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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.[xr] ² Also pray[fn] that we may be rescued from worthless and evil people, since not everyone holds to the faith.[fn][xr] ³ But the Lord is faithful and will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.[xr] ⁴ We have confidence in the Lord[fn] that you are doing and will continue to do what we command.[xr] ⁵ May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the endurance of Christ.[xr]

⁶ In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is living in idleness[fn] and not living[fn] according to the tradition that they received[fn] from us.[xr] ⁷ For you yourselves know what you must do to imitate us. We did not live in idleness[fn] among you.[xr] 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.[xr] ⁹ It is not as though we did not have that right, but, we wanted[fn] to give you an example to follow.[xr] ¹⁰ While we were with you, we gave this order: "If anyone doesn't want to work, he shouldn't eat."[xr] ¹¹ We hear that some of you are living in idleness.[fn] You are not busy working[fn] - you are busy interfering[fn] in other people's lives![xr] ¹² We order and encourage such people by the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.[xr] ¹³ Brothers, do not get tired of doing what is right.[xr] ¹⁴ If anyone does not obey what we say[fn] in this letter, take note of him. Have nothing to do with him so that he will feel ashamed.[xr] ¹⁵ Yet, don't treat him like an enemy, but warn[fn] him like a brother.[xr]

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.[xr] 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.[xr] ¹⁸ May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you. Amen.[fn][xr]