Pray for Us

Finally, brethren, (A)pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, and (B)that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; (C)for not all have faith.

But (D)the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and (E)guard you from the evil one. And (F)we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you.

Now may (G)the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.

Warning Against Idleness

But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, (H)that you withdraw (I)from every brother who walks (J)disorderly and not according to the tradition which [a]he received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; nor did we eat anyone’s bread [b]free of charge, but worked with (K)labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, not because we do not have (L)authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.

10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are (M)busybodies. 12 Now those who are such we command and [c]exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ (N)that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.

13 But as for you, brethren, (O)do not grow weary in doing good. 14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this [d]epistle, note that person and (P)do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 (Q)Yet do not count him as an enemy, (R)but [e]admonish him as a brother.

Benediction

16 Now may (S)the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.

17 (T)The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is a sign in every [f]epistle; so I write.

18 (U)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Lemaskana (finally), Achim b’Moshiach, daven for us, that the Dvar Hashem will run on and be lifted up in kavod, just as it is also with you,

And that we may be delivered from anshei resha (men of wickedness), for not all possess the Messianic emunah.

But Ne’eman (Faithful) is Hashem who gives you chozek (strength) and is shomer over you, guarding you from the Evil One.

And we have bitachon in Hashem concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we have directed.

Now may Hashem direct your levavot in the Ahavas Hashem and into the zitzfleisch of Moshiach.

Now we charge you, Achim b’Moshiach, b’Shem Adoneinu Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua, to shun chavrusashaft (association) with every one of the Achim b’Moshiach who follows the derech habatlanim (way of idlers) and walks not according to Moshiach’s [pnimiyus] haTorah that was handed over and transmitted to you and which you received from us [Shlichim].

For you yourselves have da’as how it is necessary to imitate us as a mofet, a role model, because we [Shlichim] were not batlanim (idlers) among you.

Nor did we eat lechem (food) from anyone gratis, but in labor and exertion lailah v’yomam (night and day) we were working for the tachlis (purpose) of not weighing down and burdening any one of you;

Not because we do not have the zchus (right), but in order that we impart ourselves as a mofet (role model) to you that you might imitate us.

10 For even when we were with you, this we used to direct you: that if anyone will not be a po’el (worker), neither let him be an ochel (eater) [Gn 3:19].

11 For we hear that some among you are leading the life of a batlan (loafer), not being busy with a parnasah, but being busybodies with hitarevut (meddlesomeness).

12 Now such persons we are directing and exhort in Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua Adoneinu to work with quietness that they may eat their own lechem.

13 But you, Achim b’Moshiach, do not lose chozek in well-doing.

14 But if anyone does not obey the gzeira (injunction) in this iggeret hakodesh (holy letter), take special notice of that one; do not have chavrusashaft (association) with him, for the tachlis (purpose) of stirring him with a sense of bushah (shame).

15 And do not consider (him) an oyev (enemy) but warn him as an Ach b’Moshiach.

16 Now may Elohei HaShalom Himself grant you shalom in every way. Hashem be with you all.

17 I, [Rav] Sha’ul, send Drishat Shalom greetings in my own handwriting, which is the distinctive siman (sign) in every iggeret hakodesh; this is the way I write.

18 The unmerited Chen v’Chesed Hashem of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Adoneinu Yehoshua be with you all. [T.N. The following was written during the period between his release from custody in 63 and his re-arrest and death al kiddush ha-Shem in 65 C.E.]