⁷ However, of those that chew the cud or that have a divided hoof you may not eat the camel, the rabbit or the hyrax. Although they chew the cud, they do not have a divided hoof; they are ceremonially unclean for you.

¹⁸ For they mouth empty, boastful words^(A) and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping^(B) from those who live in error. ¹⁹ They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.”^{(C) 20} If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing^(D) our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ^(E) and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.^{(F) 21} It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.^{(G) 22} Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,”^[a](H) and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.”

¹⁶ They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him.^(A) They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.^(B)

⁵ having a form of godliness^(A) but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.^(B)

²⁶ But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.

²² Many will say to me on that day,^(A) ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’^{(B) 23} Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’^(C)

⁵ The hyrax, though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof; it is unclean for you.