2 Peter 2
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
2 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there shall be among you lying teachers, who shall bring in sects of perdition, and deny the Lord who bought them: bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many shall follow their riotousnesses, through whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you. Whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their perdition slumbereth not.
4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but delivered them, drawn down by infernal ropes to the lower hell, unto torments, to be reserved unto judgment:
5 And spared not the original world, but preserved Noe, the eighth person, the preacher of justice, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly.
6 And reducing the cities of the Sodomites, and of the Gomorrhites, into ashes, condemned them to be overthrown, making them an example to those that should after act wickedly.
7 And delivered just Lot, oppressed by the injustice and lewd conversation of the wicked.
8 For in sight and hearing he was just: dwelling among them, who from day to day vexed the just soul with unjust works.
9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly from temptation, but to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be tormented.
10 And especially them who walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government, audacious, self willed, they fear not to bring in sects, blaspheming.
11 Whereas angels who are greater in strength and power, bring not against themselves a railing judgment.
12 But these men, as irrational beasts, naturally tending to the snare and to destruction, blaspheming those things which they know not, shall perish in their corruption,
13 Receiving the reward of their injustice, counting for a pleasure the delights of a day: stains and spots, sporting themselves to excess, rioting in their feasts with you:
14 Having eyes full of adultery and of sin that ceaseth not: alluring unstable souls, having their heart exercised with covetousness, children of malediction:
15 Leaving the right way they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam of Bosor, who loved the wages of iniquity,
16 But had a check of his madness, the dumb beast used to the yoke, which speaking with man's voice, forbade the folly of the prophet.
17 These are fountains without water, and clouds tossed with whirlwinds, to whom the mist of darkness is reserved.
18 For, speaking proud words of vanity, they allure by the desires of fleshly riotousness, those who for a little while escape, such as converse in error:
19 Promising them liberty, whereas they themselves are the slaves of corruption. For by whom a man is overcome, of the same also he is the slave.
20 For if, flying from the pollutions of the world, through the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they be again entangled in them and overcome: their latter state is become unto them worse than the former.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of justice, than after they have known it, to turn back from that holy commandment which was delivered to them.
22 For, that of the true proverb has happened to them: The dog is returned to his vomit: and, The sow that was washed, to her wallowing in the mire.
2 Peter 2
King James Version
2 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation 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 unlawful deeds;)
9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.
12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
2 Peter 2
English Standard Version
False Prophets and Teachers
2 But (A)false prophets also arose among the people, (B)just as there will be false teachers among you, who will (C)secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master (D)who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth (E)will be blasphemed. 3 And (F)in their greed they will exploit you (G)with false words. (H)Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
4 For if God did not spare (I)angels when they sinned, but (J)cast them into hell[a] and committed them to chains[b] of gloomy darkness (K)to be kept until the judgment; 5 if he did not spare the ancient world, but (L)preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought (M)a flood upon the world of the ungodly; 6 if by (N)turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, (O)making them an example of (P)what is going to happen to the ungodly;[c] 7 and (Q)if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked 8 (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, (R)he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); 9 then (S)the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials,[d] and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, 10 and especially (T)those who indulge[e] in the lust of defiling passion and (U)despise authority.
Bold and willful, they do not tremble (V)as they blaspheme the glorious ones, 11 (W)whereas angels, though greater in might and power, do not pronounce a blasphemous judgment against them before the Lord. 12 (X)But these, like irrational animals, (Y)creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed, blaspheming about matters of which they are ignorant, will also be destroyed in their destruction, 13 suffering wrong as (Z)the wage for their wrongdoing. They count it pleasure (AA)to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions,[f] while (AB)they feast with you. 14 They have eyes full of adultery,[g] (AC)insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts (AD)trained in greed. (AE)Accursed children! 15 Forsaking the right way, (AF)they have gone astray. They have followed (AG)the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved (AH)gain from wrongdoing, 16 but was rebuked for his own transgression; (AI)a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet's madness.
