But{G1161} there arose{G1096} false prophets{G5578} also{G2532} among{G1722} the people,{G2992} as{G5613} among{G1722} you{G5213} also{G2532} there shall be{G2071} false teachers,{G5572} who{G3748} shall privily bring in{G3919} destructive{G684} heresies,{G139} denying{G720} even{G2532} the Master{G1203} that bought{G59} them,{G846} bringing upon{G1863} themselves{G1438} swift{G5031} destruction.{G684}

And{G2532} many{G4183} shall follow{G1811} their{G846} lascivious doings;{G684} by reason of{G1223} whom{G3739} the way{G3598} of the truth{G225} shall be evil spoken of.{G987}

And{G2532} in{G1722} covetousness{G4124} shall they{G1710} with feigned{G4112} words{G3056} make merchandise{G1710} of you:{G5209} whose{G3739} sentence{G2917} now{G691} from of old{G1597} lingereth{G691} not,{G3756} and{G2532} their{G846} destruction{G684} slumbereth{G3573} not.{G3756}

For{G1063} if{G1487} God{G2316} spared{G5339} not{G3756} angels{G32} when they sinned,{G264} but{G235} cast{G5020} them down to hell,{G5020} and committed{G3860} them to pits{G4577} of darkness,{G2217} to be reserved{G5083} unto{G1519} judgment;{G2920}

and{G2532} spared{G5339} not{G3756} the{G2889} ancient{G744} world,{G2889} but{G235} preserved{G5442} Noah{G3575} with seven others,{G3590} a preacher{G2783} of righteousness,{G1343} when he brought{G1863} a flood{G2627} upon the world{G2889} of the ungodly;{G765}

and{G2532} turning{G5077} the cities{G4172} of Sodom{G4670} and{G2532} Gomorrah{G1116} into ashes{G5077} condemned{G2632} them with an overthrow,{G2692} having made{G5087} them an example{G5262} unto those that should{G3195} live ungodly;{G764}

and{G2532} delivered{G4506} righteous{G1342} Lot,{G3091} sore distressed{G2669} by{G5259} the lascivious{G766} life{G391} of the wicked{G113}

(for{G1063} that righteous man{G1342} dwelling{G1460} among{G1722} them,{G846} in seeing{G990} and{G2532} hearing,{G189} vexed{G928} [his] righteous{G1342} soul{G5590} from{G1537} day{G2250} to{G1537} day{G2250} with{G2041} [their] lawless{G459} deeds):{G2041}

the Lord{G2962} knoweth how{G1492} to deliver{G4506} the godly{G2152} out of{G1537} temptation,{G3986} and{G1161} to keep{G5083} the unrighteous{G94} under punishment{G2849} unto{G1519} the day{G2250} of judgment;{G2920}

but{G1161} chiefly{G3122} them that walk{G4198} after{G3694} the flesh{G4561} in{G1722} the lust{G1939} of defilement,{G3394} and{G2532} despise{G2706} dominion.{G2963} Daring,{G5113} self-willed,{G829} they {G0} tremble{G5141} not{G3756} to rail{G987} at dignities:{G1391}

whereas{G3699} angels,{G32} though{G5607} greater{G3173} in might{G1411} and{G2532} power,{G2479} bring{G5342} not{G3756} a railing{G989} judgment{G2920} against{G2596} them{G846} before{G3844} the Lord.{G2962}

But{G1161} these,{G3778} as{G5613} creatures without reason,{G249} born{G1080} mere{G5446} animals{G2226} to{G1519} be taken{G259} and{G2532} destroyed,{G5356} railing{G987} in{G1722} matters whereof{G3739} they are ignorant,{G50} shall in{G1722} their{G846} destroying{G5356} surely be destroyed,{G2704}

suffering{G2865} wrong as the hire{G3408} of wrong-doing;{G93} [men] that count{G2233} it pleasure{G2237} to revel{G5172} in{G1722} the day-time,{G2250} spots{G4696} and{G2532} blemishes,{G3470} revelling{G1792} in{G1722} their{G846} deceivings{G539} while they feast{G4910} with you;{G5213}

having{G2192} eyes{G3788} full{G3324} of adultery,{G3428} and{G2532} that cannot cease{G180} from sin;{G266} enticing{G1185} unstedfast{G793} souls;{G2192} having a heart{G2588} exercised{G1128} in covetousness;{G4124} children{G5043} of cursing;{G2671}

forsaking{G2641} the right{G2117} way,{G3598} they went astray,{G4105} having followed{G1811} the way{G3598} of Balaam{G903} the [son] of Beor,{G1007} who{G3739} loved{G25} the hire{G3408} of wrong-doing;{G93}

but{G1161} he was{G2192} rebuked{G1649} for{G3892} his{G2398} own transgression:{G3892} a dumb{G880} ass{G5268} spake{G5350} with{G1722} man's{G444} voice{G5456} and stayed{G2967} the madness{G3913} of the prophet.{G4396}

These{G3778} are{G1526} springs{G4077} without water,{G504} and mists{G3507} driven{G1643} by{G5259} a storm;{G2978} for whom{G3739} the blackness{G2217} of darkness{G4655} hath been reserved.{G5083}

For,{G1063} uttering{G5350} great swelling{G5246} [words] of vanity,{G3153} they entice{G1185} in{G1722} the lusts{G1939} of the flesh,{G4561} by lasciviousness,{G766} those who are just{G3689} escaping{G668} from them that live{G390} in{G1722} error;{G4106}

promising{G1861} them{G846} liberty,{G1657} while they themselves{G846} are{G5225} bondservants{G1401} of corruption;{G5356} for{G1063} of whom{G3739} a man{G5100} is overcome,{G2274} of the same{G5129} is he also brought into bondage.{G1402}

For{G1063} if,{G1487} after they have escaped{G668} the defilements{G3393} of the world{G2889} through{G1722} the knowledge{G1922} of the Lord{G2962} and{G2532} Saviour{G4990} Jesus{G2424} Christ,{G1161} they are{G1707} again{G3825} entangled{G1707} therein{G5125} and overcome,{G2274} the last state{G2078} is{G1096} become worse{G5501} with them{G846} than the first.{G4413}

For{G1063} it were better{G2909} for{G1063} them{G846} not{G3361} to have known{G1921} the way{G3598} of righteousness,{G1343} than,{G2228} after knowing{G1921} it, to turn{G1994} back from{G1537} the{G1785} holy{G40} commandment{G1785} delivered{G3860} unto them.{G846}

{G1161} It has happened{G4819} unto them{G846} according to the{G3942} true{G227} proverb,{G3942} The dog{G2965} turning{G1994} to{G1909} his own{G2398} vomit{G1829} again,{G1994} and{G2532} the sow{G5300} that had washed{G3068} to{G1519} wallowing{G2946} in the mire.{G1004}