Evil in the Last Days 1But this know, that in [the] last days difficult times shall be there; 2for men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, evil speakers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, profane, 3without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, of unsubdued passions, savage, having no love for what is good, 4traitors, headlong, of vain pretensions, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; 5having a form of piety but denying the power of it: and from these turn away. 6For of these are they who are getting into houses, and leading captive silly women, laden with sins, led by various lusts, 7always learning, and never able to come to [the] knowledge of [the] truth. 8Now in the same manner in which Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, thus these also withstand the truth; men corrupted in mind, found worthless as regards the faith. 9But they shall not advance farther; for their folly shall be completely manifest to all, as that of those also became. All Scripture is God-Breathed 10But thou hast been thoroughly acquainted with my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, endurance, 11persecutions, sufferings: what [sufferings] happened to me in Antioch, in Iconium, in Lystra; what persecutions I endured; and the Lord delivered me out of all. 12And all indeed who desire to live piously in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13But wicked men and juggling impostors shall advance in evil, leading and being led astray. 14But thou, abide in those things which thou hast learned, and [of which] thou hast been fully persuaded, knowing of whom thou hast learned [them]; 15and that from a child thou hast known the sacred letters, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through faith which [is] in Christ Jesus. 16Every scripture [is] divinely inspired, and profitable for teaching, for conviction, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; 17that the man of God may be complete, fully fitted to every good work. |