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17 These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm; for them the nether gloom of darkness has been reserved. 18 For, uttering loud boasts of folly, they entice with licentious passions of the flesh men who have barely escaped from those who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption; for whatever overcomes a man, to that he is enslaved. 20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overpowered, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 For it would have been better for them never 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 turns back to his own vomit, and the sow is washed only to wallow in the mire.

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17 (A)These are wells without water, [a]clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness [b]forever.

Deceptions of False Teachers

18 For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who [c]have actually escaped from those who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of [d]corruption; (B)for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into [e]bondage. 20 For if, after they (C)have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are (D)again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 21 For (E)it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: (F)“A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 2:17 NU and mists
  2. 2 Peter 2:17 NU omits forever
  3. 2 Peter 2:18 NU are barely escaping
  4. 2 Peter 2:19 depravity
  5. 2 Peter 2:19 slavery