For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. {corrupt: or, deal deceitfully with} {in Christ: or, of Christ}

To me {belongeth} vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in {due} time: for the day of their calamity {is} at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.

For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God {is} witness:

Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.

To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard {speeches} which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. {Perverse...: or, Gallings one of another}

Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight {thereof}, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; {which...: or, as much as in you is}

The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?

For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one {is} given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.

Who {is there} even among you that would shut the doors {for nought}? neither do ye kindle {fire} on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.

That say, Let him make speed, {and} hasten his work, that we may see {it}: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know {it}!

And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.

As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me. {As soon...: Heb. At the hearing of the ear} {submit...: or, yield feigned obedience} {strangers: Heb. sons of the stranger}

God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise. {Teman: or, the south}

The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, {Is} not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us. {and say: Heb. saying}

Likewise {must} the deacons {be} grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.

Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; {given...: or, ready to quarrel, and offer wrong, as one in wine}

Yea, {they are} greedy dogs {which} can never have enough, and they {are} shepherds {that} cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. {greedy: Heb. strong of appetite} {can...: Heb. know not to be satisfied}

A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time.

Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. {strange: Gr. other}

Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever. {submitted...: or, yielded feigned obedience: Heb. lied}

And they watched {him}, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.

Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: {adultery: Gr. an adulteress}

And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, {even to them} which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:

And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear {your} lies?

I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Say unto God, How terrible {art thou in} thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee. {submit...: or, yield feigned obedience: Heb. lie}

Therefore will I give their wives unto others, {and} their fields to them that shall inherit {them}: for every one from the least even unto the greatest is given to covetousness, from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.

And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.

Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger, {nor} of the fatherless; nor take a widow's raiment to pledge:

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. {Perverse...: or, Gallings one of another}

For the vision {is} yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

Whose end {is} destruction, whose God {is their} belly, and {whose} glory {is} in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: {adultery: Gr. an adulteress}

Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe {be} to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?

And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

{Let your} conversation {be} without covetousness; {and be} content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

To me {belongeth} vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in {due} time: for the day of their calamity {is} at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.

But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and {into} many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

The LORD hath made all {things} for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

So {are} the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; {which} taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

{What} if God, willing to shew {his} wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: {fitted: or, made up}

And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, {even to them} which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.

But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

The great day of the LORD {is} near, {it is} near, and hasteth greatly, {even} the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.

And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. {slaves: or, bodies}

They zealously affect you, {but} not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. {exclude you: or, exclude us}

Yea, {they are} greedy dogs {which} can never have enough, and they {are} shepherds {that} cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. {greedy: Heb. strong of appetite} {can...: Heb. know not to be satisfied}

For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

The horseleach hath two daughters, {crying}, Give, give. There are three {things that} are never satisfied, {yea}, four {things} say not, {It is} enough: {It is...: Heb. Wealth}

For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God {is} witness:

Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig {a pit} for your friend. {ye overwhelm: Heb. ye cause to fall upon}

And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more.

In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand. {the mighty...: Heb. they shall take away the mighty}

To have respect of persons {is} not good: for for a piece of bread {that} man will transgress.

And they watched {him}, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.

And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!

And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.

For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight {thereof}, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; {which...: or, as much as in you is}

And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:

But thine eyes and thine heart {are} not but for thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do {it}. {violence: or, incursion}

{As} the partridge sitteth {on eggs}, and hatcheth {them} not; {so} he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool. {sitteth...: or, gathereth young which she hath not brought forth}

And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.

And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.

The getting of treasures by a lying tongue {is} a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.

And he said unto them, Thus and thus dealeth Micah with me, and hath hired me, and I am his priest.

Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days?

His strength shall be hungerbitten, and destruction {shall be} ready at his side.

Then say thou, Thus saith the Lord GOD, The city sheddeth blood in the midst of it, that her time may come, and maketh idols against herself to defile herself.

O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, {and} the measure of thy covetousness.

The calamity of Moab {is} near to come, and his affliction hasteth fast.

Whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty: and they that sell them say, Blessed {be} the LORD; for I am rich: and their own shepherds pity them not.

But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;

Moreover the LORD shall raise him up a king over Israel, who shall cut off the house of Jeroboam that day: but what? even now.

If I go forth into the field, then behold the slain with the sword! and if I enter into the city, then behold them that are sick with famine! yea, both the prophet and the priest go about into a land that they know not. {go about...: or, make merchandise against a land, and men acknowledge it not}

For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one {is} given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.

Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.

He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.

And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in {their} pleasant palaces: and her time {is} near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged. {the wild...: Heb. Iim} {desolate...: or, palaces}

And it came to pass, when the king of Ai saw {it}, that they hasted and rose up early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at a time appointed, before the plain; but he wist not that {there were} liers in ambush against him behind the city.

Therefore {it is} no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong {his} days, {which are} as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.

And the priest's heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people.

I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason {of things}, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness {and} madness: {I applied...: Heb. I and mine heart compassed}

Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.

For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart. {frowardly: Heb. turning away}

Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; {given...: or, ready to quarrel, and offer wrong, as one in wine}

They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity. {set...: Heb. lift up their soul to}

And he said unto me, What seest thou? And I answered, I see a flying roll; the length thereof {is} twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits.

That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.

And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: {of divination: or, of Python}

And said {unto them}, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper {as white} as snow.

That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.