2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised

Warning against Idleness

⁶ Now we command you, beloved,^[a] in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from believers who are^[b] living in idleness and not according to the tradition that they^[c] received from us. ⁷ For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, ⁸ and we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it; but with toil and labour we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you. ⁹ This was not because we do not have that right, but in order to give you an example to imitate. 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 in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. ¹² Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. ¹³ Brothers and sisters,^[d] do not be weary in doing what is right.