⁷ Then the Lord God formed^(A) a man^[a](B) from the dust^(C) of the ground^(D) and breathed into his nostrils the breath^(E) of life,^(F) and the man became a living being.^(G)

⁸ Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden;^(H) and there he put the man he had formed. ⁹ The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees^(I) that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life^(J) and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.^(K)

¹⁰ A river^(L) watering the garden flowed from Eden;^(M) from there it was separated into four headwaters. ¹¹ The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah,^(N) where there is gold. ¹² (The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin^[b](O) and onyx are also there.) ¹³ The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of Cush.^{[c] 14} The name of the third river is the Tigris;^(P) it runs along the east side of Ashur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.^(Q)

¹⁵ The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden^(R) to work it and take care of it. ¹⁶ And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;^{(S) 17} but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,^(T) for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”^(U)

¹⁸ The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”^(V)

¹⁹ Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals^(W) and all the birds in the sky.^(X) He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called^(Y) each living creature,^(Z) that was its name. ²⁰ So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals.

But for Adam^[d] no suitable helper^(AA) was found. ²¹ So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep;^(AB) and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs^[e] and then closed up the place with flesh. ²² Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib^[f](AC) he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

²³ The man said,

The Fall

3 Now the serpent^(A) was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?^(B)”

² The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,^{(C) 3} but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”^(D)

⁴ “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman.^{(E) 5} “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God,^(F) knowing good and evil.”

⁶ When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable^(G) for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband,^(H) who was with her, and he ate it.^(I)

Confirming One’s Calling and Election

³ His divine power^(A) has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him^(B) who called us^(C) by his own glory and goodness. ⁴ Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises,^(D) so that through them you may participate in the divine nature,^(E) having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.^(F)

⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;^{(G) 6} and to knowledge, self-control;^(H) and to self-control, perseverance;^(I) and to perseverance, godliness;^{(J) 7} and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.^{(K) 8} For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive^(L) in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.^{(M) 9} But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind,^(N) forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.^(O)

¹⁰ Therefore, my brothers and sisters,^[a] make every effort to confirm your calling^(P) and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble,^{(Q) 11} and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom^(R) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.^(S)

False Teachers and Their Destruction

2 But there were also false prophets^(A) among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you.^(B) They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord^(C) who bought them^(D)—bringing swift destruction on themselves. ² Many will follow their depraved conduct^(E) and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. ³ In their greed^(F) these teachers will exploit you^(G) with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

⁴ For if God did not spare angels when they sinned,^(H) but sent them to hell,^[a] putting them in chains of darkness^[b] to be held for judgment;^{(I) 5} if he did not spare the ancient world^(J) when he brought the flood on its ungodly people,^(K) but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others;^{(L) 6} if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes,^(M) and made them an example^(N) of what is going to happen to the ungodly;^{(O) 7} and if he rescued Lot,^(P) a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless^{(Q) 8} (for that righteous man,^(R) living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— ⁹ if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials^(S) and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.^{(T) 10} This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire^(U) of the flesh^[c] and despise authority.

Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings;^{(V) 11} yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not heap abuse on such beings when bringing judgment on them from^[d] the Lord.^{(W) 12} But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish.^(X)

¹³ They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight.^(Y) They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.^{[e](Z) 14} With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce^(AA) the unstable;^(AB) they are experts in greed^(AC)—an accursed brood!^{(AD) 15} They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam^(AE) son of Bezer,^[f] who loved the wages of wickedness. ¹⁶ But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—an animal without speech—who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.^(AF)

¹⁷ These people are springs without water^(AG) and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.^(AH)

⁷ Remember your leaders,^(A) who spoke the word of God^(B) to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate^(C) their faith.

¹⁷ Have confidence in your leaders^(A) and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you^(B) as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

²⁴ Greet all your leaders^(A) and all the Lord’s people. Those from Italy^(B) send you their greetings.