| New King James Version | Berean Study 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 charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of 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 word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient 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 the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. |
| 4and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. | 4So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. |
| 5But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. | 5But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, 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 like a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. |
| 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. | 7I have fought the good fight, 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. | 8From now on 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 to all who crave His appearing. |
| 9Be diligent to come to me quickly; | 9Make every effort to come to me quickly, |
| 10for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. | 10because Demas, in his love of this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone 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 useful to me in the ministry. |
| 12And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. | 12Tychicus, however, I have sent 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 the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments. |
| 14Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. | 14Alexander the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his deeds. |
| 15You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words. | 15You too should beware of him, for he has vigorously opposed our message. |
| 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 stood with me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be charged against them. |
| 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, and all the Gentiles would hear it. So I was delivered from the mouth of the lion. |
| 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! | 18And the Lord will rescue me from every evil action and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. |
| 19Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. | 19Greet Prisca and Aquila, as well as the household of Onesiphorus. |
| 20Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick. | 20Erastus has remained at Corinth, and Trophimus I left sick 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 to me before winter. Eubulus sends you greetings, as do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers. |
| 22The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen. | 22The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all. |
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