The Message Bible MSG
New American Standard Bible NAS
1 One more thing, friends: Pray for us. Pray that the Master's Word will simply take off and race through the country to a groundswell of response, just as it did among you.
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Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you;
2 And pray that we'll be rescued from these scoundrels who are trying to do us in. I'm finding that not all "believers" are believers.
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and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith.
3 But the Master never lets us down. He'll stick by you and protect you from evil.
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But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.
4 Because of the Master, we have great confidence in you. We know you're doing everything we told you and will continue doing it.
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We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command.
5 May the Master take you by the hand and lead you along the path of God's love and Christ's endurance.
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May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.
6 Our orders - backed up by the Master, Jesus - are to refuse to have anything to do with those among you who are lazy and refuse to work the way we taught you. Don't permit them to freeload on the rest.
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Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us.
7 We showed you how to pull your weight when we were with you, so get on with it.
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For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you,
8 We didn't sit around on our hands expecting others to take care of us. In fact, we worked our fingers to the bone, up half the night moonlighting so you wouldn't be burdened with taking care of us.
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nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you;
9 And it wasn't because we didn't have a right to your support; we did. We simply wanted to provide an example of diligence, hoping it would prove contagious.
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not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example.
10 Don't you remember the rule we had when we lived with you? "If you don't work, you don't eat."
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For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.
11 And now we're getting reports that a bunch of lazy good-for-nothings are taking advantage of you.
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For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies.
12 This must not be tolerated. We command them to get to work immediately - no excuses, no arguments - and earn their own keep.
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Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread.
13 Friends, don't slack off in doing your duty.
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But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good.
14 If anyone refuses to obey our clear command written in this letter, don't let him get by with it. Point out such a person and refuse to subsidize his freeloading. Maybe then he'll think twice.
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If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame.
15 But don't treat him as an enemy. Sit him down and talk about the problem as someone who cares.
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Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
16 May the Master of Peace himself give you the gift of getting along with each other at all times, in all ways. May the Master be truly among you!
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Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!
17 I, Paul, bid you good-bye in my own handwriting. I do this in all my letters, so examine my signature as proof that the letter is genuine.
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I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, and this is a distinguishing mark in every letter; this is the way I write.
18 The incredible grace of our Master, Jesus Christ, be with all of you!
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The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California. All rights reserved.