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25 So it returns and finds that its former home is all swept and in order.

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25 When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order.

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In the same way, these people—who claim authority from their dreams—live immoral lives, defy authority, and scoff at supernatural beings.[a] But even Michael, one of the mightiest of the angels,[b] did not dare accuse the devil of blasphemy, but simply said, “The Lord rebuke you!” (This took place when Michael was arguing with the devil about Moses’ body.) 10 But these people scoff at things they do not understand. Like unthinking animals, they do whatever their instincts tell them, and so they bring about their own destruction. 11 What sorrow awaits them! For they follow in the footsteps of Cain, who killed his brother. Like Balaam, they deceive people for money. And like Korah, they perish in their rebellion.

12 When these people eat with you in your fellowship meals commemorating the Lord’s love, they are like dangerous reefs that can shipwreck you.[c] They are like shameless shepherds who care only for themselves. They are like clouds blowing over the land without giving any rain. They are like trees in autumn that are doubly dead, for they bear no fruit and have been pulled up by the roots. 13 They are like wild waves of the sea, churning up the foam of their shameful deeds. They are like wandering stars, doomed forever to blackest darkness.

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Footnotes

  1. 8 Greek at glorious ones, which are probably evil angels.
  2. 9 Greek Michael, the archangel.
  3. 12 Or they are contaminants among you; or they are stains.

In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings.(A) But even the archangel(B) Michael,(C) when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses,(D) did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”[a](E) 10 Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them.(F)

11 Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain;(G) they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error;(H) they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.(I)

12 These people are blemishes at your love feasts,(J) eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves.(K) They are clouds without rain,(L) blown along by the wind;(M) autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted(N)—twice dead. 13 They are wild waves of the sea,(O) foaming up their shame;(P) wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.(Q)

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Footnotes

  1. Jude 1:9 Jude is alluding to the Jewish Testament of Moses (approximately the first century a.d.).

10 He is especially hard on those who follow their own twisted sexual desire, and who despise authority.

These people are proud and arrogant, daring even to scoff at supernatural beings[a] without so much as trembling. 11 But the angels, who are far greater in power and strength, do not dare to bring from the Lord[b] a charge of blasphemy against those supernatural beings.

12 These false teachers are like unthinking animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed. They scoff at things they do not understand, and like animals, they will be destroyed. 13 Their destruction is their reward for the harm they have done. They love to indulge in evil pleasures in broad daylight. They are a disgrace and a stain among you. They delight in deception[c] even as they eat with you in your fellowship meals. 14 They commit adultery with their eyes, and their desire for sin is never satisfied. They lure unstable people into sin, and they are well trained in greed. They live under God’s curse. 15 They have wandered off the right road and followed the footsteps of Balaam son of Beor,[d] who loved to earn money by doing wrong. 16 But Balaam was stopped from his mad course when his donkey rebuked him with a human voice.

17 These people are as useless as dried-up springs or as mist blown away by the wind. They are doomed to blackest darkness. 18 They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception. 19 They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you.

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Footnotes

  1. 2:10 Greek at glorious ones, which are probably evil angels.
  2. 2:11 Other manuscripts read to the Lord; still others do not include this phrase at all.
  3. 2:13 Some manuscripts read in fellowship meals.
  4. 2:15 Some manuscripts read Bosor.

10 This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire(A) of the flesh[a] and despise authority.

Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings;(B) 11 yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not heap abuse on such beings when bringing judgment on them from[b] the Lord.(C) 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.(D)

13 They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight.(E) They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.[c](F) 14 With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce(G) the unstable;(H) they are experts in greed(I)—an accursed brood!(J) 15 They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam(K) son of Bezer,[d] 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.(L)

17 These people are springs without water(M) and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.(N) 18 For they mouth empty, boastful words(O) and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping(P) 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.”(Q)

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 2:10 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit; also in verse 18.
  2. 2 Peter 2:11 Many manuscripts beings in the presence of
  3. 2 Peter 2:13 Some manuscripts in their love feasts
  4. 2 Peter 2:15 Greek Bosor

This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. 10 He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. 11 So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. 12 Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth.

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The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan(A) works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders(B) that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing.(C) They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.(D) 11 For this reason God sends them(E) a powerful delusion(F) so that they will believe the lie(G) 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.(H)

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44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order. 45 Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation.”

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44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45 Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.(A) That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”

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11 “But no, my people wouldn’t listen.
    Israel did not want me around.
12 So I let them follow their own stubborn desires,
    living according to their own ideas.

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11 “But my people would not listen to me;
    Israel would not submit to me.(A)
12 So I gave them over(B) to their stubborn hearts
    to follow their own devices.

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Everything they say is crooked and deceitful.
    They refuse to act wisely or do good.

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The words of their mouths(A) are wicked and deceitful;(B)
    they fail to act wisely(C) or do good.(D)

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But banish those who turn to crooked ways, O Lord.
    Take them away with those who do evil.

May Israel have peace!

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But those who turn(A) to crooked ways(B)
    the Lord will banish(C) with the evildoers.

Peace be on Israel.(D)

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Jehoiada’s Reforms Reversed

17 But after Jehoiada’s death, the leaders of Judah came and bowed before King Joash and persuaded him to listen to their advice. 18 They decided to abandon the Temple of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and they worshiped Asherah poles and idols instead! Because of this sin, divine anger fell on Judah and Jerusalem. 19 Yet the Lord sent prophets to bring them back to him. The prophets warned them, but still the people would not listen.

20 Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood before the people and said, “This is what God says: Why do you disobey the Lord’s commands and keep yourselves from prospering? You have abandoned the Lord, and now he has abandoned you!”

21 Then the leaders plotted to kill Zechariah, and King Joash ordered that they stone him to death in the courtyard of the Lord’s Temple. 22 That was how King Joash repaid Jehoiada for his loyalty—by killing his son. Zechariah’s last words as he died were, “May the Lord see what they are doing and avenge my death!”

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The Wickedness of Joash

17 After the death of Jehoiada, the officials of Judah came and paid homage to the king, and he listened to them. 18 They abandoned(A) the temple of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and worshiped Asherah poles and idols.(B) Because of their guilt, God’s anger(C) came on Judah and Jerusalem. 19 Although the Lord sent prophets to the people to bring them back to him, and though they testified against them, they would not listen.(D)

20 Then the Spirit(E) of God came on Zechariah(F) son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood before the people and said, “This is what God says: ‘Why do you disobey the Lord’s commands? You will not prosper.(G) Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has forsaken(H) you.’”

21 But they plotted against him, and by order of the king they stoned(I) him to death(J) in the courtyard of the Lord’s temple.(K) 22 King Joash did not remember the kindness Zechariah’s father Jehoiada had shown him but killed his son, who said as he lay dying, “May the Lord see this and call you to account.”(L)

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