He keeps those who are ungodly from ruling. He keeps them from laying traps for others.

使不虔敬的人不得作王，免得有人牢笼百姓。

不虔敬的人不得作王，免得百姓陷入圈套。

不虔敬的人不得作王，免得百姓陷入圈套。

以免不敬虔者做王，祸国殃民。

别让不敬虔的人作王，免得他危害人民。

使不虔敬的人不得作王，免得有人牢籠百姓。

不虔敬的人不得作王，免得百姓陷入圈套。

不虔敬的人不得作王，免得百姓陷入圈套。

以免不敬虔者做王，禍國殃民。

別讓不敬虔的人作王，免得他危害人民。

好使不拜上帝的人不得作王，免得有人牢籠人民。

致不虔者、不得操權、免其罔民、

不義者黜其位、不使為民坎阱。

不容惡人為君、阻其陷害人民、

to keep the godless from ruling, from laying snares for the people.

that a godless man should not reign, that he should not ensnare the people.

He prevents the godless from ruling so they cannot be a snare to the people.

so that godless men should not rule or ensnare the people.

So that godless people would not rule, Nor be snares for the people.

That the hypocrite should not reign, Lest the people be ensnared.

That the godless man reign not, That there be none to ensnare the people.

so that godless men should not rule or ensnare the people.

That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.

so that the godless man should not rule, and not lay snares for the people.

that the godless man may not reign, that there be no one to ensnare the people.

“ His eyes see how people live. He watches every step they take.

Then I saw a second beast. This one came out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb. But it spoke like a dragon.This beast had all the authority of the first beast. It did what the first beast wanted. It made the earth and all who live on it worship the first beast. The first beast was the one whose deadly wound had been healed.The second beast performed great signs. It even made fire come from heaven to the earth. And the fire was seen by everyone.The first beast had given the second beast the power to perform these signs. By these signs, the second beast tricked those who live on the earth. The second beast ordered people to set up a statue to honor the first beast. The first beast was the one who had been wounded by a sword and still lived.

You have followed the evil practices of King Omri of Israel. You have done what the family of King Ahab did. You have followed their bad example. So I will let you be destroyed. Others will make fun of you. The nations will laugh at you.”

Ephraim will soon be crushed. The Assyrians will stomp all over them. It will happen because they have made up their minds to chase after other gods.

So King Jeroboam asked for advice. Then he made two golden statues that looked like calves. He said to the people,“ It’s too hard for you to go up to Jerusalem. Israel, here are your gods who brought you up out of Egypt.”He set up one statue in Bethel. He set up the other one in Dan.What Jeroboam did was sinful. And it caused Israel to sin. The people came to worship the statue at Bethel. They went all the way to Dan to worship the statue that was there.

When those who do right grow stronger, the people are glad. But when those who do wrong become rulers, the people groan.A man who loves wisdom makes his father glad. But a man who spends time with prostitutes wastes his father’s wealth.By doing what is fair, a king makes a country secure. But those who only want money tear it down.Those who only pretend to praise their neighbors are spreading a net to catch them by the feet.Sinful people are trapped by their own sin. But godly people shout for joy and are glad.Those who do what is right want to treat poor people fairly. But those who do what is wrong don’t care about the poor.Those who make fun of others stir up a city. But wise people turn anger away.Suppose a wise person goes to court with a foolish person. Then the foolish person gets mad and pokes fun, and there is no peace.Murderers hate honest people. They try to kill those who do what is right.Foolish people let their anger run wild. But wise people keep themselves under control.If rulers listen to lies, all their officials become evil.

Proud and sinful people walk around openly when the evil they do is praised by the human race.

One of the beast’s heads seemed to have had a deadly wound. But the wound had been healed. The whole world was amazed and followed the beast.People worshiped the dragon, because he had given authority to the beast. They also worshiped the beast. They asked,“ Who is like the beast? Who can make war against it?”

But the people didn’t pay any attention. Manasseh led them astray. They did more evil things than the nations the Lord had destroyed. He had destroyed them to make room for the Israelites.

So I became angry and gave you a king. Then I took him away from you.

He will oppose everything that is called God. He will oppose everything that is worshiped. He will give himself power over everything. He will set himself up in God’s temple. He will announce that he himself is God.Don’t you remember? When I was with you, I used to tell you these things.Now you know what is holding back the man of sin. He is held back so that he can make his appearance at the right time.The secret power of sin is already at work. But the one who now holds back that power will keep doing it until he is taken out of the way.Then the man of sin will appear. The Lord Jesus will overthrow him with the breath of his mouth. The glorious brightness of Jesus’ coming will destroy the man of sin.The coming of the man of sin will fit how Satan works. The man of sin will show his power through all kinds of signs and wonders. These signs and wonders will lead people astray.So people who are dying will be fooled by this evil. These people are dying because they refuse to love the truth. The truth would save them.So God will fool them completely. Then they will believe the lie.

Wisdom is better than weapons of war. But one sinner destroys a lot of good.