1KNOW this: that in the last days disas trous times will come. 2And men shall be lovers of themselves, and lovers of money, proud, conceited, blasphemers, disobedient to their own people, ungrateful, wicked, 3False accusers, addicts to lust, brutal, haters of good things, 4Traitors, hasty, boasters, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5Having a form of godliness, but are far from the power of God: from such turn away. 6For of this sort are those who creep into houses and captivate women sunken in sin, led away with divers lusts, 7Ever striving to learn, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth, 8Now just as Jan’nes and Jam’bres stood up against Moses, so do these also resist the truth, men of corrupt minds and far off from the faith. 9But they shall not progress, for their folly is well known to every man, as theirs also was.

10But you have been a follower of my teaching, manner of life, purpose, faith, patience, charity, love, steadfastness, 11Persecution and sorrows: you know the things which I endured at Antioch, and at Ico’ni- um, and at Lys’tra; how I was persecuted; and yet from all these my LORD delivered me. 12Likewise, all those who wish to live a godly life in Jesus Christ shall suffer persecution. 13But bad and deceptive men shall grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14But hold fast to the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them; 15And knowing that you have learned from your childhood the holy scriptures which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. 16All scripture, written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and for instruction in righteousness: 17So that God’s people may become perfect, thoroughly perfected for every good work.