Request for Prayer

3 ^(A)Finally, brothers and sisters, ^(B)pray for us that ^(C)the word of the Lord will ^[a]spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it was also with you; ² and that we will be ^(D)rescued from troublesome and evil people; for not all have the faith. ³ But ^(E)the Lord is faithful, ^[b]and He will strengthen and protect you ^[c]from ^(F)the evil one. ⁴ We have ^(G)confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you ^(H)are doing, and will do, what we command. ⁵ May the Lord ^(I)direct your hearts to the love of God and to the perseverance of Christ.

⁶ Now we command you, brothers and sisters, ^(J)in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you ^[d](K)keep away from every brother or sister who ^[e]leads a ^[f](L)disorderly life and not one in accordance with ^(M)the tradition which ^[g]you received from us. ⁷ For you yourselves know how you ought to ^[h](N)follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined way among you, ⁸ nor did we ^(O)eat ^[i]anyone’s bread ^[j]without paying for it, but with ^(P)labor and hardship we kept ^(Q)working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; ⁹ not because we do not have ^(R)the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves ^(S)as a role model for you, so that you would ^[k]follow our example. ¹⁰ For even ^(T)when we were with you, we used to give you this order: ^(U)if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. ¹¹ For we hear that some among you are ^(V)leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like ^(W)busybodies. ¹² Now we command and ^(X)exhort such persons in the Lord Jesus Christ to ^(Y)work ^[l]peacefully and eat their own bread. ¹³ But as for you, ^(Z)brothers and sisters, ^(AA)do not grow weary of doing good.

¹⁴ If anyone does not obey our ^[m]instruction ^[n](AB)in this letter, take special note of that person so as ^(AC)not to associate with him, so that he will be ^(AD)put to shame. ¹⁵ And yet ^(AE)do not regard that person as an enemy, but ^[o](AF)admonish that one as a ^(AG)brother or sister.

¹⁶ Now ^(AH)may the Lord of peace ^(AI)Himself continually grant you peace in every ^[p]circumstance. ^(AJ)The Lord be with you all!

^17 [q]I, Paul, write this greeting ^(AK)with my own hand, and this is a distinguishing mark in every letter; this is the way I write. ^18 (AL)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.