Now if we put bits of iron into horses' mouths so that they may be guided by us, we have complete control of their bodies.

You must be patient, too; you must put iron into your hearts, because the coming of the Lord is close at hand.

Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

And yearn like newborn infants for pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up to salvation,

and a stone to stumble at, and a rock to offend them which stumble at the word, and believe not that whereon they were set.

having your behavior seemly among the Gentiles; that, wherein they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You have become her children when you do what is good and are not frightened by anything alarming.

having a good conscience; that, wherein ye are spoken against, they may be put to shame who revile your good manner of life in Christ.

Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:

Therefore, I strongly urge the elders among you [pastors, spiritual leaders of the church], as a fellow elder and as an eyewitness [called to testify] of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory that is to be revealed:

By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.

and righteous Lot, worn down by the conduct in lasciviousness of the impious, He did rescue,

This is the second epistle that I now write unto you, my dearly beloved, wherewith I stir up and warn your pure minds,

and say, "Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers died all things continue in the same estate wherein they were at the beginning."

Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; wherein are some things hard to be understood, which the ignorant and unstedfast wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Therefore, [let me warn you] beloved, knowing these things beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men [who distort doctrine] and fall from your own steadfastness [of mind, knowledge, truth, and faith],

just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the adjacent cities, since they in the same way as these angels indulged in gross immoral freedom and unnatural vice and sensual perversity. They are exhibited [in plain sight] as an example in undergoing the punishment of everlasting fire.

I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

'And the conqueror, he who till the end lays to heart what I enjoin, I will give him authority over the nations ??27 aye, he will shepherd them with an iron flail, shattering them like a potter's jars ??as I myself have received authority from my Father;

And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

I will make those who belong to the synagogue of Satan those who claim to be Jews and aren't, but are lying come and bow down at your feet. Then they will realize that I have loved you.

And in those days people will seek death and will not find it; and they will long to die [to escape the pain], but [will discover that] death evades them.

And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.

And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

Here is the mind that has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains, whereon the woman sits.

And he said unto me, The waters which thou sawest, whereon the harlot sitteth, are people, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

Render ye unto her, as, she also, rendered, and double thedouble, according to her works, - in the cup wherein she mixed, mix, unto her, double, -

The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one will buy their cargoes any more??12 cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones, pearls, fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet, all kinds of citron wood, all kinds of objects of ivory and costly wood, bronze, iron, and marble,

The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,

And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

I testify and warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book [its predictions, consolations, and admonitions]: if anyone adds [anything] to them, God will add to him the plagues (afflictions, calamities) which are written in this book;