¹⁴ But as for you, ^(A)continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom^[a] you learned it ¹⁵ and how ^(B)from childhood you have been acquainted with ^(C)the sacred writings, ^(D)which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ^16 (E)All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ that ^(F)the man of God^[b] may be competent, ^(G)equipped ^(H)for every good work.

Preach the Word

4 ^(I)I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, ^(J)who is to judge the living and the dead, and by ^(K)his appearing and his kingdom: ² preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; ^(L)reprove, rebuke, and ^(M)exhort, with complete patience and teaching. ^3 (N)For the time is coming when people will not endure ^(O)sound^[c] teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, ⁴ and ^(P)will turn away from listening to the truth and ^(Q)wander off into myths. ⁵ As for you, ^(R)always be sober-minded, ^(S)endure suffering, do the work of ^(T)an evangelist, ^(U)fulfil your ministry.

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

18 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought ^(A)always to pray and not ^(B)lose heart. ² He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who ^(C)neither feared God nor respected man. ³ And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ ⁴ For a while he refused, but afterwards he said to himself, ^(D)‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, ⁵ yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” ⁶ And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. ⁷ And ^(E)will not God give justice to ^(F)his elect, ^(G)who cry to him day and night? ^(H)(I)Will he delay long over them? ⁸ I tell you, he will give justice to them ^(J)speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, ^(K)will he find faith on earth?”