New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 You must understand this, that in the last days distressing times will come.
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But be certain of this, that in the last days times of trouble will come.
2 For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
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For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, uplifted in pride, given to bitter words, going against the authority of their fathers, never giving praise, having no religion,
3 inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, brutes, haters of good,
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Without natural love, bitter haters, saying evil of others, violent and uncontrolled, hating all good,
4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
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False to their friends, acting without thought, lifted up in mind, loving pleasure more than God;
5 holding to the outward form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid them!
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Having a form of religion, but turning their backs on the power of it: go not with these.
6 For among them are those who make their way into households and captivate silly women, overwhelmed by their sins and swayed by all kinds of desires,
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For these are they who go secretly into houses, making prisoners of foolish women, weighted down with sin, turned from the way by their evil desires,
7 who are always being instructed and can never arrive at a knowledge of the truth.
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Ever learning, and never coming to the knowledge of what is true.
8 As Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these people, of corrupt mind and counterfeit faith, also oppose the truth.
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And as James and Jambres went against Moses, so do these go against what is true: men of evil minds, who, tested by faith, are seen to be false.
9 But they will not make much progress, because, as in the case of those two men, their folly will become plain to everyone.
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But they will go no farther: for their foolish behaviour will be clear to all men, as theirs was in the end.
10 Now you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness,
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But you took as your example my teaching, behaviour, purpose, and faith; my long waiting, my love, my quiet undergoing of trouble;
11 my persecutions, and my suffering the things that happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.
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My punishments and pain; the things which came to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; the cruel attacks made on me: and the Lord made me free from them all.
12 Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
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Yes, and all whose purpose is to be living in the knowledge of God in Christ Jesus, will be cruelly attacked.
13 But wicked people and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived.
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Evil and false men will become worse and worse, using deceit and themselves overcome by deceit.
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it,
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But see that you keep to the teaching you have been given and the things of which you are certain, conscious of who has been your teacher;
15 and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
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And that from the time when you were a child, you have had knowledge of the holy Writings, which are able to make you wise to salvation, through faith in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
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Every holy Writing which comes from God is of profit for teaching, for training, for guiding, for education in righteousness:
17 so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.
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So that the man of God may be complete, trained and made ready for every good work.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.