Temptations to Sin

⁷ “Woe to the world for ^(A)temptations to sin!^{[a] (B)}For it is necessary that temptations come, ^(C)but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!

Temptations to Sin

17 And he said to his disciples, ^(A)“Temptations to sin^[a] are ^(B)sure to come, but ^(C)woe to the one through whom they come!

²⁴ The Son of Man goes ^(A)as it is written of him, but ^(B)woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! ^(C)It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”

¹⁹ for ^(A)there must be factions among you in order ^(B)that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.

⁴ For ^(A)certain people ^(B)have crept in unnoticed ^(C)who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert ^(D)the grace of our God into sensuality and ^(E)deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Some Will Depart from the Faith

4 Now ^(A)the Spirit expressly says that ^(B)in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to ^(C)deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, ² through the insincerity of ^(D)liars whose consciences are seared, ^3 (E)who forbid marriage and ^(F)require abstinence from foods ^(G)that God created ^(H)to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

¹¹ Woe to them! For they walked in ^(A)the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain ^(B)to Balaam's error and ^(C)perished in Korah's rebellion. ¹² These are hidden reefs^{[a] (D)}at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, ^(E)shepherds feeding themselves; ^(F)waterless clouds, ^(G)swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, ^(H)uprooted; ^13 (I)wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of ^(J)their own shame; ^(K)wandering stars, ^(L)for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.

¹⁵ Forsaking the right way, ^(A)they have gone astray. They have followed ^(B)the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved ^(C)gain from wrongdoing, ¹⁶ but was rebuked for his own transgression; ^(D)a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet's madness.

^17 (E)These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. ^(F)For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved.

Godlessness in the Last Days

3 But understand this, that ^(A)in the last days there will come times of difficulty. ² For people will be ^(B)lovers of self, ^(C)lovers of money, ^(D)proud, ^(E)arrogant, abusive, ^(F)disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, ^3 (G)heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, ^(H)not loving good, ⁴ treacherous, reckless, ^(I)swollen with conceit, ^(J)lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵ having the appearance of godliness, but ^(K)denying its power. ^(L)Avoid such people.