2Pet 2
1
But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall
be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the
Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
2
And many shall follow their lascivious doings; by reason of whom the way of the truth
shall be evil spoken of.
3
And in covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose sentence
now from of old lingers not, and their destruction slumbers not.
4
For if God spared not angels when they sinned, but cast them down to hell, and committed
them to pits of darkness, to be reserved to judgment;
5
and spared not the ancient world, but preserved Noah with seven others, a preacher
of righteousness, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;
6
and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow,
having made them an example to those that should live ungodly;
7
and delivered righteous Lot, sore distressed by the lascivious life of the wicked
8
(for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed [his] righteous
soul from day to day with [their] 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 them that walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement, and despise
dominion. Daring, self-willed, they tremble not to rail at dignities:
11
whereas angels, though greater in might and power, bring not a railing judgment against
them before the Lord.
12
But these, as creatures without reason, born mere animals to be taken and destroyed,
railing in matters whereof they are ignorant, shall in their destroying surely be
destroyed,
13
suffering wrong as the hire of wrong-doing; [men] that count it pleasure to revel
in the day-time, spots and blemishes, revelling in their deceivings while they feast
with you;
14
having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; enticing unsteadfast
souls; having a heart exercised in covetousness; children of cursing;
15
forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the [son]
of Beor, who loved the hire of wrong-doing;
16
but he was rebuked for his own transgression: a dumb ass spoke with man`s voice and
stayed the madness of the prophet.
17
These are springs without water, and mists driven by a storm; for whom the blackness
of darkness has been reserved.
18
For, uttering great swelling [words] of vanity, they entice in the lusts of the flesh,
by lasciviousness, those who are just escaping from them that live in error;
19
promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for
of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he also brought into bondage.
20
For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge
of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome,
the last state is become worse with them than the first.
21
For it were 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
It has happened to them according to the true proverb, The dog turning to his own
vomit again, and the sow that had washed to wallowing in the mire.