10 and especially (A)those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. (B)They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of [a]dignitaries, 11 whereas (C)angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.

Depravity of False Teachers

12 But these, (D)like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, 13 (E)and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure (F)to [b]carouse in the daytime. (G)They are spots and blemishes, [c]carousing in their own deceptions while (H)they feast with you, 14 having eyes full of [d]adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. (I)They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. 15 They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of (J)Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 2:10 glorious ones, lit. glories
  2. 2 Peter 2:13 revel
  3. 2 Peter 2:13 reveling
  4. 2 Peter 2:14 Lit. an adulteress

10 and especially those who go after the flesh in defiling lust[a] and who despise authority.

Bold and arrogant, they do not tremble in awe as they[b] blaspheme majestic beings, 11 whereas angels, who are greater in strength and power, do not bring against them a demeaning judgment.[c] 12 But these persons, like irrational animals born only with natural instincts for capture and killing, blaspheming about things[d] they do not understand, in their destruction will also be destroyed, 13 being harmed as the wages of unrighteousness. Considering reveling in the daytime a pleasure, they are stains and blemishes, carousing in their deceitful pleasures when they[e] feast together with you, 14 having eyes full of desire for an adulteress and unceasing from sin, enticing unstable persons, and[f] having hearts trained for greediness. Accursed children! 15 By[g] leaving the straight path, they have gone astray, because they[h] followed the way of Balaam the son of Bosor,[i] who loved the wages of unrighteousness, 16 but received a rebuke for his own lawlessness: a speechless donkey, speaking with a human voice, restrained the prophet’s madness[j].

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 2:10 Literally “in lust of defilement,” translated here as an attributive genitive
  2. 2 Peter 2:10 Here “as” is supplied as a component of the participle (“blaspheme”) which is understood as temporal
  3. 2 Peter 2:11 Some manuscripts have “a demeaning judgment from the Lord”
  4. 2 Peter 2:12 Literally “with reference to which”
  5. 2 Peter 2:13 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“feast together”) which is understood as temporal
  6. 2 Peter 2:14 Here “and” is supplied in keeping with English style
  7. 2 Peter 2:15 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“leaving”) which is understood as means
  8. 2 Peter 2:15 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“followed”) which is understood as causal
  9. 2 Peter 2:15 Although some English versions use “Beor” here, this is due to harmonization with the Old Testament; the vast majority of Greek manuscripts read “Bosor” here
  10. 2 Peter 2:16 Literally “the of the prophet madness”