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Pray for Us
1Finally, our brothers and sisters, pray for us, that the Lord's message may continue to spread rapidly and be received with honour, just as it was among you. 2Pray also that God will rescue us from wicked and evil people; for not everyone believes the message.
3But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and keep you safe from the Evil One. 4And the Lord gives us confidence in you, and we are sure that you are doing and will continue to do what we tell you.
5May the Lord lead you into a greater understanding of God's love and the endurance that is given by Christ.
The Obligation to Work
6Our brothers and sisters, we command you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to keep away from all believers who are living a lazy life and who do not follow the instructions that we gave them. 7You yourselves know very well that you should do just what we did. We were not lazy when we were with you. 8We did not accept anyone's support without paying for it. Instead, we worked and toiled; we kept working day and night so as not to be an expense to any of you. 9We did this, not because we have no right to demand our support; we did it to be an example for you to follow. 10While we were with you, we used to say to you, “Whoever refuses to work is not allowed to eat.”
11We say this because we hear that there are some people among you who live lazy lives and who do nothing except meddle in other people's business. 12In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we command these people and warn them to lead orderly lives and work to earn their own living.
13But you, brothers and sisters, must not get tired of doing good. 14It may be that someone there will not obey the message we send you in this letter. If so, take note of that person and have nothing to do with him or her, so that they will be ashamed. 15But do not treat them as an enemy; instead, warn them as a fellow-believer.
Final Words
16May the Lord himself, who is our source of peace, give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with you all.
17With my own hand I write this: Greetings from Paul. This is the way I sign every letter; this is how I write.
18May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Good News Translation® with Deuterocanonicals/Apocrypha (Today’s English Version, Second Edition) © 1992 American Bible Society. All rights reserved. Anglicisation © The British and Foreign Bible Society 1976, 1994, 2004.
The copyright for the derivative work of Anglicisation pertains only to the text within the Good News Translation (GNT) that British and Foreign Bible Society adapted for British literary usage, consistent with Section 103(b) of the United States Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. § 103(b).
Bible text from the Good News Translation (GNT) is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by American Bible Society, 101 North Independence Mall East, Floor 8, Philadelphia, PA 19106-2155 (www.americanbible.org). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
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