¹⁶ These people are grumblers and complainers, living only to satisfy their desires. They brag loudly about themselves, and they flatter others to get what they want.

¹⁸ They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception.

¹⁰ He is especially hard on those who follow their own twisted sexual desire, and who despise authority.

These people are proud and arrogant, daring even to scoff at supernatural beings^[a] without so much as trembling.

¹⁴ Do everything without complaining and arguing,

¹⁸ They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires.

² You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God.

⁵ These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy.

¹⁰ And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death.

¹⁵ “Do not twist justice in legal matters by favoring the poor or being partial to the rich and powerful. Always judge people fairly.