¹⁷ These ones are waterless springs, and mists being driven by a storm, for whom the gloom of the darkness has been reserved. ¹⁸ For while uttering pompous^[a] words of ^[b] futility^[c], they entice by the desires of the flesh, by^[d] sensualities, the ones barely^[e] escaping-from the ones living in error, ¹⁹ promising them freedom, themselves being slaves of corruption. For by what one has been defeated, by this he has been enslaved.

Their Slavery Now Is Worse Than Ever

²⁰ For if— having escaped-from the defilements of the world by the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and again having been entangled by these things— they^[f] are defeated, then the last state has become worse for them than the first. ²¹ For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than having known, to turn-back from the holy commandment having been delivered to them. ²² The thing of the true proverb has happened to them— “The dog having returned to its own vomit”, and, “The sow having washed herself returns to a wallowing of the mire”.