1But realize this, Timothy: there will be terrible times in the last days. 2For people shall be lovers of only themselves and money, boastful, arrogant, scoffing at God, disrespectful and disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, irreverent, 3Unloving, unforgiving, treacherous, slanderers, with no discipline or self-control, brutal, despising those that are good, 4Traitors, brash, conceited, seeking sinful pleasures more than God,

5Acting as if godly (religious), but rejecting the God Who could truly empower them as such. Stay away from (have nothing to do with) people like that. 6For they are the kind that worm their way into homes, manipulating gullible women burdened with the guilt of sins, and controlled by various earthly passions, 7Ever hearing of and following the latest fads, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8Now just as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses (Ex.7:11), these teachers also resist the truth, being men of depraved minds, disqualified regarding the faith. 9But they will not succeed in this, because their failure shall become evident to everyone, just as theirs (Jannes and Jambres) was.

10But you have known all about my teaching, way of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, patience, endurance, 11Persecutions, afflictions, and the hardships that have happened to me at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra - the persecutions I endured; but the Lord rescued me out of them all. 12Yes, and all that will live a godly life in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13Evil people and imposters shall go from bad to worse, deceiving others, and being deceived.

14But you must remain faithful to what you have learned and have been assured of, because you know those from whom you have learned them, 15And that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which gave you wisdom to receive salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All scripture is God-breathed and given by the inspiration of God, and is profitable (useful) for teaching, conviction, correction, and for instruction in righteousness, 17So that the servants of God may be completely equipped for all good works.