17. Rely on your leaders and defer to them, because they watch over your whole being as people who are going to be held responsible for you. They need to be able to do this with pleasure and not with complaints about you, because that wouldn’t help you.
18. Pray for us. We’re sure that we have a good conscience, and we want to do the right thing in every way.
19. I’m particularly asking you to do this so that I can be returned to you quickly.
20. May the God of peace, who brought back the great shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus, from the dead by the blood of the eternal covenant,
21. equip you with every good thing to do his will, by developing in us what pleases him through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory forever and always. Amen.
22. I urge you, brothers and sisters, to put up with this message of encouragement, since I’ve only written a short letter to you!
23. You should know that our brother Timothy has been set free. If he comes soon, we will travel together to see you.
24. Greet your leaders and all of God’s holy people. The group from Italy greets you.