians 3

3 ¹Finally, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the word of our Lord Jesus may race forward and be honored, as it was among you, ²and that we may be delivered from perverse and evil people; for not everyone is a believer. ³But the Lord is faithful, who will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. ⁴We trust in the Lord that you do, and will keep doing, what we command. ⁵May the Lord guide your hearts into our Father's love and into Christ's endurance.

A Warning Against Idleness

⁶Brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ we command you: stay away from every brother living in idleness, against the tradition you received from us. ⁷You yourselves know you should imitate us, since we weren't idle among you. ⁸We did not eat anyone's food free; instead we worked night and day, in labor and hardship, so as not to burden any of you. ⁹Not that we lack the right, but to make ourselves an example for you to imitate. ¹⁰Even when we were with you, we ordered you: if anyone refuses to work, he shouldn't eat. ¹¹For we hear that some among you are living in idleness, not busy with work but busybodies. ¹²We command and urge such people in the Lord Jesus Christ: work quietly, eat their own bread. ¹³As for you, brothers and sisters, do not grow weary in doing good. ¹⁴If anyone disobeys our word in this letter, mark him, and do not associate with him, so he may feel ashamed. ¹⁵Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

Peace, Greeting, and Grace

¹⁶May the Lord of peace himself give you peace always, in every way. The Lord be with you all.

¹⁷I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand—the sign that every letter from me is genuine; this is how I write. ¹⁸The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.