¹⁶ But shun empty chatter, for they will proceed further in ungodliness,

⁹ but shun foolish questionings, genealogies, strife, and disputes about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

²⁰ Timothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from the empty chatter and oppositions of the knowledge which is falsely so called;

⁷ For the mystery of lawlessness already works. Only there is one who restrains now, until he is taken out of the way.

⁸ Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will kill with the breath of his mouth, and bring to nothing by the brightness of his coming;

¹ Ephraim feeds on wind, And chases the east wind. He continually multiplies lies and desolation. They make a covenant with Assyria, And oil is carried into Egypt.

¹⁰ Ezra the priest stood up, and said to them, You have trespassed, and have married foreign women, to increase the guilt of Israel.

¹⁴ He deceives my own people who dwell on the earth because of the signs he was granted to do in front of the beast; saying to those who dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast who had the sword wound and lived.

³ One of his heads looked like it had been wounded fatally. His fatal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled at the beast.

¹⁸ For, uttering great swelling words of emptiness, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by licentiousness, those who are indeed escaping from those who live in error;

² Many will follow their immoral{TR reads "destructive" instead of "immoral"} ways, and as a result, the way of the truth will be maligned.

¹⁵ looking carefully lest there be any man who falls short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby the many be defiled;

¹⁴ not paying attention to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.

¹¹ whose mouths must be stopped; men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for dishonest gain's sake.

¹³ But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

¹⁴ Remind them of these things, charging them in the sight of the Lord, that they don't argue about words, to no profit, to the subverting of those who hear.

⁷ But refuse profane and old wives' fables. Exercise yourself toward godliness.

³³ Don't be deceived! "Evil companionships corrupt good morals."

⁶ Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast leavens the whole lump?