⁴ treacherous,^(A) rash, conceited,^(B) lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—

⁴ For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about^[a] long ago have secretly slipped in among you.^(A) They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.^(B)

¹⁹ These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.^(A)

⁸ In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings.^{(A) 9} But even the archangel^(B) Michael,^(C) when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses,^(D) did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”^[a](E)

⁶ He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited^(A) and fall under the same judgment^(B) as the devil.

¹⁸ For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears,^(A) many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.^{(B) 19} Their destiny^(C) is destruction, their god is their stomach,^(D) and their glory is in their shame.^(E) Their mind is set on earthly things.^(F)

¹⁰ This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire^(A) of the flesh^[a] and despise authority.

Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings;^{(B) 11} yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not heap abuse on such beings when bringing judgment on them from^[b] the Lord.^{(C) 12} But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish.^(D)

¹³ They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight.^(E) They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.^{[c](F) 14} With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce^(G) the unstable;^(H) they are experts in greed^(I)—an accursed brood!^{(J) 15} They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam^(K) son of Bezer,^[d] who loved the wages of wickedness. ¹⁶ But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—an animal without speech—who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.^(L)

¹⁷ These people are springs without water^(M) and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.^{(N) 18} For they mouth empty, boastful words^(O) and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping^(P) from those who live in error. ¹⁹ They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.”^{(Q) 20} If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing^(R) our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ^(S) and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.^{(T) 21} It 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.^{(U) 22} Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,”^[e](V) and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.”

¹⁷ Command those who are rich^(A) in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth,^(B) which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God,^(C) who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.^(D)

⁶ But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.^(A)