¹⁷ These are ^(A)springs without water and mists driven by a storm, ^(B)for whom the ^[a]black darkness has been kept. ¹⁸ For speaking out ^(C)arrogant words of ^(D)vanity, they ^(E)entice by ^(F)sensual lusts of the flesh, those who barely ^(G)escape from the ones who conducted themselves in error, ¹⁹ promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for ^(H)by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved. ²⁰ For if they are overcome, having both ^(I)escaped the defilements of the world by ^(J)the knowledge of the ^(K)Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and having again been ^(L)entangled in them, then ^(M)the last state has become worse for them than the first. ^21 (N)For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from ^(O)the holy commandment ^(P)handed on to them. ²² The ^[b]message of the true proverb has happened to them, “^(Q)A dog returns to its own vomit,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.”