Chapter 3

In conclusion, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified even as among you,

and that we may be delivered from troublesome and evil men; for not all men have the faith.

But the Lord is faithful, who will strengthen you and guard you from evil.

And we have confidence in the Lord as regards you, that you both do and will do the things that we enjoin.

And may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and the patience of Christ. Against Idleness

And we charge you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to withdraw yourselves from every brother who lives irregularly, and not according to the teaching received from us.

For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; for we were not unruly while with you,

neither did we eat any man's bread at his cost, but we worked night and day in labor and toil, so that we might not burden any of you.

Not that we did not have the right to do so, but that we might make ourselves an example for you to imitate us.

For indeed when we were with you we used to charge you: If any man will not work, neither let him eat.

For we have heard that some among you are living irregularly, doing no work but busy at meddling.

Now such persons we charge and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ that they work quietly and eat their own bread.

But you, brethren, do not grow tired of well-doing.

And if anyone does not obey our word by this letter, note that man and do not associate with him, that he may be put to shame.

Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. Final Blessing and Greeting

And may the Lord of peace himself give you everlasting peace in every place. The Lord be with you all.

I, Paul, greet you with my own hand. This is the mark in every letter. Thus I write.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.