especially because of the extraordinary character of my revelations. Therefore in order that I should not become conceited, there was given to me a thorn (skolops | σκόλοψ | nom sg masc) in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not become conceited.

Household servants should be subject to their masters with all respect, not only to the good and kind but also to the unjust (skoliois | σκολιοῖς | dat pl masc).

so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked (skolias | σκολιᾶς | gen sg fem) and perverse generation, among whom you shine like stars in the universe,

And with many other words he gave them warning and pleaded with them, saying, “Escape from this corrupt (skolias | σκολιᾶς | gen sg fem) generation.”

Every ravine will be filled in and every mountain and hill will be leveled off; the crooked (skolia | σκολιά | nom pl neut) places (skolia | σκολιά | nom pl neut) will become straight and the rough places will become smooth roads.

God again ordains a certain day — “today” — saying through David, after so long a time, just as it has been said before, “Today, if you hear his voice, do (sklērynēte | σκληρύνητε | aor act subj 2 pl) not harden (sklērynēte | σκληρύνητε | aor act subj 2 pl) your hearts.”

As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do (sklērynēte | σκληρύνητε | aor act subj 2 pl) not harden (sklērynēte | σκληρύνητε | aor act subj 2 pl) your hearts as you did in the rebellion.”

But encourage one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened (sklērynthē | σκληρυνθῇ | aor pass subj 3 sg) by the deceitfulness of sin.

do (sklērynēte | σκληρύνητε | aor act subj 2 pl) not harden (sklērynēte | σκληρύνητε | aor act subj 2 pl) your hearts as you did in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness

So then, God has mercy on whomever he wills, and he (sklērynei | σκληρύνει | pres act ind 3 sg) hardens (sklērynei | σκληρύνει | pres act ind 3 sg) whomever he wills.