3:1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of stress.
3:1 You must understand this, that in the last days distressing times will come.

3:2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3:2 For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,

3:3 inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, fierce, haters of good,
3:3 inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, brutes, haters of good,

3:4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
3:4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

3:5 holding the form of religion but denying the power of it. Avoid such people.
3:5 holding to the outward form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid them!

3:6 For among them are those who make their way into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and swayed by various impulses,
3:6 For among them are those who make their way into households and captivate silly women, overwhelmed by their sins and swayed by all kinds of desires,

3:7 who will listen to anybody and can never arrive at a knowledge of the truth.
3:7 who are always being instructed and can never arrive at a knowledge of the truth.

3:8 As Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of corrupt mind and counterfeit faith;
3:8 As Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these people, of corrupt mind and counterfeit faith, also oppose the truth.

3:9 but they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.
3:9 But they will not make much progress, because, as in the case of those two men, their folly will become plain to everyone.

3:10 Now you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness,
3:10 Now you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness,

3:11 my persecutions, my sufferings, what befell me at Antioch, at Ico'nium, and at Lystra, what persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me.
3:11 my persecutions and suffering the things that happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.

3:12 Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
3:12 Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

3:13 while evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived.
3:13 But wicked people and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived.

3:14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it
3:14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it,

3:15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
3:15 and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

3:16 All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
3:16 All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

3:17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
3:17 so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.