2 Peter 2:17-22

English Standard Version

¹⁷^(A)These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. ^(B)For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved. ¹⁸For, ^(C)speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely ^(D)escaping from those who live in error. ¹⁹They promise them ^(E)freedom, ^(F)but they themselves are slaves^[a] of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. ²⁰For if, ^(G)after they have escaped the defilements of the world ^(H)through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, ^(I)the last state has become worse for them than the first. ²¹For ^(J)it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from ^(K)the holy commandment delivered to them. ²²What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The ^(L)dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”

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Footnotes

2 Peter 2:19 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface

2 Peter 2:17-22

New International Version

¹⁷These people are springs without water^(A) and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.^(B) ¹⁸For they mouth empty, boastful words^(C) and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping^(D) from those who live in error. ¹⁹They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.”^(E) ²⁰If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing^(F) our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ^(G) and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.^(H) ²¹It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.^(I) ²²Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,”^[a]^(J) and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.”