Twenty - II Thessalonians - 3

3:1  In conclusion, Brothers, pray for us--pray that the Lord's Message may spread rapidly, and be received everywhere with honour, as it was among you;

3:2  And that we may be preserved from wrong-headed and wicked men- -for it is not every one who believes in Christ.

3:3  But the Lord will not fail you; he will give you strength, and guard you from Evil.

3:4  Yes, and the confidence that our union with the Lord enables us to place in you leads us to believe that you are doing, and will do, what we direct you.

3:5  May the Lord bring you to the love of God, and to the patience of the Christ.

3:6  We urge you, Brothers, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to avoid any Brother who is living an ill-ordered life, which is not in agreement with the teaching that you received from us.

3:7  For you know well that you ought to follow our example. When we were with you, our life was not ill-ordered,

3:8  Nor did we eat any one's bread without paying for it. Night and day, laboring and toiling, we used to work at our trades, so as not to be a burden upon any of you.

3:9  This was not because we had not a right to receive support, but our object was to give you a pattern for you to copy.

3:10  Indeed, when we were with you, what we urged upon you was--'If a man does not choose to work, then he shall not eat.'

3:11  We hear that there are among you people who are living ill- ordered lives, and who, instead of attending to their own business, are mere busy-bodies.

3:12  All such people we urge, and entreat, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to attend quietly to their business, and earn their own living.

3:13  You, Brothers, must not grow weary of doing what is right.

3:14  If any one disregards what we have said in this letter, mark that man and avoid his company, that he may feel ashamed.

3:15  Yet do not think of him as an enemy, but caution him as you would a Brother.

3:16  May the Lord, from whom all peace comes, himself give you his peace at all times and in all ways. May he be with you all.

3:17  I, Paul, add this greeting in my own handwriting. It is my signature to every letter. This is how I write.

3:18  May the blessing of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.