3:1 | Finally, pray for us, brothers and sisters,* that the Lord’s message* may spread quickly and be honored* as in fact it was among you, |
3:2 | and that we may be delivered from perverse and evil people. For not all have faith. |
3:3 | But the Lord is faithful, and he* will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. |
3:4 | And we are confident about you in the Lord that you are both doing – and will do – what we are commanding. |
3:5 | Now may the Lord direct your hearts toward the love of God* and the endurance of Christ.* |
3:6 | But we command you, brothers and sisters,* in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who lives an undisciplined* life* and not according to the tradition they* received from us. |
3:7 | For you know yourselves how you must imitate us, because we did not behave without discipline* among you, |
3:8 | and we did not eat anyone’s food without paying.* Instead, in toil and drudgery we worked* night and day in order not to burden any of you. |
3:9 | It was not because we do not have that right, but to give ourselves as an example for you to imitate.* |
3:10 | For even when we were with you, we used to give you this command: “If anyone is not willing to work, neither should he eat.” |
3:11 | For we hear that some among you are living an undisciplined life,* not doing their own work but meddling in the work of others.* |
3:12 | Now such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and so provide their own food to eat.* |
3:13 | But you, brothers and sisters,* do not grow weary in doing what is right. |
3:14 | But if anyone does not obey our message through this letter, take note of him and do not associate closely with him, so that he may be ashamed. |
3:15 | Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.* |
3:16 | Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with you all. |
3:17 | I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, which is how I write in every letter.* |
3:18 | The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.* |