2 Timothy 4:1–8

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead,^r and in view of his appearing^s and his kingdom, I give you this charge:^{t 2}Preach^u the word;^v be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke^w and encourage^x—with great patience and careful instruction. ³For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.^y Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.^{z 4}They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.^{a 5}But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship,^b do the work of an evangelist,^c discharge all the duties of your ministry.

⁶For I am already being poured out like a drink offering,^d and the time for my departure is near.^{e 7}I have fought the good fight,^f I have finished the race,^g I have kept the faith. ⁸Now there is in store for me^h the crown of righteousness,ⁱ which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day^j—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.^k