2 Timothy 3

1 Be aware that there will be troubled times in the last days.

Know also this, that, in the last days, shall come dangerous times.

2 People will love themselves and love money. They will be boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, and without God in their lives.

Men shall be lovers of themselves, covetous, haughty, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, wicked,

3 Heartless and unforgiving, they'll commit slander and have no self-control. Brutal people who hate what's good,

Without affection, without peace, slanderers, incontinent, unmerciful, without kindness,

4 they will betray others and be totally thoughtless. They are absurdly full of themselves, living so much for pleasure that they don't care about loving God.

Traitors, stubborn, puffed up, and lovers of pleasures more than of God:

5 They may give an outward impression of being religious, but they don't actually believe it works. Stay away from these people!

Having an appearance indeed of godliness, but denying the power thereof. Now these avoid.

6 They're the kind of people that slip into homes and take control of vulnerable women who are burdened down by the guilt of sin and distracted by all kinds of desires.

For of these sort are they who creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, who are led away with divers desires:

7 These women are always trying to learn but they're never able to understand the truth!

Ever learning, and never attaining to the knowledge of the truth.

8 Just like Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, these teachers also oppose the truth. They are people with corrupted minds whose supposed trust in God is a lie.

Now as Jannes and Mambres resisted Moses, so these also resist the truth, men corrupted in mind, reprobate concerning the faith.

9 But they won't get far. Their stupidity will be obvious to everyone, just like that of Jannes and Jambres.

But they shall proceed no farther; for their folly shall be manifest to all men, as theirs also was.

10 But you know all about my teaching and behavior, and my aim in life. You know my trust in God and my love. You know what I've had to endure—

But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, patience,

11 how I've been persecuted and what I've suffered. You know what happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—the troubles I had and how the Lord rescued me from all of them.

Persecutions, afflictions: such as came upon me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra: what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord delivered me.

12 Of course it's true that everyone who wants to live a life devoted to God in Christ Jesus will experience persecution,

And all that will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution.

13 while wicked people and frauds will do well, going from bad to worse, deceiving others and deceiving themselves too.

But evil men and seducers shall grow worse and worse: erring, and driving into error.

14 But you must hold onto the things you've learned and are convinced are true. You know who taught you.

But continue thou in those things which thou hast learned, and which have been committed to thee: knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

15 From your childhood you've known the holy Scriptures which can give you understanding for salvation by trusting in Christ Jesus.

And because from thy infancy thou hast known the holy scriptures, which can instruct thee to salvation, by the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

16 All Scripture inspired by God is useful for teaching, for confronting what is wrong, for setting us straight, and for telling us what is right.

All scripture, inspired of God, is profitable to teach, to reprove, to correct, to instruct in justice,

17 This is how God provides a thorough preparation for those who work for him to accomplish all that's good.

That the man of God may be perfect, furnished to every good work.