¹I solemnly implore you therefore in the presence of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom: ²preach the word, take your stand in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, comfort, with all longsuffering and doctrine. ³For the time will come when they will not put up with sound doctrine, but they will heap upon themselves teachers according to their own desires, having their ears tickled, ⁴and they will turn away from giving a hearing to the truth, and they will turn aside to fables. ⁵But you be sober in all things, suffer afflictions, carry out the work of an evangelist, bring your ministry to fulfilment, ⁶for I am already being poured out, and the time of my departure is at hand. ⁷I have fought the good fight, I have completed my course; I have kept the faith. ⁸Finally, there is the crown of righteousness laid up for me which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day. And not only to me, but also to all those who have loved his appearing. ⁹Make an effort to come to me quickly. ¹⁰For Demas has left me, having loved the present age, and he has gone to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia; Titus to Dalmatia. ¹¹Only Luke is with me. Take Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for the ministry. ¹²But I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. ¹³When you come, bring the cloak with you which I left behind in Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments. ¹⁴Alexander the coppersmith has done me much harm – may the Lord requite him according to his works. ¹⁵And you too be on your guard for him, for he is very much opposed to our words. ¹⁶In my first defence, no-one stood in support of me, but everyone left me. May it not be held against them. ¹⁷But the Lord was present with me and strengthened me in order that through me the preaching might be fulfilled, and all the Gentiles might hear. And I was rescued out of the mouth of the lion. ¹⁸And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and will save me for entry into his upper-heavenly kingdom. To him be glory throughout the durations of the ages. Amen. ¹⁹Greet Prisca and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus. ²⁰Erastus remained in Corinth, but I left Trophimus ailing in Miletum. ²¹Make an effort to come before winter. Eubulus and Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers greet you. ²²The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.