¹² Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.

⁹ The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan^(A) works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders^(B) that serve the lie, ¹⁰ and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing.^(C) They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.^{(D) 11} For this reason God sends them^(E) a powerful delusion^(F) so that they will believe the lie^{(G) 12} and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.^(H)

Stand Firm

¹³ But we ought always to thank God for you,^(I) brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits^[a](J) to be saved^(K) through the sanctifying work of the Spirit^(L) and through belief in the truth. ¹⁴ He called you^(M) to this through our gospel,^(N) that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁹ The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent^(A) called the devil,^(B) or Satan,^(C) who leads the whole world astray.^(D) He was hurled to the earth,^(E) and his angels with him.

²³ Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴ and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

¹⁵ Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan^(A) comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.

¹⁹ When anyone hears the message about the kingdom^(A) and does not understand it, the evil one^(B) comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.