For if these[qualities] are yoursand are increasing,they renderyou neitheruselessnorunfruitfulin the true knowledgeof our LordJesusChrist.
Our peoplemust alsolearnto engagein gooddeedsto meet pressingneeds,sothat they will not be unfruitful.
Let the wordof Christrichlydwellwithinyou, with allwisdomteachingand admonishingone anotherwith psalms[and] hymns[and] spiritualsongs,singingwith thankfulnessin your heartsto God.
"Everybranchin Me that does not bearfruit,He takes away;and every[branch] that bearsfruit,He prunesit sothat it may bearmorefruit.
sothat you will not be sluggish,but imitatorsof thosewho throughfaithand patienceinheritthe promises.
And thisI pray,that your lovemay aboundstillmoreand morein real knowledgeand alldiscernment,
Finallythen,brethren,we requestand exhortyou in the LordJesus,that as you receivedfrom us [instruction] as to howyou oughtto walkand pleaseGod(justas you actuallydo walk),that you excelstill more.
Therefore,my belovedbrethren,be steadfast,immovable,alwaysaboundingin the workof the Lord,knowingthat your toilis not [in] vainin the Lord.
Graceand peacebe multipliedto you in the knowledgeof Godand of Jesusour Lord;
[and I pray] that the fellowshipof your faithmay becomeeffectivethroughthe knowledgeof everygood thingwhich is in you for Christ'ssake.
We oughtalwaysto give thanksto Godfor you, brethren,as is [only] fitting,becauseyour faithis greatly enlarged,and the loveof eachoneof you towardone anothergrows [ever] greater;
Havethisattitudein yourselveswhichwas alsoin ChristJesus,
Testyourselves[to see] ifyou are in the faith;examineyourselves!Ordo you not recognizethis about yourselves,that JesusChristis in you-- unlessindeed you fail the test?
having been firmly rooted[and now] being builtup in Him and establishedin your faith,justas you were instructed,[and] overflowingwith gratitude.
while they also,by prayeron your behalf,yearnfor you becauseof the surpassinggraceof Godin you.
that in a greatordealof afflictiontheir abundanceof joyand their deeppovertyoverflowedin the wealthof their liberality.
At the same timethey alsolearn[to be] idle,as they go aroundfrom house to house;and not merelyidle,but alsogossipsand busybodies,talkingabout things not proper[to mention].
and may the Lordcauseyou to increaseand aboundin lovefor one another,and for all people,justas we also[do] for you;
But justas you aboundin everything,in faithand utteranceand knowledgeand in allearnestnessand in the lovewe inspiredin you, [see] that you aboundin thisgracious workalso.
not lagging behindin diligence,ferventin spirit,servingthe Lord;
but I knowyou, that you do not havethe loveof Godin yourselves.
"But his masteransweredand saidto him, 'You wicked,lazyslave,you knewthat I reapwhereI did not sowand gatherwhereI scatteredno[seed].
"And aboutthe eleventh[hour] he wentout and foundothersstanding[around]; and he saidto them, 'Whyhave you been standinghereidlealldaylong?'
"And he wentout aboutthe thirdhourand sawothersstandingidlein the market place;
"And the one on whom seed was sownamongthe thorns,thisis the man who hearsthe word,and the worryof the worldand the deceitfulnessof wealthchokethe word,and it becomesunfruitful.
Lazinesscastsinto a deepsleep,And an idlemanwill sufferhunger.
"Thisis eternallife,that they may knowYou, the onlytrue God,and JesusChristwhomYou have sent.
More thanthat, I countallthingsto be lossin viewof the surpassing valueof knowingChristJesusmy Lord,for whomI have suffered the lossof all things,and countthem but rubbishsothat I may gainChrist,
so that you will walkin a manner worthyof the Lord,to please[Him] in allrespects,bearing fruitin everygoodworkand increasingin the knowledgeof God;
seeingthat His divinepowerhas grantedto us everythingpertainingto lifeand godliness,throughthe true knowledgeof Him who calledus by His owngloryand excellence.
For if,after they have escapedthe defilementsof the worldby the knowledgeof the Lordand SaviorJesusChrist,they are againentangledin them and are overcome,the laststate has becomeworsefor them than the first.
but growin the graceand knowledgeof our Lordand SaviorJesusChrist.To Him [be] the glory,bothnowand to the dayof eternity.Amen.