Preach the Word

4 ^(A)I solemnly exhort you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to ^(B)judge the living and the dead, and by His ^(C)appearing and His kingdom: ² preach ^(D)the word; be ready ^[a]in season and out of season; ^(E)correct, rebuke, and ^[b]exhort, with ^[c]great ^(F)patience and instruction. ³ For ^(G)the time will come when they will not tolerate ^(H)sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, ⁴ and they ^(I)will turn their ears away from the truth and ^(J)will turn aside to myths. ⁵ But as for you, ^(K)use self-restraint in all things, ^(L)endure hardship, do the work of an ^(M)evangelist, fulfill your ^(N)ministry.

⁶ For I am already being ^(O)poured out as a drink offering, and the time of ^(P)my departure has come. ^7 (Q)I have fought the good fight, I have finished ^(R)the course, I have kept ^(S)the faith; ⁸ in the future there ^(T)is reserved for me ^(U)the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on ^(V)that day; and not only to me, but also to ^(W)all who have loved His ^(X)appearing.

¹⁶ At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; ^(A)may it not be counted against them. ¹⁷ But the Lord stood with me and ^(B)strengthened me, so that through me ^(C)the proclamation might ^[a]be ^(D)fully accomplished, and that all ^(E)the Gentiles might hear; and I was ^(F)rescued out of ^(G)the lion’s mouth. ¹⁸ The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will ^[b](H)bring me safely to His ^(I)heavenly kingdom; ^(J)to ^[c]Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.