²⁵ When it returns, it finds it swept and put in order.

⁸ Yet in the same way these dreamers also defile the flesh, reject authority, and slander the glorious ones.^{[a](A) 9} But when the archangel Michael disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, he did not dare to bring a condemnation of slander^[b] against him but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”^{(B) 10} But these people slander whatever they do not understand, and they are destroyed by those things that, like irrational animals, they know by instinct. ¹¹ Woe to them! For they go the way of Cain and abandon themselves to Balaam’s error for the sake of gain and perish in Korah’s rebellion.^{(C) 12} These are blots^[c] on your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, feeding themselves.^[d] They are waterless clouds carried along by the winds; autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, uprooted;^{(D) 13} wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the deepest darkness has been reserved forever.^(E)

¹⁰ —especially those who indulge their flesh in depraved lust and who despise authority.

Bold and willful, they are not afraid to slander the glorious ones,^{[a](A) 11} whereas angels, though greater in might and power, do not bring against them a slanderous judgment.^{[b] 12} These people, however, are like irrational animals, mere creatures of instinct, born to be caught and killed. They slander what they do not understand, and as those creatures are destroyed,^[c] they also will be destroyed, ¹³ suffering^[d] the wages of doing wrong. They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures^[e] while they feast with you.^{(B) 14} They have eyes full of adultery,^[f] insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children! ¹⁵ They have left the straight road and have gone astray, following the road of Balaam son of Bosor,^[g] who loved the wages of doing wrong^{(C) 16} but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.

¹⁷ These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm; for them the deepest darkness has been reserved.^{(D) 18} For they speak bombastic nonsense, and with debased^[h] desires of the flesh they entice people who have just^[i] escaped from those who live in error. ¹⁹ They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption, for people are slaves to whatever masters them.^(E)

⁹ The coming of the lawless one is apparent in the working of Satan, who uses all power, signs, lying wonders,^{(A) 10} and every kind of wicked deception for those who are perishing because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.^{(B) 11} For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion, leading them to believe what is false,^{(C) 12} so that all who have not believed the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness will be condemned.^(D)

⁴⁴ Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ When it returns, it finds it empty, swept, and put in order. ⁴⁵ Then it goes and brings along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and live there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So will it be also with this evil generation.”^(A)

¹⁷ Now after the death of Jehoiada the officials of Judah came and did obeisance to the king; then the king listened to them. ¹⁸ They abandoned the house of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and served the sacred poles^[a] and the idols. And wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs.^{(A) 19} Yet he sent prophets among them to bring them back to the Lord; they testified against them, but they would not listen.^(B)

²⁰ Then the spirit of God took possession of^[b] Zechariah son of the priest Jehoiada; he stood above the people and said to them, “Thus says God: Why do you transgress the commandments of the Lord, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has also forsaken you.”^{(C) 21} But they conspired against him, and by command of the king they stoned him to death in the court of the house of the Lord.^{(D) 22} King Joash did not remember the kindness that Jehoiada, Zechariah’s father, had shown him but killed his son. As he was dying, he said, “May the Lord see and avenge!”^(E)