1 KNOW this: that in the last days disas trous times will come.

2 And men shall be lovers of themselves, and lovers of money, proud, conceited, blasphemers, disobedient to their own people, ungrateful, wicked,

3 False accusers, addicts to lust, brutal, haters of good things,

4 Traitors, hasty, boasters, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness, but are far from the power of God: from such turn away.

6 For of this sort are those who creep into houses and captivate women sunken in sin, led away with divers lusts,

7 Ever striving to learn, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth,

8 Now 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.

9 But they shall not progress, for their folly is well known to every man, as theirs also was.

10 But you have been a follower of my teaching, manner of life, purpose, faith, patience, charity, love, steadfastness,

11 Persecution 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.

12 Likewise, all those who wish to live a godly life in Jesus Christ shall suffer persecution.

13 But bad and deceptive men shall grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

14 But hold fast to the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them;

15 And 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.

16 All scripture, written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and for instruction in righteousness:

17 So that God's people may become perfect, thoroughly perfected for every good work.