³² Remember Lot’s wife.

²⁶ But Lot’s wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.^(A)

³⁹ But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost but among those who have faith and so preserve our souls.^(B)

¹⁸ For they speak bombastic nonsense, and with debased^[a] desires of the flesh they entice people who have just^[b] 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.^{(A) 20} For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the^[c] Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overpowered, the last state has become worse for them than the first.^{(B) 21} For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment that was handed on to them.^{(C) 22} It has happened to them according to the true proverb,

and,

⁶ Now these things occurred as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil as they did.^{(A) 7} Do not become idolaters as some of them did, as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and they rose up to play.”^{(B) 8} We must not engage in sexual immorality, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day.^{(C) 9} We must not put Christ^[a] to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by serpents.^{(D) 10} And do not complain, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.^{(E) 11} These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us, on whom the ends of the ages have come.^{(F) 12} So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall.

¹⁷ When they had brought them outside, they^[a] said, “Flee for your life; do not look back or stop anywhere in the plain; flee to the hills, or else you will be consumed.”^(A)