promisingthem freedomwhile they themselvesare slavesof corruption;for by whata manis overcome,by thishe is enslaved.
Woeto the proudcrownof the drunkardsof Ephraim,And to the fadingflowerof its gloriousbeauty,Whichis at the headof the fertilevalleyOf those who are overcomewith wine!
As for the prophets:My heartis brokenwithinme, Allmy bonestremble;I have becomelike a drunkenman,Even like a manovercomewith wine,Becauseof the LORDAnd becauseof His holywords.
"The priestshall look,and ifthe scabhas spreadon the skin,then the priestshall pronouncehim unclean;it is leprosy.
Jesusansweredthem, "Truly,truly,I sayto you, everyonewho commitssinis the slaveof sin.
And the man,in whomwas the evilspirit,leapedon them and subduedallof them and overpoweredthem, sothat they fledout of that housenakedand wounded.
It was for freedomthat Christset us free;thereforekeep standing firmand do not be subjectagainto a yokeof slavery.
For you were calledto freedom,brethren;only[do] not [turn] your freedominto an opportunityfor the flesh,but throughloveserveone another.
and they may come to their senses[and escape] from the snareof the devil,having been held captiveby him to do his will.
For we alsooncewere foolishourselves,disobedient,deceived,enslavedto variouslustsand pleasures,spending our lifein maliceand envy,hateful,hatingone another.
[Act] as free men,and do not useyour freedomas a coveringfor evil,but [use it] as bondslavesof God.
For by theseHe has grantedto us His preciousand magnificentpromises,sothat by them you may becomepartakersof [the] divinenature,having escapedthe corruptionthat is in the worldby lust.
For if,after they have escapedthe defilementsof the worldby the knowledgeof the Lordand SaviorJesusChrist,they are againentangledin them and are overcome,the laststate has becomeworsefor them than the first.
