17 These are (A)springs without water and mists driven by a storm, (B)for whom the [a]black darkness has been reserved. 18 For, while speaking out (C)arrogant words of no (D)value they (E)entice by fleshly desires, by (F)indecent behavior, those who barely (G)escape from the ones who live in error, 19 promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for (H)by what anyone is overcome, by this he is enslaved. 20 For if, after they have (I)escaped the defilements of the world by (J)the knowledge of the (K)Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again (L)entangled in them and are overcome, (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 [b]It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “(Q)A dog returns to its own vomit,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.”

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 2:17 Lit blackness of darkness
  2. 2 Peter 2:22 Lit The thing of the true proverb has happened to them

17 (A)These are wells without water, [a]clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness [b]forever.

Deceptions of False Teachers

18 For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who [c]have actually escaped from those who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of [d]corruption; (B)for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into [e]bondage. 20 For if, after they (C)have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are (D)again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 21 For (E)it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: (F)“A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 2:17 NU and mists
  2. 2 Peter 2:17 NU omits forever
  3. 2 Peter 2:18 NU are barely escaping
  4. 2 Peter 2:19 depravity
  5. 2 Peter 2:19 slavery