But I havea few thingsagainstyou, becauseyou havetheresome who holdthe teachingof Balaam,whokept teachingBalakto puta stumbling blockbeforethe sonsof Israel,to eatthings sacrificed to idolsand to commit [acts of] immorality.
And it will be said,"Buildup, buildup, preparethe way,Remove[every] obstacleout of the wayof My people."
Therefore,thussaysthe LORD,"Behold,I am layingstumblingblocksbeforethispeople.And they will stumbleagainst them, Fathersand sonstogether;Neighborand friendwill perish."
"Again, when a righteousmanturnsawayfrom his righteousnessand commitsiniquity,and I placean obstaclebeforehim, he will die;sinceyou have not warnedhim, he shall diein his sin,and his righteousdeedswhichhe has doneshall not be remembered;but his bloodI will requireat your hand.
"Becausethey ministeredto them beforetheir idolsand becamea stumblingblockof iniquityto the houseof Israel,thereforeI have swornagainstthem," declaresthe LordGOD,"that they shall bear[the punishmentfor] their iniquity.
"And now,behold,I am goingto my people;come,[and] I will adviseyou whatthispeoplewill doto your peoplein the daysto come."
"Behold,thesecausedthe sonsof Israel,through the counselof Balaam,to trespassagainst the LORDin the matterof Peor,so the plaguewas among the congregationof the LORD.
They killedthe kingsof Midianalongwith the [rest of] their slain:Eviand Rekemand Zurand Hurand Reba,the fivekingsof Midian;they also killedBalaamthe sonof Beorwith the sword.
"Woeto the worldbecauseof [its] stumblingblocks!For it is inevitablethat stumbling blockscome;but woeto that manthroughwhomthe stumbling blockcomes!
that you abstainfrom things sacrificed to idolsand from bloodand from things strangledand from fornication;if you keepyourselvesfreefrom suchthings,you will dowell.Farewell."
"But concerningthe Gentileswho have believed,we wrote,having decidedthat they should abstainfrom meatsacrificed to idolsand from bloodand from what is strangledand from fornication."
And Davidsays,"LET THEIR TABLEBECOMEA SNAREAND A TRAP,AND A STUMBLING BLOCKAND A RETRIBUTIONTO THEM.
Thereforelet us not judgeone anotheranymore,but ratherdeterminethis--not to putan obstacleora stumbling blockin a brother'sway.
It is goodnot to eatmeatorto drinkwine,or[to do anything] by whichyour brotherstumbles.
Why?Because[they did] not [pursue it] by faith,but as though[it were] by works.They stumbled overthe stumblingstone,
but we preachChristcrucified,to Jewsa stumbling blockand to Gentilesfoolishness,
But becauseof immoralities,eachmanis to havehis ownwife,and eachwomanis to haveher ownhusband.
Marriage[is to be held] in honoramongall,and the [marriage] bed[is to be] undefiled;for fornicatorsand adulterersGodwill judge.
Then Balakthe sonof Zippor,kingof Moab,aroseand foughtagainst Israel,and he sentand summonedBalaamthe sonof Beorto curseyou.
and, "A STONEOF STUMBLINGAND A ROCKOF OFFENSE";for they stumblebecause they are disobedientto the word,and to this[doom] they were alsoappointed.
forsakingthe rightway,they have gone astray,having followedthe wayof Balaam,the [son] of Beor,wholovedthe wagesof unrighteousness;
Woeto them! For they have gonethe wayof Cain,and for paythey have rushed headlonginto the errorof Balaam,and perishedin the rebellionof Korah.
But I have[this] againstyou, that you toleratethe womanJezebel,who callsherselfa prophetess,and she teachesand leadsMy bond-servantsastrayso that they commit [acts of] immoralityand eatthings sacrificed to idols.
But I have[this] againstyou, that you have leftyour firstlove.
"But for the cowardlyand unbelievingand abominableand murderersand immoral personsand sorcerersand idolatersand allliars,their part[will be] in the lakethat burnswith fireand brimstone,whichis the seconddeath."
Outsideare the dogsand the sorcerersand the immoral personsand the murderersand the idolaters,and everyonewho lovesand practiceslying.
