¹⁷ They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them.

¹³ For such men are ^(A)false apostles, ^(B)deceitful workmen, ^(C)disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as ^(D)an angel of light. ¹⁵ So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as ^(E)servants of righteousness. ^(F)Their end will correspond to their deeds.

¹⁸ For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but ^(A)their own appetites,^[a] and ^(B)by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

³ And ^(A)in their greed they will exploit you ^(B)with false words. ^(C)Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

⁸ Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you!

² For I bear them witness that ^(A)they have a zeal for God, ^(B)but not according to knowledge.

¹⁵ Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single ^(A)proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a ^(B)child of ^(C)hell^[a] as yourselves.

¹⁸ For, ^(A)speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely ^(B)escaping from those who live in error.

²¹ For they all ^(A)seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

^12 (A)It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh ^(B)who would force you to be circumcised, and only ^(C)in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. ¹³ For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.