Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

⁶ Now, my brothers, we tell you to do this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Have nothing to do with any lazy brother who is not living the way we taught you.

⁷ You yourselves know how you should be like us. We were not lazy when we were with you.

⁸ We did not eat anyone's food without paying for it. But we worked very hard day and night because we did not want to trouble any one of you.

⁹ We have the right to be helped. But we wanted to show you what you should do in this matter.

¹⁰ Even when we were with you, we told you this, `If any man will not work, do not let him eat.'

¹¹ We hear that some of you are lazy. You do not work, but you trouble other people.

¹² We say to such lazy people, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, `Do your work quietly. Earn your own food.'

¹³ My brothers, do not get tired of doing what is good.

⁵ Some people were talking about how nice the temple looked. They talked about the fine stones and the things people gave to make the temple.

⁶ Jesus said, `You see these things. Not one stone here will be left on top of another. They will all be thrown down!'

⁷ They asked him, `Teacher, when will this happen? What will be the sign when these things are going to be done?

⁸ He said, `Take care. Do not let anyone fool you. Many men will come in my name. They will say, "I am Christ." And they will say, "The time is now." Do not go after them.

⁹ When you hear about wars and fighting, do not fear. These things must happen first, but it is not the end right away.'

¹⁰ Then he said, `One tribe will fight against another tribe. And one country will fight against another country.

¹¹ In some places the earth will shake very much. In many places the people will have no food to eat. And many people will be sick. There will be things to make people fear. There will be big signs in the sky.

¹² `But before all these things happen, people will catch you and trouble you. They will take you to the meeting houses to be judged. They will put you in prison. They will take you to kings and rulers because you are true to me.

¹³ This will be a chance for you to talk about me.

¹⁴ So do not trouble your minds about what you will say.

¹⁵ I will give you words and sense. All those who are against you will not be able to answer your words or say they are not true.

¹⁶ Even your parents, brothers, family people, and friends will give you over to trouble. They will kill some of you.

¹⁷ All people will hate you because you are true to me.

¹⁸ But you will not lose one hair from your heads.

¹⁹ If you keep on being true to me, you will live for ever.'