⁶ In the name of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah,^[a] we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is living in idleness^[b] and not living^[c] according to the tradition that they received^[d] from us. ⁷ For you yourselves know what you must do to imitate us. We never lived in idleness^[e] among you. ⁸ We did not eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, with toil and labor we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to any of you. ⁹ It is not as though we did not have that right, but we wanted^[f] to give you an example to follow. ¹⁰ While we were with you, we gave this order: “If anyone doesn’t want to work, he shouldn’t eat.”

¹¹ We hear that some of you are living in idleness.^[g] You are not busy working^[h]—you are busy interfering^[i] in other people’s lives! ¹² We order and encourage such people by the Lord Jesus, the Messiah,^[j] to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. ¹³ Brothers, do not get tired of doing what is right.

¹⁴ If anyone does not obey what we say^[k] in this letter, take note of him. Have nothing to do with him so that he will feel ashamed. ¹⁵ Yet, don’t treat him like an enemy, but warn^[l] him like a brother.