| New King James Version | NET Bible |
| 1I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: | 1I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: |
| 2Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. | 2Preach the message, be ready whether it is convenient or not, reprove, rebuke, exhort with complete patience and instruction. |
| 3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; | 3For there will be a time when people will not tolerate sound teaching. Instead, following their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves, because they have an insatiable curiosity to hear new things. |
| 4and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. | 4And they will turn away from hearing the truth, but on the other hand they will turn aside to myths. |
| 5But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. | 5You, however, be self-controlled in all things, endure hardship, do an evangelist's work, fulfill your ministry. |
| 6For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. | 6For I am already being poured out as an offering, and the time for me to depart is at hand. |
| 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. | 7I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith! |
| 8Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. | 8Finally the crown of righteousness is reserved for me. The Lord, the righteous Judge, will award it to me in that day--and not to me only, but also to all who have set their affection on his appearing. |
| 9Be diligent to come to me quickly; | 9Make every effort to come to me soon. |
| 10for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. | 10For Demas deserted me, since he loved the present age, and he went to Thessalonica. Crescens went to Galatia and Titus to Dalmatia. |
| 11Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. | 11Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is a great help to me in ministry. |
| 12And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. | 12Now I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. |
| 13Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments. | 13When you come, bring with you the cloak I left in Troas with Carpas and the scrolls, especially the parchments. |
| 14Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. | 14Alexander the coppersmith did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him in keeping with his deeds. |
| 15You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words. | 15You be on guard against him too, because he vehemently opposed our words. |
| 16At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. | 16At my first defense no one appeared in my support; instead they all deserted me--may they not be held accountable for it. |
| 17But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. | 17But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed for all the Gentiles to hear. And so I was delivered from the lion's mouth! |
| 18And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen! | 18The Lord will deliver me from every evil deed and will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever! Amen. |
| 19Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. | 19Greetings to Prisca and Aquila and the family of Onesiphorus. |
| 20Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick. | 20Erastus stayed in Corinth. Trophimus I left ill in Miletus. |
| 21Do your utmost to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, as well as Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren. | 21Make every effort to come before winter. Greetings to you from Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters. |
| 22The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen. | 22The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you. |
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