⁶ They are the kind who worm their way^(A) into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires,

⁴ For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about^[a] long ago have secretly slipped in among you.^(A) They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.^(B)

¹⁷ Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard^(A) so that you may not be carried away by the error^(B) of the lawless^(C) and fall from your secure position.^(D)

³ At one time^(A) we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.

¹⁸ They said to you, “In the last times^(A) there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.”^(B)

¹¹ They must be silenced, because they are disrupting whole households^(A) by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain.

¹⁶ These people are grumblers^(A) and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires;^(B) they boast^(C) about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.

¹⁸ For they mouth empty, boastful words^(A) and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping^(B) from those who live in error.

² You know that when you were pagans,^(A) somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.^(B)

¹⁹ but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth^(A) and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.