¹² Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.^(A)

¹¹ to aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we directed you,^(A)

²⁸ Those who steal must give up stealing; rather, let them labor, doing good work with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy.

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.^(A)

A Life Pleasing to God

4 Finally, brothers and sisters, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus that, as you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God (as, in fact, you are doing), you should do so more and more.^(A)

² for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity.^(A)