001:016 These men are murmurers, ever bemoaning their lot. Their lives are guided by their evil passions, and their mouths are full of big, boastful words, while they treat individual men with admiring reverence for the sake of the advantage they can gain.
001:017 But as for you, my dearly-loved friends, remember the words that
before now were spoken by the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ—
001:018 how they declared to you, "In the last times there shall
be scoffers, obeying only their own ungodly passions."
001:019 These are those who cause divisions. They are men of
the world, wholly unspiritual.
001:020 But you, my dearly-loved friends, building yourselves up on
the basis of your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,
001:021 must keep yourselves safe in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ which will result in the Life of the Ages.
001:022 Some, when they argue with you, you must endeavor to convince;
001:023 others you must try to save, as brands plucked from the flames;
and on others look with pity mingled with fear, while you
hate every trace of their sin.
001:024 But to Him who is able to keep you safe from stumbling,
and cause you to stand in the presence of His glory free
from blemish and full of exultant joy—
001:025 to the only God our Saviour—through Jesus Christ our Lord,
be ascribed glory, majesty, might, and authority, as it was
before all time, is now, and shall be to all the Ages! Amen.