5. We pray that the Lord will cause you to feel God’s love and remember Christ’s patient endurance.
6. Brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ we tell you to stay away from any believer who refuses to work. People who refuse to work are not following the teaching that we gave them.
7. You yourselves know that you should live like we do. We were not lazy when we were with you.
8. We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked and worked so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We worked night and day.
9. We had the right to ask you to help us. But we worked to take care of ourselves so that we would be an example for you to follow.
10. When we were with you, we gave you this rule: “Whoever will not work should not be allowed to eat.”
11. We hear that some people in your group refuse to work. They are doing nothing except being busy in the lives of others.
12. Our instruction to them is to stop bothering others, to start working and earn their own food. It is by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ that we are urging them to do this.
13. Brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.
14. If there are some there who refuse to do what we tell you in this letter, remember who they are. Don’t associate with them. Then maybe they will feel ashamed.
15. But don’t treat them as enemies. Counsel them as fellow believers.
16. We pray that the Lord of peace will give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with you all.
17. Here’s my greeting in my own handwriting—Paul. I do this in all my letters to show they are from me. This is the way I write.
18. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.