GOD'S WORD Translation GW
New International Version NIV
1 You must understand this: In the last days there will be violent periods of time.
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But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.
2 People will be selfish and love money. They will brag, be arrogant, and use abusive language. They will curse their parents, show no gratitude, have no respect for what is holy,
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People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 and lack normal affection for their families. They will refuse to make peace with anyone. They will be slanderous, lack self-control, be brutal, and have no love for what is good.
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without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,
4 They will be traitors. They will be reckless and conceited. They will love pleasure rather than God.
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treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—
5 They will appear to have a godly life, but they will not let its power change them. Stay away from such people.
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having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
6 Some of these men go into homes and mislead weak-minded women who are burdened with sins and led by all kinds of desires.
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They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires,
7 These women are always studying but are never able to recognize the truth.
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always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.
8 As Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men oppose the truth. Their minds are corrupt, and the faith they teach is counterfeit.
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Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected.
9 Certainly, they won't get very far. Like the stupidity of Jannes and Jambres, their stupidity will be plain to everyone.
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But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.
10 But you know all about my teachings, my way of life, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, and my endurance.
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You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance,
11 You also know about the kind of persecutions and sufferings which happened to me in the cities of Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. I endured those persecutions, and the Lord rescued me from all of them.
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persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.
12 Those who try to live a godly life because they believe in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
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In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
13 But evil people and phony preachers will go from bad to worse as they mislead people and are themselves misled.
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while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14 However, continue in what you have learned and found to be true. You know who your teachers were.
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But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,
15 From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures. They have the power to give you wisdom so that you can be saved through faith in Christ Jesus.
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and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
16 Every Scripture passage is inspired by God. All of them are useful for teaching, pointing out errors, correcting people, and training them for a life that has God's approval.
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All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
17 They equip God's servants so that they are completely prepared to do good things.
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so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.