They will act as if they were serving God. But what they do will show that they have turned their backs on God’s power. Have nothing to do with these people.

有敬虔的外貌，却背了敬虔的实意；这等人你要躲开。

有敬虔的外貌，却背弃了敬虔的实质，这等人你要避开。

有敬虔的外貌，却背弃了敬虔的实质，这等人你要避开。

虚有敬虔的外表，却无敬虔的实质。你要避开这样的人。

有敬虔的形式，却否定敬虔的能力；这些人你应当避开。

有敬神的外表，却否定敬神的实质；这样的人你要避开。

有敬虔的外貌，卻背了敬虔的實意；這等人你要躲開。

有敬虔的外貌，卻背棄了敬虔的實質，這等人你要避開。

有敬虔的外貌，卻背棄了敬虔的實質，這等人你要避開。

虛有敬虔的外表，卻無敬虔的實質。你要避開這樣的人。

有敬虔的形式，卻否定敬虔的能力；這些人你應當避開。

有敬虔的形式，卻背棄了敬虔的實質；這種人、你要躲開。

有敬神的外表，卻否定敬神的實質；這樣的人你要避開。

有敬虔之貌、而無其實、若此者宜遠之、

有敬虔之名、無敬虔之實、若此者、當遠之、

有虔敬之貌、而無虔敬之實、而無虔敬之實原文作而不認其德若此者、爾當遠避、

外飾虔誠之貌內實麻木不仁。此類之人、務望吾兒避之若浼。

having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!

holding to the form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid these people.

holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these.

having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof: from these also turn away.

holding to the form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid these people!

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

They will maintain the outward appearance of religion but will have repudiated its power. So avoid people like these.

holding a form of godliness, but having denied its power. Turn away from these, also.

The Lord says,“ These people worship me only with their words. They honor me by what they say. But their hearts are far away from me. Their worship doesn’t mean anything to me. They teach nothing but human rules that they have been taught.

“ How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You pretenders! You are like tombs that are painted white. They look beautiful on the outside. But on the inside they are full of the bones of the dead. They are also full of other things that are not pure and‘ clean.’It is the same with you. On the outside you seem to be doing what is right. But on the inside you are full of what is wrong. You pretend to be what you are not.

They claim to know God. But their actions show they don’t know him. They are hated by God. They refuse to obey him. They aren’t fit to do anything good.

Everyone should provide for their own relatives. Most of all, everyone should take care of their own family. If they don’t, they have left the faith. They are worse than someone who doesn’t believe.

You think you can make foolish people wise. You act like you’re teaching little children. You think that the law gives you all knowledge and truth.You claim to teach others, but you don’t even teach yourself! You preach against stealing. But you steal!You say that people should not commit adultery. But you commit adultery! You hate statues of gods. But you rob temples!You brag about the law. But when you break it, you rob God of his honor!It is written,“ The Gentiles say evil things against God’s name because of you.”( Isaiah 52:5; Ezekiel 36:22)

“ Son of man, your people are talking about you. They are getting together by the walls of their houses and at their doors. They are saying to one another,‘ Come. Listen to the Lord’ s message.’My people come to you, just as they usually do. They sit in front of you. They hear what you say. But they do not put it into practice. With their mouths they say they love me. But in their hearts they want what belongs to others. They try to get rich by cheating them.You are nothing more to them than someone who sings love songs. They say you have a beautiful voice. They think you play an instrument well. They hear what you say. But they do not put it into practice.

Warn anyone who tries to get believers to separate from one another. Warn that person more than once. After that, have nothing to do with them.

“ Watch out for false prophets. They come to you pretending to be sheep. But on the inside they are hungry wolves.

Don’t have anything to do with arguing. It is dumb and foolish. You know it only leads to fights.

Stay away from godless chatter. Those who take part in it will become more and more ungodly.

It stirs up trouble all the time among people whose minds are twisted by sin. The truth they once had has been taken away from them. They think they can get rich by being godly.

People of Jacob, listen to me. You are called by the name of Israel. You come from the family line of Judah. You make promises in the name of the Lord. You pray to Israel’s God. But you aren’t honest. You don’t mean what you say.You call yourselves citizens of the holy city of Jerusalem. You say you depend on Israel’s God. His name is the Lord Who Rules Over All. He says,

We will no longer be babies in the faith. We won’t be like ships tossed around by the waves. We won’t be blown here and there by every new teaching. We won’t be blown around by cleverness and tricks. Certain people use them to hide their evil plans.

Brothers and sisters, here is a command we give you. We give it in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Keep away from every believer who doesn’t want to work and makes trouble. Keep away from any believer who doesn’t live up to the teaching you received from us.

I am warning you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who try to keep you from staying together. They want to trip you up. They teach you things opposite to what you have learned. Stay away from them.People like that are not serving Christ our Lord. They are serving only themselves. With smooth talk and with words they don’t mean they fool people who don’t know any better.

Keep an eye on anyone who doesn’t obey the teachings in our letter. Don’t have anything to do with that person. Then they will feel ashamed.

The Lord told me,“ Shout out loud. Do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Tell my people that they have refused to obey me. Tell the family of Jacob how much they have sinned.Day after day they worship me. They seem ready and willing to know how I want them to live. They act as if they were a nation that does what is right. They act as if they have not turned away from my commands. They claim to want me to give them fair decisions. They seem ready and willing to come near and worship me.‘ We have gone without food,’ they say.‘ Why haven’t you noticed it? We have made ourselves suffer. Why haven’t you paid any attention to us?’“ On the day when you fast, you do as you please. You take advantage of all your workers.