For such menare slaves,not of our LordChristbut of their ownappetites;and by their smoothand flattering speechthey deceivethe heartsof the unsuspecting.
In thismannerAbsalomdealtwith allIsraelwhocameto the kingfor judgment;so Absalomstoleawaythe heartsof the menof Israel.
Then the kingof Israelassembledthe prophets,fourhundredmen,and saidto them, "Shall we goagainstRamoth-gileadto battle,orshall I refrain?"And they said,"Goup, for Godwill give[it] into the handof the king."
The unfoldingof Your wordsgiveslight;It givesunderstandingto the simple.
They speakfalsehoodto oneanother;With flatteringlipsand with a doubleheartthey speak.
The lawof the LORDis perfect,restoringthe soul;The testimonyof the LORDis sure,makingwisethe simple.
The naivebelieveseverything,But the sensiblemanconsidershis steps.
The prudentseesthe eviland hideshimself, But the naivegoon, and are punishedfor it.
"O naiveones,understandprudence;And, O fools,understandwisdom.
"They keep sayingto those who despiseMe, 'The LORDhas said,"You will havepeace"'; And as for everyonewho walksin the stubbornnessof his own heart,They say,Calamitywill not comeupon you.'
[along with] the prophetsof Israelwho prophesyto Jerusalem,and who seevisionsof peacefor her when thereis nopeace,'declaresthe LordGOD.
"For handfulsof barleyand fragmentsof bread,you have profanedMe to My peopleto putto deathsomewhoshould not dieand to keepothersalivewhoshould not live,by your lyingto My peoplewho listento lies."'"
"Now when they fallthey will be granteda littlehelp,and manywill joinwith them in hypocrisy.
Thussaysthe LORDconcerningthe prophetswho leadmy peopleastray;When they have [something] to bitewith their teeth,They cry,"Peace,"But againsthim whoputsnothingin their mouthsThey declareholywar.
"Ohthat there were one among you who would shutthe gates,that you might not uselesslykindle[fire on] My altar!I am not pleasedwith you," saysthe LORDof hosts,"norwill I acceptan offeringfrom you.
"Manyfalse prophetswill ariseand will misleadmany.
"For false Christsand false prophetswill ariseand will showgreatsignsand wonders,soas to mislead,ifpossible,eventhe elect.
"No onecanservetwomasters;for eitherhe will hatethe oneand lovethe other,orhe will be devotedto oneand despisethe other.You cannotserveGodand wealth.
"Bewareof the false prophets,whocometo you in sheep'sclothing,but inwardlyare ravenouswolves.
"IfanyoneservesMe, he must followMe; and whereI am,thereMy servantwill be also;ifanyoneservesMe, the Fatherwill honorhim.
For he who in this[way] servesChristis acceptableto Godand approvedby men.
For the report of your obediencehas reachedto all;thereforeI am rejoicingoveryou, but I wantyou to be wisein what is goodand innocentin what is evil.
But I am afraidthat, as the serpentdeceivedEveby his craftiness,your mindswill be led astrayfrom the simplicityand purity[of devotion] to Christ.
For we are not likemany,peddlingthe wordof God,but as from sincerity,but as from God,we speakin Christin the sightof God.
but we have renouncedthe things hiddenbecause of shame,not walkingin craftinessoradulteratingthe wordof God,but by the manifestationof truthcommendingourselvesto everyman'sconsciencein the sightof God.
For am I nowseeking the favorof men,orof God?Oram I strivingto pleasemen?IfI were stilltrying to pleasemen,I would not be a bond-servantof Christ.
For they allseek aftertheir owninterests, not thoseof ChristJesus.
whoseendis destruction,whosegodis [their] appetite,and [whose] gloryis in their shame,who set their mindson earthly things.
I saythissothat no onewill deludeyou with persuasive argument.
knowingthat from the Lordyou will receivethe rewardof the inheritance.It is the LordChristwhom you serve.
and with allthe deceptionof wickednessfor thosewho perish,becausethey did not receivethe loveof the truthsoas to be saved.
and constant frictionbetween menof depravedmindand deprivedof the truth,who supposethat godlinessis a means of gain.
James,a bond-servantof Godand of the LordJesusChrist,To the twelvetribeswhoare dispersedabroad: Greetings.
and in [their] greedthey will exploityou with false words;their judgmentfrom long agois not idle,and their destructionis not asleep.
Jude,a bond-servantof JesusChrist,and brotherof James,To thosewho are the called,belovedin Godthe Father,and keptfor JesusChrist:
These are the menwho are hidden reefsin your love feastswhen they feastwith you without fear,caringfor themselves;cloudswithout water,carried alongby winds;autumntreeswithout fruit,doublydead,uprooted;
Theseare grumblers,finding fault,followingaftertheir [own] lusts;they speakarrogantly,flatteringpeoplefor the sakeof [gaining an] advantage.
The Revelationof JesusChrist,whichGodgaveHim to showto His bond-servants,the things whichmustsoontake place;and He sentand communicated[it] by His angelto His bond-servantJohn,
Whydo you kickat My sacrificeand at My offeringwhichI have commanded[in My] dwelling,and honoryour sonsaboveMe, by makingyourselves fatwith the choicestof everyofferingof My peopleIsrael?'
