1 T hese words are from my heart to you. I say this before God and Jesus Christ. Some day He will judge those who are living and those who are dead. It will be when Christ comes to bring His holy nation.

¶ I charge thee, therefore, before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the living and the dead in his appearing and in his kingdom:

2 P reach the Word of God. Preach it when it is easy and people want to listen and when it is hard and people do not want to listen. Preach it all the time. Use the Word of God to show people they are wrong. Use the Word of God to help them do right. You must be willing to wait for people to understand what you teach as you teach them.

Preach the word; be instant in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

3 T he time will come when people will not listen to the truth. They will look for teachers who will tell them only what they want to hear.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but, having itching ears, they shall heap up unto themselves teachers who shall speak to them according to their own lusts,

4 T hey will not listen to the truth. Instead, they will listen to stories made up by men.

and thus they shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall return unto fables.

5 Y ou must watch for all these things. Do not be afraid to suffer for our Lord. Preach the Good News from place to place. Do all the work you are to do.

But watch thou in all things, labour, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill thy ministry.

6 I t will soon be time for me to leave this life.

For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my release is at hand.

7 I have fought a good fight. I have finished the work I was to do. I have kept the faith.

I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith;

8 T here is a crown which comes from being right with God. The Lord, the One Who will judge, will give it to me on that great day when He comes again. I will not be the only one to receive a crown. All those who love to think of His coming and are looking for Him will receive one also. Paul Sends Word to Timothy About Some Friends

from now on there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day, and not to me only, but unto all those also that have loved his appearing.

9 C ome to me here as soon as you can.

¶ Procure to come shortly unto me;

10 D emas left me. He loved the things of this world and has gone to the city of Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to the city of Galatia. Titus has gone to the city of Dalmatia.

for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

11 L uke is the only one with me here. Bring Mark when you come. He is a help to me in this work.

Only Luke is with me. Take Mark and bring him with thee, for he is profitable to me for the ministry.

12 I sent Tychicus to the city of Ephesus.

And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus.

13 W hen you come, bring the coat I left with Carpus in the city of Troas. Bring the books and for sure do not forget the writings written on sheepskin.

The cloak that I left at Troas in the house of Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee and the books, but especially the parchments.

14 A lexander, the man who makes things out of copper, has worked hard against me. The Lord will give him the pay that is coming to him.

Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:

15 W atch him! He fought against every word we preached.

of whom be thou ware also; for he has greatly resisted our words.

16 A t my first trial no one helped me. Everyone left me. I hope this will not be held against them.

¶ At my first answer no one stood with me, but all men forsook me: let it not be imputed unto them.

17 B ut the Lord was with me. He gave me power to preach the Good News so all the people who do not know God might hear. I was taken from the mouth of the lion.

But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, that by me the preaching might be fully known and that all the Gentiles might hear, and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

18 T he Lord will look after me and will keep me from every sinful plan they have. He will bring me safe into His holy nation of heaven. May He have all the shining-greatness forever. Let it be so.

And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and will save me for his heavenly kingdom, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

19 G reet Priscilla and Aquila for me and to all the family of Onesiphorus.

Salute Prisca and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus.

20 E rastus stayed in the city of Corinth. I left Trophimus sick in the city of Miletus.

Erastus remained at Corinth, but Trophimus I have left at Miletum sick.

21 T ry to come before winter. Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the Christian brothers greet you.

Procure to come before winter. Eubulus greets thee, and Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brethren.

22 M ay the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. May you have God’s loving-favor.

The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.