¹I command you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ , who will judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdom:

²preach the word ; be urgent in season and out of season ; reprove , rebuke , and exhort with all patience and teaching .

³For the time will come when they will not listen to the sound doctrine , but having itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers after their own lusts ,

⁴and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn away to fables .

⁵But you be sober in all things , suffer hardship , do the work of an evangelist , and fulfil your ministry .

⁶For I am already being offered , and the time of my departure has come .

⁷I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course . I have kept the faith .

⁸From now on , the crown of righteousness is stored up 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 .

⁹Be diligent to come to me soon ,

¹⁰for Demas left me , having loved this present world, and went to Thessalonica ; Crescens to Galatia ; and Titus to Dalmatia .

¹¹Only Luke is with me . Take Mark and bring him with you , for he is useful to me for service .

¹²But I sent Tychicus to Ephesus .

¹³Bring the cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus when you come —and the books, especially the parchments .

¹⁴Alexander the coppersmith did much evil to me . The Lord will repay him according to his deeds .

¹⁵Beware of him , for he greatly opposed our words .

¹⁶At my first defence, no one came to help me , but all left me . May it not be held against them .

¹⁷But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me , that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and that all the Gentiles might hear. So I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion .

¹⁸And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me for his heavenly Kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever . Amen.

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

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

²¹Be diligent to come before winter . Eubulus salutes you , as do Pudens , Linus , Claudia , and all the brothers.

²²The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit . Grace be with you . Amen.