For I did not draw back from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

And I, brothers, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom, announcing to you the testimony of God.

which things we also speak, not in words taught in human wisdom, but in words taught by the Holy Spirit, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ should be deprived of its power.

And it came to pass on the fourth day, that they said to the wife of Sampson, Deceive now your husband, and let him tell you the riddle, lest we burn you and your father's house with fire: did you invite us to do us violence?

And the princes of the Philistines came up to her, and said to her, Beguile him, and see where his great strength is, and by what means we may prevail against him, and bind him to humble him; and we will give you each eleven hundred pieces of silver.

And the woman said, If now the word of my lord the king be gracious,--[well]: for as an angel of God, so [is] my lord the king, to hear good and evil; and the Lord your God shall be with you.

And the king said, [Is] not the hand of Joab in all this matter with you? And the woman said to the king, [As] your soul lives, my lord, O king, there is no turning to the right hand or to the left from all that my lord the king has spoken; for your servant Joab himself charged me, and he put all these words in the mouth of your handmaid.

And Absalom rose early, and stood by the side of the way of the gate. And it came to pass that every man who had a cause came to the king for judgment. And Absalom cried to him, and said to him, Of what city are you? And he said, Your servant [is] of one of the tribes of Israel.

And Absalom said, O that one would make me a judge in the land; then every man who had a dispute or a cause would come to me, and I would judge him!

And Absalom did after this manner to all Israel that came to the king for judgment; and Absalom gained the hearts of the men of Israel.

And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, Behold now, all the prophets speak good [things] with one mouth concerning the king; let now your words be like the words of one of them, and speak good things.

And Micaiah said, [As] the Lord lives, whatsoever the Lord shall say to me, that will I speak.

And the Lord said, Who will deceive Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up, and fall in Ramoth Gilead? And one spoke this way, and another spoke that way.

And he said, I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And [the Lord] said, You shall deceive [him], and shall prevail: go forth, and do so.

So with much conversation she prevailed on him to go astray, and with the snares of her lips forced him from [the right path].

[This translation omits this verse.]

For I have heard the reproach of many gathering round, [saying], Conspire, and let us conspire together against him, [even] all his friends. Watch his intentions, if perhaps he shall be deceived, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall be avenged on him.

In the day of the Lord, have not stood, seeing false [visions,] prophesying vanities, who say, The Lord says, and the Lord has not sent them, and they began [to try] to confirm the word.

Because they have caused My people to err, saying, Peace; and there is no peace; and one builds a wall, and they plaster it- it shall fall.

Say to them that plaster [it], It shall fall; and there shall be a flooding rain; and I will send great stones upon their joinings, and they shall fall; and there shall be a sweeping wind, and it shall be broken.

For such [people] do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and through smooth speech and flattering, they deceive the hearts of the innocent.

Now this I say lest anyone may deceive you with persuasive words.

For we did not follow craftily devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but rather became eyewitnesses of His majesty.

For when they speak haughty [words] of emptiness, they entice through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, those who are escaping from those who are living in error,

And Agrippa said to Paul, "In a short time, you are persuading me to become a Christian!"

For do I just now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

And when He comes, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

of righteousness, because I am going to My Father and you see Me no more;

I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.

He will glorify Me, for He will take from what is Mine and He will announce it to you.

in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, just as you know what kind [of men] we were among you for your sake.

To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to you they were ministering these things, which things were now announced to you by those who proclaimed the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven--things which angels desire to look into.