[1] But there also arose false prophets among the people, as among you also
there will be false teachers, who will secretly bring in destructive
heresies, denying even the Master who bought them, bringing on themselves
swift destruction. [2] Many will follow their destructive ways, and as a
result, the way of the truth will be maligned. [3] In covetousness will
they exploit you with deceptive words: whose sentence now from of old
doesn`t linger, and their destruction will not slumber. [4] For if God
didn`t spare angels when they sinned, but cast them down to Tartarus, and
committed them to pits of darkness, to be reserved to judgment; [5] and
didn`t spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah with seven others, a
preacher of righteousness, when he brought a flood on the world of the
ungodly; [6] and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes,
condemned them to destruction, having made them an example to those who
would live ungodly; [7] and delivered righteous Lot, very distressed by the
lustful life of the wicked [8] (for that righteous man dwelling among them,
in seeing and hearing, tormented his righteous soul from day to day with
lawless deeds): [9] the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of
temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment to the day of
judgment; [10] but chiefly those who walk after the flesh in the lust of
defilement, and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they are not afraid
to speak evil of dignitaries; [11] whereas angels, though greater in might
and power, don`t bring a railing judgment against them before the Lord.
[12] But these, as creatures without reason, born mere animals to be taken
and destroyed, speaking evil in matters about which they are ignorant, will
in their destroying surely be destroyed, [13] receiving the wages of
unrighteousness; people who count it pleasure to revel in the day-time,
spots and blemishes, reveling in their deceit while they feast with you;
[14] having eyes full of adultery, and who can`t cease from sin; enticing
unsettled souls; having a heart trained in greed; children of cursing; [15]
forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of
Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of wrong-doing; [16] but he was
rebuked for his own disobedience. A mute donkey spoke with man`s voice and
stopped the madness of the prophet. [17] These are wells without water,
clouds driven by a storm; for whom the blackness of darkness has been
reserved forever. [18] For, uttering great swelling words of emptiness,
they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by licentiousness, those who are
indeed escaping from those who live in error; [19] promising them liberty,
while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for by whom a man is
overcome, by the same is he also brought into bondage. [20] For if, after
they have escaped the defilement of the world through the knowledge of the
Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and
overcome, the last state has become worse with them than the first. [21]
For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness,
than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to
them. [22] But it has happened to them according to the true proverb, "The
dog turns to his own vomit again," and "the sow that had washed to
wallowing in the mire."
