Yet these men, ¹  as a result of their dreams, ²  defile the flesh, reject authority, ³  and insult ⁴  the glorious ones. ⁵ 

But when I stumbled, they rejoiced and gathered together; they gathered together to ambush me. ¹  They tore at me without stopping to rest. ² 

Yet do it with courtesy and respect, ¹  keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse you. ² 

But these men do not understand the things they slander, and they are being destroyed by the very things that, like irrational animals, they instinctively comprehend. ¹ 

They repay my love with accusations, ¹  but I continue to pray. ² 

The one who denounces ¹  his neighbor lacks wisdom, ²  but the one who has discernment ³  keeps silent. ⁴ 

A wicked scoundrel ¹  digs up ²  evil, and his slander ³  is like a scorching fire. ⁴ 

Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, ¹  and do not deceive with your words. ² 

So prophesy and say: ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: Surely because they have made you desolate and crushed you from all directions, so that you have become the property of the rest of the nations, and have become the subject of gossip ¹  and slander among the people,

For I am afraid that somehow when I come I will not find you what I wish, and you will find me ¹  not what you wish. I am afraid that ²  somehow there may be quarreling, jealousy, intense anger, selfish ambition, ³  slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.

unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, savage, opposed to what is good,

and maintain good conduct ¹  among the non-Christians, ²  so that though ³  they now malign you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God when he appears. ⁴ 

especially those who indulge their fleshly desires ¹  and who despise authority. Brazen and insolent, ²  they are not afraid to insult ³  the glorious ones, ⁴ 

You will be protected ¹  from malicious gossip, ²  and will not be afraid of the destruction ³  when it comes.

They repay me evil for the good I have done; though I have tried to do good to them, they hurl accusations at me. ¹ 

May those who wait to ambush me ¹  be repaid for their evil! ²  As a demonstration of your faithfulness, ³  destroy them!

Their slander will bring about their demise. ¹  All who see them will shudder, ² 

For they say cruel and deceptive things to me; they lie to me. ¹ 

So ¹  he called them and spoke to them in parables: ²  “How can Satan cast out Satan?

yet even ¹  angels, who are much more powerful, ²  do not bring a slanderous ³  judgment against them before the Lord. ⁴