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 indulge their flesh in depraved lust and who despise authority.

Bold and willful, they are not afraid to slander the glorious ones,[a](A) 11 whereas angels, though greater in might and power, do not bring against them a slanderous judgment.[b] 12 These people, however, are like irrational animals, mere creatures of instinct, born to be caught and killed. They slander what they do not understand, and as those creatures are destroyed,[c] they also will be destroyed, 13 suffering[d] the wages of doing wrong. They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures[e] while they feast with you.(B) 14 They have eyes full of adultery,[f] insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children! 15 They have left the straight road and have gone astray, following the road of Balaam son of Bosor,[g] who loved the wages of doing wrong(C) 16 but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.

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Footnotes

  1. 2.10 Or angels; Gk glories
  2. 2.11 Other ancient authorities add from the Lord or before the Lord
  3. 2.12 Gk in their destruction
  4. 2.13 Other ancient authorities read receiving
  5. 2.13 Other ancient authorities read love feasts
  6. 2.14 Gk adulteress; or longing for an adulteress
  7. 2.15 Other ancient authorities read Beor