⁹ So ^(A)the great dragon was cast out, ^(B)that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, ^(C)who deceives the whole world; ^(D)he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

²⁶ These things I have written to you concerning those who try to ^[a]deceive you.

¹³ Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. ¹⁴ But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

^46 (A)For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷ And if you greet your ^[a]brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the ^[b]tax collectors do so? ^48 (B)Therefore you shall be perfect, just ^(C)as your Father in heaven is perfect.

^14 (A)And he deceives ^[a]those who dwell on the earth ^(B)by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword ^(C)and lived.

Deceptions of False Teachers

¹⁸ For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who ^[a]have actually escaped from those who live in error. ¹⁹ While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of ^[b]corruption; ^(A)for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into ^[c]bondage. ²⁰ For if, after they ^(B)have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are ^(C)again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. ²¹ For ^(D)it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. ²² But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: ^(E)“A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”

Submission to Masters^(A)

^18 (B)Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. ¹⁹ For this is ^(C)commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. ²⁰ For ^(D)what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. ²¹ For ^(E)to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for ^[a]us, ^(F)leaving ^[b]us an example, that you should follow His steps: