1I fully testify, then, before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is about to judge [the] living and dead at His appearing and His Kingdom—
2preach the word; be earnest in season, out of season; convict, rebuke, exhort, in all long-suffering and teaching,
3for there will be a season when they will not endure the sound teaching, but they will heap up teachers according to their own desires—having an itching ear,
4and, indeed, they will turn away from hearing the truth, and they will be turned aside to the fables.
5But you—watch in all things; suffer evil; do the work of one proclaiming good news; make full assurance of your ministry,
6for I am already being poured out, and the time of my release has arrived;
7I have striven the good strife, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;
8from now on there is laid up for me the garland of righteousness that the LORD—the Righteous Judge—will give to me in that day, and not only to me, but also to all those loving His appearing.
9Be diligent to come to me quickly,
10for Demas forsook me, having loved the present age, and went on to Thessalonica, Crescens to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia;
11only Lucas is with me; having taken Mark, bring [him] with you, for he is profitable to me for ministry;
12and I sent Tychicus to Ephesus;
13coming, bring the cloak that I left in Troas with Carpus and the scrolls—especially the parchments.
14Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil; may the LORD repay to him according to his works,
15of whom you also beware, for he has greatly stood against our words;
16no one stood with me in my first defense, but all forsook me (may it not be reckoned to them),
17but the LORD stood by me, and strengthened me, that the preaching might be fully assured through me, and all the nations might hear, and I was freed out of the mouth of a lion,
18and the LORD will free me from every evil work, and will save [me]—to His heavenly kingdom; to whom [is] the glory through the ages of the ages! Amen.
19Greet Prisca and Aquilas, and Onesiphorus’ household;
20Erastus remained in Corinth, and I left Trophimus ailing in Miletus;
21be diligent to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brothers.
22The Lord Jesus Christ [is] with your spirit. The grace [is] with you! Amen.