1I give this solemn command before God and Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom:

2Preach the word; be ready when it is convenient and when it is not. Reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all patience and teaching.

3For the time will come when people will not endure sound teaching. Instead, they will heap up for themselves teachers according to their own desires, who say what their itching ears want to hear.

4They will turn their hearing away from the truth, and they will turn aside to myths.

5But you, be sober-minded in all things. Suffer hardship; do the work of an evangelist; fulfill your service.

6For I am already being poured out. The time of my departure has come.

7I have competed in the good contest; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.

8The crown of righteousness has been reserved for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day, and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved his appearing.

9Do your best to come to me quickly.

10For Demas has left me. He loves this present world and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens went to Galatia, and Titus went to Dalmatia.

11Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you because he is useful to me in the work.

12Tychicus I sent to Ephesus.

13The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, bring it when you come, and the books, especially the parchments.

14Alexander the coppersmith displayed many evil deeds against me. The Lord will repay him according to his deeds.

15You also should guard yourself against him, because he greatly opposed our words.

16At my first defense, no one stood with me. Instead, everyone left me. May it not be counted against them.

17But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me so that, through me, the message might be fully proclaimed, and that all the Gentiles might hear it; and that I was rescued out of the lion's mouth.

18The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and will save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

19Greet Priscilla, Aquila, and the house of Onesiphorus.

20Erastus remained at Corinth, but Trophimus I left sick at Miletus.

21Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, also Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers.

22May the Lord be with your spirit. May grace be with you.