10 especially those who follow the polluting desires of the flesh and despise authority.(A)

Bold, arrogant people! They are not afraid to slander the glorious ones; 11 however, angels, who are greater in might and power, do not bring a slanderous charge against them before the Lord.[a] 12 But these people, like irrational animals—creatures of instinct born to be caught and destroyed—slander what they do not understand, and in their destruction they too will be destroyed. 13 They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. They consider it a pleasure to carouse in broad daylight. They are spots and blemishes, delighting in their deceptions[b] while they feast with you. 14 They have eyes full of adultery(B) that never stop looking for sin. They seduce unstable people and have hearts trained in greed. Children under a curse!(C) 15 They have gone astray by abandoning the straight path(D) and have followed the path of Balaam,(E) the son of Bosor,[c] who loved the wages of wickedness(F) 16 but received a rebuke for his lawlessness: A speechless donkey spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.(G)

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Footnotes

  1. 2:11 Other mss read them from the Lord
  2. 2:13 Other mss read delighting in the love feasts
  3. 2:15 Other mss read Beor

10 especially those who satisfy their flesh by indulging in its passions and who despise authority.

Being bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to slander glorious beings. 11 Yet even angels, although they are greater in strength and power, do not bring a slanderous accusation against them from the Lord. 12 These people, like irrational animals, are mere creatures of instinct that are born to be caught and killed. They insult what they don’t understand, and like animals they, too, will be destroyed, 13 suffering harm as punishment for their wrongdoing. They take pleasure in wild parties in broad daylight. They are stains and blemishes, reveling in their deceitful pleasures[a] while they eat with you. 14 With eyes full of adultery, they cannot get enough of sin. They seduce unsteady souls and have had their hearts expertly trained in greed. They are doomed to a curse.[b] 15 They have left the straight path and wandered off to follow the path of Bosor’s[c] son Balaam, who loved the reward he got for doing wrong. 16 But he was rebuked for his offense. A donkey that normally cannot talk spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s insanity.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 2:13 Other mss. read in their love feasts
  2. 2 Peter 2:14 Lit. children of a curse
  3. 2 Peter 2:15 Other mss. read Beor’s