1 B ut understand this, that in the last days will come (set in) perilous times of great stress and trouble.

But this know, that in last days difficult times shall be there;

2 F or people will be lovers of self and self-centered, lovers of money and aroused by an inordinate desire for wealth, proud and arrogant and contemptuous boasters. They will be abusive (blasphemous, scoffing), disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane.

for men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, evil speakers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, profane,

3 w ithout natural affection (callous and inhuman), relentless (admitting of no truce or appeasement); slanderers (false accusers, troublemakers), intemperate and loose in morals and conduct, uncontrolled and fierce, haters of good.

without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, of unsubdued passions, savage, having no love for what is good,

4 t reacherous, rash, inflated with self-conceit. lovers of sensual pleasures and vain amusements more than and rather than lovers of God.

traitors, headlong, of vain pretensions, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God;

5 F or they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it. Avoid such people.

having a form of piety but denying the power of it: and from these turn away.

6 F or among them are those who worm their way into homes and captivate silly and weak-natured and spiritually dwarfed women, loaded down with sins swayed and led away by various evil desires and seductive impulses.

For of these are they who are getting into houses, and leading captive silly women, laden with sins, led by various lusts,

7 t hey are forever inquiring and getting information, but are never able to arrive at a recognition and knowledge of the Truth.

always learning, and never able to come to knowledge of truth.

8 N ow just as Jannes and Jambres were hostile to and resisted Moses, so these men also are hostile to and oppose the Truth. They have depraved and distorted minds, and are reprobate and counterfeit and to be rejected as far as the faith is concerned.

Now in the same manner in which Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, thus these also withstand the truth; men corrupted in mind, found worthless as regards the faith.

9 B ut they will not get very far, for their rash folly will become obvious to everybody, as was that of those.

But they shall not advance farther; for their folly shall be completely manifest to all, as that of those also became.

10 N ow you have closely observed and diligently followed my teaching, conduct, purpose in life, faith, patience, love, steadfastness,

But thou hast been thoroughly acquainted with my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, endurance,

11 P ersecutions, sufferings—such as occurred to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra, persecutions I endured, but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

persecutions, sufferings: what happened to me in Antioch, in Iconium, in Lystra; what persecutions I endured; and the Lord delivered me out of all.

12 I ndeed all who delight in piety and are determined to live a devoted and godly life in Christ Jesus will meet with persecution.

And all indeed who desire to live piously in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

13 B ut wicked men and imposters will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and leading astray others and being deceived and led astray themselves.

But wicked men and juggling impostors shall advance in evil, leading and being led astray.

14 B ut as for you, continue to hold to the things that you have learned and of which you are convinced, knowing from whom you learned,

But thou, abide in those things which thou hast learned, and thou hast been fully persuaded, knowing of whom thou hast learned;

15 A nd how from your childhood you have had a knowledge of and been acquainted with the sacred Writings, which are able to instruct you and give you the understanding for salvation which comes through faith in Christ Jesus '> leaning of the entire human personality on God in Christ Jesus in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness].

and that from a child thou hast known the sacred letters, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through faith which in Christ Jesus.

16 E very Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action),

Every scripture divinely inspired, and profitable for teaching, for conviction, for correction, for instruction in righteousness;

17 S o that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

that the man of God may be complete, fully fitted to every good work.