31 (A)the prophets prophesy falsely,
    and the priests rule at their direction;
(B)my people love to have it so,
    but what will you do when the end comes?

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(A)They have seen false visions and lying divinations. They say, ‘Declares the Lord,’ (B)when the Lord has not sent them, and yet they expect him to fulfill their word.

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14 And the Lord said to me: “The (A)prophets are prophesying lies in my name. (B)I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, (C)worthless divination, and (D)the deceit of their own minds.

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11 If a man should go about and (A)utter wind and lies,
    saying, “I will preach to you (B)of wine and strong drink,”
    he would be the preacher for this people!

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(A)For the time is coming when people will not endure (B)sound[a] teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and (C)will turn away from listening to the truth and (D)wander off into myths.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Timothy 4:3 Or healthy

The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan (A)with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for (B)those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore (C)God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe (D)what is false,

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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.

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False Prophets and Teachers

But (A)false prophets also arose among the people, (B)just as there will be false teachers among you, who will (C)secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master (D)who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth (E)will be blasphemed.

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19 (A)And this is the judgment: (B)the light has come into the world, and (C)people loved the darkness rather than the light because (D)their works were evil. 20 (E)For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, (F)lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever (G)does what is true (H)comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

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(A)before the decree takes effect[a]
    —before the day passes away (B)like chaff—
(C)before there comes upon you
    the burning anger of the Lord,
before there comes upon you
    the day of the anger of the Lord.
(D)Seek the Lord, (E)all you humble of the land,
    who do his just commands;[b]
(F)seek righteousness; seek humility;
    (G)perhaps (H)you may be hidden
    on the day of the anger of the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Zephaniah 2:2 Hebrew gives birth
  2. Zephaniah 2:3 Or who carry out his judgment

14 (A)Can your courage endure, or can your hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with you? (B)I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it.

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What will you do on (A)the day of punishment,
    in the ruin that will come (B)from afar?
To whom will you flee for help,
    and where will you leave your wealth?

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29 (A)If they were wise, they would understand this;
    they would (B)discern their latter end!

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A Tree and Its Fruit

15 (A)“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are (B)ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them (C)by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, (D)every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.

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(A)“Do not preach”—thus they preach—
    (B)“one should not preach of such things;
    (C)disgrace will not overtake us.”

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14 (A)Your prophets have seen for you
    false and deceptive visions;
(B)they have not exposed your iniquity
    to (C)restore your fortunes,
(D)but have seen for you (E)oracles
    that are false and misleading.

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Her uncleanness was (A)in her skirts;
    (B)she took no thought of her future;[a]
therefore her fall is terrible;
    (C)she has no comforter.
“O Lord, behold my affliction,
    for the enemy has (D)triumphed!”

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Footnotes

  1. Lamentations 1:9 Or end

25 I have heard what the prophets have said (A)who prophesy lies in my name, saying, (B)‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed!’ 26 How long shall there be lies in the heart of (C)the prophets who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart,

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22 (A)The wind shall shepherd all your shepherds,
    and (B)your lovers shall go into captivity;
(C)then you will be ashamed and confounded
    because of all your evil.
23 O inhabitant of (D)Lebanon,
    nested among the cedars,
how you will be pitied when pangs come upon you,
    (E)pain as of a woman in labor!”

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30 And you, O desolate one,
what do you mean that you dress in scarlet,
    (A)that you adorn yourself with ornaments of gold,
    (B)that you enlarge your eyes with paint?
In vain you beautify yourself.
    (C)Your lovers despise you;
    they seek your life.
31 For I heard (D)a cry as of a woman in labor,
    anguish as of one giving birth to her first child,
the cry of the daughter of Zion gasping for breath,
    (E)stretching out her hands,
“Woe is me! I am fainting before murderers.”

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