17 (AJ)These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. (AK)For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved. 18 For, (AL)speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely (AM)escaping from those who live in error. 19 They promise them (AN)freedom, (AO)but they themselves are slaves[h] of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. 20 For if, (AP)after they have escaped the defilements of the world (AQ)through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, (AR)the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 For (AS)it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from (AT)the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The (AU)dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”
Footnotes
- 2 Peter 2:4 Greek Tartarus
- 2 Peter 2:4 Some manuscripts pits
- 2 Peter 2:6 Some manuscripts an example to those who were to be ungodly
- 2 Peter 2:9 Or temptations
- 2 Peter 2:10 Greek who go after the flesh
- 2 Peter 2:13 Some manuscripts love feasts
- 2 Peter 2:14 Or eyes full of an adulteress
- 2 Peter 2:19 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface
2 Peter 2
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
III. Condemnation of the False Teachers
Chapter 2
False Teachers.[a] 1 There were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will introduce destructive heresies and even deny the Master who ransomed them, bringing swift destruction on themselves.(A) 2 Many will follow their licentious ways, and because of them the way of truth will be reviled.(B) 3 In their greed they will exploit you with fabrications, but from of old their condemnation has not been idle and their destruction does not sleep.(C)
Lessons from the Past. 4 [b]For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but condemned them to the chains of Tartarus[c] and handed them over to be kept for judgment;(D) 5 [d]and if he did not spare the ancient world, even though he preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, together with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the godless world;(E) 6 and if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah [to destruction], reducing them to ashes, making them an example for the godless [people] of what is coming;(F) 7 and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man oppressed by the licentious conduct of unprincipled people 8 (for day after day that righteous man living among them was tormented in his righteous soul at the lawless deeds that he saw and heard), 9 then the Lord knows how to rescue the devout from trial and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment,(G) 10 and especially those who follow the flesh with its depraved desire and show contempt for lordship.(H)
False Teachers Denounced.[e] Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to revile glorious beings,[f] 11 [g]whereas angels,(I) despite their superior strength and power, do not bring a reviling judgment against them from the Lord. 12 But these people, like irrational animals born by nature for capture and destruction, revile things that they do not understand, and in their destruction they will also be destroyed,(J) 13 suffering wrong[h] as payment for wrongdoing. Thinking daytime revelry a delight, they are stains and defilements as they revel in their deceits while carousing with you.(K) 14 Their eyes are full of adultery and insatiable for sin. They seduce unstable people, and their hearts are trained in greed. Accursed children! 15 Abandoning the straight road, they have gone astray, following the road of Balaam, the son of Bosor,[i] who loved payment for wrongdoing,(L) 16 but he received a rebuke for his own crime: a mute beast spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.(M)
17 These people are waterless springs and mists driven by a gale; for them the gloom of darkness has been reserved.(N) 18 For, talking empty bombast, they seduce with licentious desires of the flesh those who have barely escaped[j] from people who live in error.(O) 19 They promise them freedom, though they themselves are slaves of corruption, for a person is a slave of whatever overcomes him.(P) 20 For if they, having escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of [our] Lord and savior Jesus Christ, again become entangled and overcome by them, their last condition is worse than their first.(Q) 21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment handed down[k] to them.(R) 22 [l]What is expressed in the true proverb has happened to them,(S) “The dog returns to its own vomit,” and “A bathed sow returns to wallowing in the mire.”
Footnotes
- 2:1–3 The pattern of false prophets among the Old Testament people of God will recur through false teachers in the church. Such destructive opinions of heretical sects bring loss of faith in Christ, contempt for the way of salvation (cf. 2 Pt 2:21), and immorality.
- 2:4–6 The false teachers will be punished just as surely and as severely as were the fallen angels (2 Pt 2:4; cf. Jude 6; Gn 6:1–4), the sinners of Noah’s day (2 Pt 2:5; Gn 7:21–23), and the inhabitants of the cities of the Plain (2 Pt 2:6; Jude 7; Gn 19:25). Whereas there are three examples in Jude 5–7 (Exodus and wilderness; rebellious angels; Sodom and Gomorrah), 2 Peter omitted the first of these, has inserted a new illustration about Noah (2 Pt 2:5) between Jude’s second and third examples, and listed the resulting three examples in their Old Testament order (Gn 6; 7; 19).
- 2:4 Chains of Tartarus: cf. Jude 6; other manuscripts in 2 Peter read “pits of Tartarus.” Tartarus: a term borrowed from Greek mythology to indicate the infernal regions.
- 2:5–10a Although God did not spare the sinful, he kept and saved the righteous, such as Noah (2 Pt 2:5) and Lot (2 Pt 2:7), and he knows how to rescue the devout (2 Pt 2:9), who are contrasted with the false teachers of the author’s day. On Noah, cf. Gn 5:32–9:29, especially 7:1. On Lot, cf. Gn 13 and 19.
- 2:10b–22 Some take 2 Pt 2:10b, 11 with the preceding paragraph. Others begin the new paragraph with 2 Pt 2:10a, supplying from 2 Pt 2:9 The Lord knows how…to keep…under punishment, with reference to God and probably specifically Christ (2 Pt 2:1). The conduct of the false teachers is described and condemned in language similar to that of Jude 8–16. This arrogance knows no bounds; animal-like, they are due to be caught and destroyed. They seduce even those who have knowledge of Christ (2 Pt 2:20).
- 2:10b Glorious beings: literally, “glories”; cf. Jude 8. While some think that illustrious personages are meant or even political officials behind whom (fallen) angels stand, it is more likely that the reference is to glorious angelic beings (cf. Jude 9).
- 2:11 From the Lord: some manuscripts read “before the Lord”; cf. Jude 9.
- 2:13 Suffering wrong: some manuscripts read “receiving a reward.” In their deceits: some manuscripts read “in their love feasts” (Jude 12).
- 2:15 Balaam, the son of Bosor: in Nm 22:5, Balaam is said to be the son of Beor, and it is this name that turns up in a few ancient Greek manuscripts by way of “correction” of the text. Balaam is not portrayed in such a bad light in Nm 22. His evil reputation and his madness (2 Pt 2:16), and possibly his surname Bosor, may have come from a Jewish tradition about him in the first/second century, of which we no longer have any knowledge.
- 2:18 Barely escaped: some manuscripts read “really escaped.”
- 2:21 Commandment handed down: cf. 2 Pt 3:2 and Jude 3.
- 2:22 The second proverb is of unknown origin, while the first appears in Prv 26:11.
Public Domain (Why are modern Bible translations copyrighted?)
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.