⁷ She came and told the man of God, and he said, “Go sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your children can live on the rest.”^(A)

⁷ For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not irresponsible when we were with you,^{(A) 8} and we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day so that we might not burden any of you.^{(B) 9} This was not because we do not have that right but in order to give you an example to imitate.^{(C) 10} For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: anyone unwilling to work should not eat. ¹¹ For we hear that some of you are living irresponsibly, mere busybodies, not doing any work.^{(D) 12} Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.^(E)

⁹ You remember our labor and toil, brothers and sisters; we worked night and day so that we might not burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.^{(A) 10} You are witnesses, and God also, how pure, upright, and blameless our conduct was toward you believers.^(B)

⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about^[a] these things.

¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all.^(A)

²² But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God:

¹² so that you may behave properly toward outsiders and be dependent on no one.^(A)