²⁶ Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And ^(A)the last state of that person is worse than the first.”

¹⁴ Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! ^(A)Sin no more, ^(B)that nothing worse may happen to you.”

⁴⁵ Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and ^(A)the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this ^(B)evil generation.”

²⁰ For if, ^(A)after they have escaped the defilements of the world ^(B)through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, ^(C)the last state has become worse for them than the first. ²¹ For ^(D)it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from ^(E)the holy commandment delivered to them. ²² What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The ^(F)dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”

¹² These are hidden reefs^{[a] (A)}at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, ^(B)shepherds feeding themselves; ^(C)waterless clouds, ^(D)swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, ^(E)uprooted; ^13 (F)wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of ^(G)their own shame; ^(H)wandering stars, ^(I)for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.