The Folly of Indolence

Walk in Wisdom

^15 (A)See then that you walk ^[a]circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, ^16 (B)redeeming the time, ^(C)because the days are evil.

¹¹ that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, ^(A)to mind your own business, and ^(B)to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, ^12 (C)that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.

Warning Against Idleness

⁶ But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^(A)that you withdraw ^(B)from every brother who walks ^(C)disorderly and not according to the tradition which ^[a]he received from us. ⁷ For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; ⁸ nor did we eat anyone’s bread ^[b]free of charge, but worked with ^(D)labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, ⁹ not because we do not have ^(E)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 ^(F)busybodies. ¹² Now those who are such we command and ^[c]exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ ^(G)that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.

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