English Standard Version ESV
King James Version KJV
1 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus,
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Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
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And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
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Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.
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No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.
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And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.
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The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
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Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel,
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Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!
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Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
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Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
11 The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
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It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;
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If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful--for he cannot deny himself.
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If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
14 Remind them of these things, and charge them before Godnot to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers.
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Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
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Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness,
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But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,
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And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
18 who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some.
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Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
19 But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity."
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Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable.
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But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.
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If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
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Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.
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But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
24 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil,
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And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,
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In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
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And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
The King James Version is in the public domain.