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.”

⁹ Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”

“My name is Legion,”^(A) he replied, “for we are many.”

²⁶ If we deliberately keep on sinning^(A) after we have received the knowledge of the truth,^(B) no sacrifice for sins is left, ²⁷ but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire^(C) that will consume the enemies of God. ²⁸ Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.^{(D) 29} How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God^(E) underfoot,^(F) who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant^(G) that sanctified them,^(H) and who has insulted the Spirit^(I) of grace?^{(J) 30} For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”^[a](K) and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”^{[b](L) 31} It is a dreadful thing^(M) to fall into the hands^(N) of the living God.^(O)

⁴ It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened,^(A) who have tasted the heavenly gift,^(B) who have shared in the Holy Spirit,^{(C) 5} who have tasted the goodness^(D) of the word of God^(E) and the powers of the coming age ⁶ and who have fallen^[a] away, to be brought back to repentance.^(F) To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God^(G) all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. ⁷ Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. ⁸ But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed.^(H) In the end it will be burned.

²⁶ Then it goes and takes 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)

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.^(A)

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

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

[The earliest manuscripts and some other ancient witnesses do not have verses 9–20.]

⁹ When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene,^(A) out of whom he had driven seven demons.

¹⁴ With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce^(A) the unstable;^(B) they are experts in greed^(C)—an accursed brood!^{(D) 15} They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam^(E) son of Bezer,^[a] 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.^(F)

¹⁷ These people are springs without water^(G) and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.^{(H) 18} For they mouth empty, boastful words^(I) and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping^(J) 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.”^{(K) 20} If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing^(L) our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ^(M) and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.^{(N) 21} It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.^{(O) 22} Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,”^[b](P) and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.”

¹⁶ If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life.^(A) I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death.^(B) I am not saying that you should pray about that.^{(C) 17} All wrongdoing is sin,^(D) and there is sin that does not lead to death.^(E)