3 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.^{(A) 2} People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money,^(B) boastful, proud,^(C) abusive,^(D) disobedient to their parents,^(E) ungrateful, unholy, ³ without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, ⁴ treacherous,^(F) rash, conceited,^(G) lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— ⁵ having a form of godliness^(H) but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.^(I)

¹² In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,^{(A) 13} while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse,^(B) deceiving and being deceived.^{(C) 14} But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,^{(D) 15} and how from infancy^(E) you have known the Holy Scriptures,^(F) which are able to make you wise^(G) for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed^(H) and is useful for teaching,^(I) rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,^{(J) 17} so that the servant of God^[a](K) may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.^(L)