Tu ergo fili mi, confortare in gratia, quæ est in Christo Jesu:

Take strength, my own son, from the grace which dwells in Christ Jesus.

Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace which is in Christ Jesus:

et quæ audisti a me per multos testes, hæc commenda fidelibus hominibus, qui idonei erant et alios docere.

Thou hast learned, from many who can witness to it, the doctrine which I hand down; give it into the keeping of men thou canst trust, men who will know how to teach it to others besides themselves.

And the things which thou hast heard of me by many witnesses, the same commend to faithful men, who shall be fit to teach others also.

Labora sicut bonus miles Christi Jesu.

Then, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus, take thy share of hardship.

Labour as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

Nemo militans Deo implicat se negotiis sæcularibus: ut ei placeat, cui se probavit.

Thou art God’s soldier, and the soldier on service, if he would please the captain who enlisted him, will refuse to be entangled in the business of daily life;

No man, being a soldier to God, entangleth himself with secular businesses; that he may please him to whom he hath engaged himself.

Nam et qui certat in agone, non coronatur nisi legitime certaverit.

the athlete will win no crown, if he does not observe the rules of the contest;

For he also that striveth for the mastery, is not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

Laborantem agricolam oportet primum de fructibus percipere.

the first share in the harvest goes to the labourer who has toiled for it.

The husbandman, that laboureth, must first partake of the fruits.

Intellige quæ dico: dabit enim tibi Dominus in omnibus intellectum.

Grasp the sense of what I am saying; the Lord will give thee quick insight wherever it is needed.

Understand what I say: for the Lord will give thee in all things understanding.

Memor esto Dominum Jesum Christum resurrexisse a mortuis ex semine David, secundum Evangelium meum,

Fix thy mind on Jesus Christ, sprung from the race of David, who has risen from the dead; that is the gospel I preach,

Be mindful that the Lord Jesus Christ is risen again from the dead, of the seed of David, according to my gospel.

in quo laboro usque ad vincula, quasi male operans: sed verbum Dei non est alligatum.

and in its service I suffer hardship like a criminal, yes, even imprisonment; but there is no imprisoning the word of God.

Wherein I labour even unto bands, as an evildoer; but the word of God is not bound.

Ideo omnia sustineo propter electos, ut et ipsi salutem consequantur, quæ est in Christo Jesu, cum gloria cælesti.

For its sake I am ready to undergo anything; for love of the elect, that they, like us, may win salvation in Christ Jesus, and eternal glory with it.

Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation, which is in Christ Jesus, with heavenly glory.

Fidelis sermo: nam si commortui sumus, et convivemus:

It is well said, We are to share his life, because we have shared his death;

A faithful saying: for if we be dead with him, we shall live also with him.

si sustinebimus, et conregnabimus: si negaverimus, et ille negabit nos:

if we endure, we shall reign with him, if we disown him, he in his turn will disown us.

If we suffer, we shall also reign with him. If we deny him, he will also deny us.

si non credimus, ille fidelis permanet, negare seipsum non potest.

If we play him false, he remains true to his word; he cannot disown himself.

If we believe not, he continueth faithful, he can not deny himself.

Hæc commone, testificans coram Domino. Noli contendere verbis: ad nihil enim utile est, nisi ad subversionem audientium.

Bring this back to men’s thoughts, pleading with them earnestly in the Lord’s name; there must be no wordy disputes, such as can only unsettle the minds of those who are listening.

Of these things put them in mind, charging them before the Lord. Contend not in words, for it is to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.

Sollicite cura teipsum probabilem exhibere Deo, operarium inconfusibilem, recte tractantem verbum veritatis.

Aim first at winning God’s approval, as a workman who does not need to be ashamed of his work, one who knows how to handle the claims of the truth like a master.

Carefully study to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Profana autem et vaniloquia devita: multum enim proficiunt ad impietatem:

Keep thy distance from those who are bringing in a fashion of meaningless talk; they will go far to establish neglect of God,

But shun profane and vain babblings: for they grow much towards ungodliness.

et sermo eorum ut cancer serpit: ex quibus est Hymenæus et Philetus,

and their influence eats in like a cancer. Such are Hymenaeus and Philetus,

And their speech spreadeth like a canker: of whom are Hymeneus and Philetus:

qui a veritate exciderunt, dicentes resurrectionem esse jam factam, et subverterunt quorumdam fidem.

who have missed the true mark, by contending that the resurrection has come about already, to the overthrow of the faith in some minds.

Who have erred from the truth, saying, that the resurrection is past already, and have subverted the faith of some.

Sed firmum fundamentum Dei stat, habens signaculum hoc: cognovit Dominus qui sunt ejus, et discedat ab iniquitate omnis qui nominat nomen Domini.

But God’s foundation-stone stands firm, and this is the legend on it, The Lord acknowledges none but his own; and again, Let everyone who names the Lord’s name keep far from iniquity.

But the sure foundation of God standeth firm, having this seal: the Lord knoweth who are his; and let every one depart from iniquity who nameth the name of the Lord.

In magna autem domo non solum sunt vasa aurea, et argentea, sed et lignea, et fictilia: et quædam quidem in honorem, quædam autem in contumeliam.

A great house, besides its plate of gold and silver, contains other objects made of wood and earthenware; those for noble, these for ignoble uses;

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth: and some indeed unto honour, but some unto dishonour.

Si quis ergo emundaverit se ab istis, erit vas in honorem sanctificatum, et utile Domino ad omne opus bonum paratum.

it is by keeping himself separate from these that a man will prove the object of his Lord’s regard, hallowed, and serviceable, and fit for all honourable employment.

If any man therefore shall cleanse himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified and profitable to the Lord, prepared unto every good work.

Juvenilia autem desideria fuge, sectare vero justitiam, fidem, spem, caritatem, et pacem cum iis qui invocant Dominum de corde puro.

Shun these youthful ardours I speak of; aim at right living, faith, and hope, and love, and fellowship with all those who call on the name of the Lord with a pure heart.

But flee thou youthful desires, and pursue justice, faith, charity, and peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Stultas autem et sine disciplina quæstiones devita: sciens quia generant lites.

Leave these foolish, ill-conceived disputes alone; be very sure, they breed nothing but quarrels.

And avoid foolish and unlearned questions, knowing that they beget strifes.

Servum autem Domini non oportet litigare: sed mansuetum esse ad omnes, docibilem, patientem,

A servant of the Lord has no business with quarrelling; he must be kindly towards all men, persuasive and tolerant,

But the servant of the Lord must not wrangle: but be mild towards all men, apt to teach, patient,

cum modestia corripientem eos qui resistunt veritati, nequando Deus det illis pœnitentiam ad cognoscendam veritatem,

with a gentle hand for correcting those who are obstinate in their errors. It may be that God will enable them to repent, and acknowledge the truth;

With modesty admonishing them that resist the truth: if peradventure God may give them repentance to know the truth,

et resipiscant a diaboli laqueis, a quo captivi tenentur ad ipsius voluntatem.

so they will recover their senses, and shake off the snare by which the devil, till now, has held them prisoners to his will.

And they may recover themselves from the snares of the devil, by whom they are held captive at his will.