¹³ They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight.^(A) They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.^{[a](B) 14} With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce^(C) the unstable;^(D) they are experts in greed^(E)—an accursed brood!^{(F) 15} They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam^(G) son of Bezer,^[b] who loved the wages of wickedness.

¹⁷ Have confidence in your leaders^(A) and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you^(B) as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

Saved in Order to Do Good

3 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities,^(A) to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good,^(B)