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 do fully testify, then, before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is about to judge living and dead at his manifestation and his reign --

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 earnest in season, out of season, convict, rebuke, exhort, in all long-suffering and teaching,

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 there shall be a season when the sound teaching they will not suffer, but according to their own desires to themselves they shall heap up teachers -- itching in the hearing,

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

and indeed, from the truth the hearing they shall turn away, and to the fables they shall be turned aside.

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.

And thou -- watch in all things; suffer evil; do the work of one proclaiming good news; of thy ministration make full assurance,

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

for I am already being poured out, and the time of my release hath arrived;

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

the good strife I have striven, the course I have finished, the faith I have kept,

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

henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of the righteousness that the Lord -- the Righteous Judge -- shall give to me in that day, and not only to me, but also to all those loving his manifestation.

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

Be diligent to come unto me quickly,

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 forsook me, having loved the present age, and went on to Thessalonica, Crescens to Galatia, Titus to 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.

Lukas only is with me; Markus having taken, bring with thyself, for he is profitable to me for ministration;

12 I sent Tychicus to the city of Ephesus.

and Tychicus I 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 in Troas with Carpus, coming, bring thou and the books -- 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; may the Lord repay to him according to his works,

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

of whom also do thou beware, for greatly hath he stood against our words;

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

in my first defence no one stood with me, but all forsook me, (may it not be reckoned to 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.

and the Lord stood by me, and did strengthen me, that through me the preaching might be fully assured, and all the nations might hear, and I was freed out of the mouth of a 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 free me from every evil work, and shall save -- to his heavenly kingdom; to whom the glory to the ages of the ages! Amen.

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

Salute Prisca and Aquilas, and Onesiphorus' household;

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

Erastus did remain in Corinth, and Trophimus I left in Miletus infirm;

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

be diligent to come before winter. Salute thee doth Eubulus, 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 with thy spirit; the grace with you! Amen.