These people are discontented grumblers, living according to their desires; their mouths utter arrogant words, flattering people for their own advantage.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. All of you clothe yourselves with humility towards one another, because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. ,
he is conceited and understands nothing, but has an unhealthy interest in disputes and arguments over words. From these come envy, quarrelling, slander, evil suspicions,
‘Then the king will do whatever he wants. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god, and he will say outrageous things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, because what has been decreed will be accomplished.
But these people, like irrational animals #– #creatures of instinct born to be caught and destroyed #– #slander what they do not understand, and in their destruction they too will be destroyed.
He will speak words against the Most High and oppress the holy ones of the Most High. He will intend to change religious festivals and laws, and the holy ones will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time. ,
Enormous hailstones, each weighing about fifty kilograms, fell from the sky on people, and they blasphemed God for the plague of hail because that plague was extremely severe.
Some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, and all his followers were dispersed and came to nothing.
and people were scorched by the intense heat. So they blasphemed the name of God, who has the power over these plagues, and they did not repent and give him glory.
And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads. On its horns were ten crowns, , and on its heads were blasphemous names. ,
Does an axe exalt itself above the one who chops with it? Does a saw magnify itself above the one who saws with it? It would be like a rod waving the ones who lift it! It would be like a staff lifting the one who isn’t wood!
But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High. For he is gracious to the ungrateful and evil.
We know that the law is not meant for a righteous person, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and irreverent, for those who kill their fathers and mothers, for murderers,
especially those who follow the polluting desires of the flesh and despise authority. Bold, arrogant people! They are not afraid to slander the glorious ones;