¹⁸ For those who are such do not serve our Lord ^[a]Jesus Christ, but ^(A)their own belly, and ^(B)by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.

⁴ Now this I say ^(A)lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.

^19 (A)whose end is destruction, ^(B)whose god is their belly, and ^(C)whose glory is in their shame—^(D)who set their mind on earthly things.

You Will Know Them by Their Fruits^(A)

^15 (B)“Beware of false prophets, ^(C)who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

^5 [a]useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. ^[b]From ^(A)such withdraw yourself.

³ By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction ^[a]does not slumber.

² For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³ unloving, ^[a]unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, ^4 (A)traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ^5 (B)having a form of godliness but ^(C)denying its power. And ^(D)from such people turn away! ⁶ For ^(E)of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts,

Apostates Predicted

¹⁶ These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they ^(A)mouth great swelling words, ^(B)flattering people to gain advantage.