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gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 but he was rebuked for his iniquity, the dumb beast, speaking with man's voice, restrained the madness of the prophet. 17 These men are fountains without water, clouds driven by a tempest, for whom the gloom of darkness is reserved forever.

18 For by speaking boastful words of folly, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, and through lasciviousness, those who had really escaped from those who live in error. 19 While they promise them freedom, they themselves are the servants of corruption for by whatever any man is overcome, he is also enslaved. 20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world, through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in these, and overcome by them, the last state of such is worse than the first. 21 For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: The dog has turned again to his own vomit; and, The sow that was washed, to her wallowing in the mire.

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III. This second letter I now write to you, beloved; in both of these I arouse your pure mind to remembrance, 2 that you may be mindful of the words formerly spoken by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Savior: knowing this first, that there will come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying: Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

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For they are willingly ignorant of this, that by the word of God, the heavens of old had their being, as also the earth consisting of water and subsisting by water, by which things the world that then was, having been overflowed with water, perished. But the heavens and the earth that now are, by the same word are kept in store, reserved for fire against the day of judgment, and perdition of ungodly men.

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But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day with the Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord does not delay concerning his promise, as some men count delay, but he is long-suffering toward us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief, in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, and the earth, and the works that are on it, shall be burned up.

11 Seeing, then, that all these things shall be dissolved, what sort of persons ought you to be in all holy behavior, and godliness, 12 looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, because of which coming the heavens shall dissolve in fire, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat. 13 But we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, in which dwells righteousness.

14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that you expect such things, earnestly strive, by being spotless and blameless, to be found by him in peace: 15 and count the long-suffering of our Lord, salvation, even as our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, has written to you; 16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, to their own destruction.

17 Do you, therefore, beloved, since you know these things beforehand, beware, lest, being led away with the error of the wicked, you fall from your own steadfastness. 18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

FIRST LETTER, OF JOHN.

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I. HAT which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled concerning the Word of life; (the life also was manifested, and we have seen, and do testify, and declare to you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested to us;) 3 that which we have seen and heard, we declare it to you, that you also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you, that your joy may be full.

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And this is the message that we heard from him, and do declare to you: that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.

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If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, so that he will forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

II. My little children, I write these things to you, that you

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may not sin and yet, if any one sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And he is the expiation for our sins: not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world.

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And by this we know that we do know him, if we keep his commandments. He that says, I know him, and keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps his word, in him truly is the love of God perfected by this we know that we are in him. He that says, he abides in him, ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

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"Beloved, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment, which you have had from the beginning: the old commandment is the word, which you have heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I do write to you, which is true as it respects him and you; because the darkness is past, and the true light now shines.

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He that says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness till now. 10 He that loves his brother abides in the light, and there is in him no cause for offense. He that hates his brother is in darkness, and walks in darkness; and he knows not whither he goes, because darkness has blinded his eyes.

12 I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake. 13 I write to you, fathers, because you have known him that is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, my little children, because you have known the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you have known him that is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides

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