1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as
there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in
damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring
upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many shall follow their
pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken
of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make
merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and
their damnation slumbereth not.
4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down
to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved
unto judgment; 5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth
person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the
world of the ungodly;
6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha
into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample
unto those that after should live ungodly; 7 And delivered just Lot,
vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (For that righteous
man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul
from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations,
and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: 10
But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness,
and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not
afraid to speak evil of dignities. 11 Whereas angels, which are greater
in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the
Lord.
12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and
destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall
utterly perish in their own corruption; 13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that
count it pleasure to riot in the day time.
Spots they are and blemishes,
sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with
you; 14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin;
beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous
practices; cursed children:
15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are
gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved
the wages of unrighteousness; 16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the
dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure
through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that
were clean escaped from them who live in error. 19 While they promise
them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom
a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world
through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are
again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them
than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have
known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn
from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The
dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to
her wallowing in the mire.