Preach the Word
1 I tcharge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, uwho is to judge the living and the dead, and by his vappearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; wreprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 xFor the time is coming when people will not endure ysound1 teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and zwander off into amyths. 5 But as for you, always be sober-minded, bendure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, cfulfill your ministry.
6 dFor I am already being epoured out as a drink offering, and the time of my fdeparture has come. 7 I have fought the ggood fight, I have hfinished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is ilaid up for me the jcrown of righteousness, which the Lord, the krighteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
Personal Instructions
9 Do your best lto come to me soon. 10 For mDemas, nin love with othis present world, phas deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia,2 qTitus to Dalmatia. 11 rLuke alone is with me. Get sMark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. 12 tTychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. 14 uAlexander the coppersmith did me great harm; vthe Lord will repay him waccording to his deeds. 15 Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. 16 At my first xdefense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! 17 But the Lord stood by me and ystrengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and zall the Gentiles might hear it. So I was arescued bfrom the lion’s mouth. 18 cThe Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. dTo him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Final Greetings
19 Greet ePrisca and Aquila, and the household of fOnesiphorus. 20 Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. 21 Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers.3
In the Shadow of Your Wings
A Prayer of David.
1 Hear a just cause, O Lord; vattend to my cry!
Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit!
2 From your presence let my wvindication come!
Let your eyes behold the right!
3 You have tried my heart, you have xvisited me by night,
you have tested me, and you will find nothing;
I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.
4 With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips
I have avoided the ways of the violent.
5 yMy steps have held fast to your paths;
my feet have not zslipped.
6 aI call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear my words.
7 bWondrously show1 your steadfast love,
O Savior of those who seek refuge
from their adversaries at your right hand.
8 Keep me as cthe apple of your eye;
dhide me in the shadow of your wings,
9 from the wicked who do me violence,
my deadly enemies who surround me.
10 They close their hearts to pity;
with their mouths they speak arrogantly.
11 They have now surrounded our steps;
they set their eyes to cast us to the ground.
12 He is elike a lion eager to tear,
as a young lion lurking in ambush.
13 Arise, O Lord! Confront him, subdue him!
Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword,
14 from men by your hand, O Lord,
from men of the world whose portion is in this life.2
You fill their womb with treasure;3
they are satisfied with children,
and they leave their abundance to their infants.
15 As for me, I shall fbehold your face in righteousness;
when I gawake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.
