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.

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, {and} not out of the mouth of the LORD.

Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where {is} the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk {therein}.

The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love {to have it} so: and what will ye do in the end thereof? {bear...: or, take into their hands}

If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, {saying}, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people. {walking...: or, walk with the wind, and lie falsely}

Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

Then said Elijah unto the people, I, {even} I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets {are} four hundred and fifty men.

(For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)

And because I tell {you} the truth, ye believe me not.

For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that {be} in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.

To whom he said, This {is} the rest {wherewith} ye may cause the weary to rest; and this {is} the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you. {came...: Heb. clothed}

Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words. {with...: or, for the tongue}

Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers, which speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon: {dreamers: Heb. dreams}

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.

And my speech and my preaching {was} not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: {enticing: or, persuasible}

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of {them} whose heart {is} perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars. {to shew...: or, strongly to hold with them, etc}

And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.

Wherefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against Amaziah, and he sent unto him a prophet, which said unto him, Why hast thou sought after the gods of the people, which could not deliver their own people out of thine hand?

And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?

Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words.

And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.

The earth mourneth {and} languisheth: Lebanon is ashamed {and} hewn down: Sharon is like a wilderness; and Bashan and Carmel shake off {their fruits}. {hewn...: or, withered away}

And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.

And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, {There is} yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer {shall be} abomination.

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.

How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.

Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Let no man deceive you by any means: for {that day shall not come}, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; {and} a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.

That we {henceforth} be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, {and} cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

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}

Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.

They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:

Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. {as...: or, in teaching}

If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, {even} the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love {to have it} so: and what will ye do in the end thereof? {bear...: or, take into their hands}

To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear {is} uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.

Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

Wisdom {is} better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.

And because I tell {you} the truth, ye believe me not.

These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling {words}, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.

But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

For such {are} false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the {women} that sew pillows to all armholes, and make kerchiefs upon the head of every stature to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of my people, and will ye save the souls alive {that come} unto you? {armholes: or, elbows}

Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

How long shall {this} be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, {they are} prophets of the deceit of their own heart;

A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.

Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet {have ye} not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

Then said Elijah unto the people, I, {even} I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets {are} four hundred and fifty men.

Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the Lord shall deliver {it} into the hand of the king.

Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.

If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

For I have not sent them, saith the LORD, yet they prophesy a lie in my name; that I might drive you out, and that ye might perish, ye, and the prophets that prophesy unto you. {a lie: Heb. in a lie, or, lyingly}

But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, {fully...: or, been a diligent follower of}

And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that {the king} said unto him, Art thou made of the king's counsel? forbear; why shouldest thou be smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto my counsel. {determined: Heb. counselled}

Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of prophets four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver {it} into the king's hand.

And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.