But the Jews who refused to believe ¹  stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds ²  against the brothers.

So then I, the Lord who rules over all, ¹  have something to say concerning the prophets of Jerusalem: ²  ‘I will make these prophets eat the bitter food of suffering and drink the poison water of judgment. ³  For the prophets of Jerusalem are the reason ⁴  that ungodliness ⁵  has spread throughout the land.’”

For the arrows ¹  of the Almighty ²  are within me; my spirit ³  drinks their poison; ⁴  God’s sudden terrors ⁵  are arrayed ⁶  against me.

So then, listen to what I, the Lord God of Israel who rules over all, ¹  say. ²  ‘I will make these people eat the bitter food of suffering and drink the poison water of judgment. ³ 

(Now ¹  the name of the star is ²  Wormwood.) ³  So ⁴  a third of the waters became wormwood, ⁵  and many people died from these waters because they were poisoned. ⁶ 

My wounds ¹  are infected and starting to smell, ²  because of my foolish sins. ³ 

The people say, ¹  “Why are we just sitting here? Let us gather together inside the fortified cities. ²  Let us at least die there fighting, ³  since the Lord our God has condemned us to die. He has condemned us to drink the poison waters of judgment ⁴  because we have sinned against him. ⁵ 

For I see that you are bitterly envious ¹  and in bondage to sin.”

Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” ¹ 

and their message will spread its infection ¹  like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are in this group. ² 

The fear of the Lord ¹  is like ²  a life-giving fountain, ³  to turn ⁴  people ⁵  from deadly snares. ⁶ 

Edom’s ¹  streams will be turned into pitch and her soil into brimstone; her land will become burning pitch.

Their tongues are like deadly arrows. ¹  They are always telling lies. ²  Friendly words for their neighbors come from their mouths. But their minds are thinking up ways to trap them. ³ 

suffering harm as the wages for their harmful ways. ¹  By considering it a pleasure to carouse in broad daylight, ²  they are stains and blemishes, indulging ³  in their deceitful pleasures when they feast together with you.

because his judgments are true and just. ¹  For he has judged ²  the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality, and has avenged the blood of his servants ³  poured out by her own hands!” ⁴