But while the men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went away.

Inasmuch as we have heard that some went out from among us and troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, 'that you must be circumcised and keep the law'--to whom we gave no [such] command--

and that was because of false brothers secretly brought in (who slipped in to spy out our freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might reduce us to slavery),

that we may no longer be infants, being tossed as by waves, and being carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in regard to deceitful scheming,

For of these are those [who] creep into houses and captivate gullible women having been loaded down with sins, who are led by various lusts,

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master, the [One] having bought them, and bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

And many will follow after their debaucheries, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.

Or does not the potter have authority over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and the other for dishonor?

But what if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make known His power, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath having been prepared for destruction,

and "a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense." They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

And by covetousness they will exploit you with fabricated words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction will not sleep.

to execute judgment against all, and to convict all the ungodly among them about all their ungodly deeds which they have committed impiously, and about all the harsh [words] which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him."

For the troubles of death compassed me, the floods of iniquity amazed me;

Blessed is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, and has not stood in the way of sinners, and has not sat in the seat of evil men.

And "If the righteous [one] is scarcely saved, where will the godless and the sinner appear?"

and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, [the] eighth, a preacher of righteousness, when He brought a flood upon the ungodly world;

and reducing the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes, He condemned [them] to destruction, having made [them] an example who were to be ungodly,

but the present heavens and earth, having been stored up by His word, are being reserved for fire until the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?

Certainly not! We died to sin--How shall we live any longer in it?

For you, brothers were called to freedom; only do not use freedom for an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

For the saving grace of God has appeared to all men,

teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,

looking diligently lest anyone fall from the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness growing up cause trouble, and through this many be defiled;

lest there be any fornicator or profane [person] like Esau, who in exchange for one meal gave up his birthright.

as free, yet not using freedom as a cover for wickedness, but as bondservants of God.

and especially those who walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are bold, self-willed, illustrious persons, they do not tremble at blaspheming,

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,

For if having escaped from the corruptions of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, yet by these, having become entangled they are defeated, the latter end has become worse for them than the first.

But it has happened to them [according to] the [saying] of the true proverb: "A dog returns to his own vomit," and, "A sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire."

All things indeed are pure to the pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience have been defiled.

They profess to know God, but in their works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master, the [One] having bought them, and bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

Who is a liar but the [one] who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the [one] who denies the Father and the Son.

For He is my God, and my savior; my helper, I shall not be greatly moved.

And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.

which He will show in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or is able to see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.

Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all [nations] shall come and worship before You, because Your righteous judgments have been manifested."