2 Timothy, 4
1. Before God and before Christ Jesus who is to be judge of the living and the dead, I charge you, in the name of his appearing and of his kingdom:
1. I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:
2. proclaim the message and, welcome or unwelcome, insist on it. Refute falsehood, correct error, give encouragement -- but do all with patience and with care to instruct.
2. preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching.
3. The time is sure to come when people will not accept sound teaching, but their ears will be itching for anything new and they will collect themselves a whole series of teachers according to their own tastes;
3. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings,
4. and then they will shut their ears to the truth and will turn to myths.
4. and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths.
5. But you must keep steady all the time; put up with suffering; do the work of preaching the gospel; fulfil the service asked of you.
5. As for you, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry.
6. As for me, my life is already being poured away as a libation, and the time has come for me to depart.
6. For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come.
7. I have fought the good fight to the end; I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith;
7. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8. all there is to come for me now is the crown of uprightness which the Lord, the upright judge, will give to me on that Day; and not only to me but to all those who have longed for his appearing.
8. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
9. Make every effort to come and see me as soon as you can.
9. Do your best to come to me soon.
10. As it is, Demas has deserted me for love of this life and gone to Thessalonica, Crescens has gone to Galatia and Titus to Dalmatia;
10. For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessaloni'ca; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.
11. only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you; I find him a useful helper in my work.
11. Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you; for he is very useful in serving me.
12. I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus.
12. Tych'icus I have sent to Ephesus.
13. When you come, bring the cloak I left with Carpus in Troas, and the scrolls, especially the parchment ones.
13. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Tro'as, also the books, and above all the parchments.
14. Alexander the coppersmith has done me a lot of harm; the Lord will repay him as his deeds deserve.
14. Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will requite him for his deeds.
15. Be on your guard against him yourself, because he has been bitterly contesting everything that we say.
15. Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message.
16. The first time I had to present my defence, no one came into court to support me. Every one of them deserted me -- may they not be held accountable for it.
16. At my first defense no one took my part; all deserted me. May it not be charged against them!
17. But the Lord stood by me and gave me power, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed for all the gentiles to hear; and so I was saved from the lion's mouth.
17. But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength to proclaim the message fully, that all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth.
18. The Lord will rescue me from all evil attempts on me, and bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
18. The Lord will rescue me from every evil and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
19. Greetings to Prisca and Aquila, and the family of Onesiphorus.
19. Greet Prisca and Aq'uila, and the household of Onesiph'orus.
20. Erastus stayed behind at Corinth, and I left Trophimus ill at Miletus.
20. Eras'tus remained at Corinth; Troph'imus I left ill at Mile'tus.
21. Make every effort to come before the winter. Greetings to you from Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers.
21. Do your best to come before winter. Eubu'lus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brethren.
22. The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.
22. The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.
