The Rise And Fall Of The False Teachers
1 But just as there were false prophets among the people before, there will also be false teachers among you [Christians]. They will privately teach harmful doctrines that destroy people [spiritually], by even denying [that Jesus is] the Master, [and thereby] destroying themselves quickly.
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.
1 But (A)false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be (B)false teachers (C)among you, who will (D)secretly introduce (E)destructive heresies, even (F)denying the (G)Master who (H)bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.
1 But there were also false prophets(A) among the people, just as there will be false teachers(B) among you. They will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought(C) them, and will bring swift destruction on themselves.
1 Now there were false prophets among the people, just as there also will be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction on themselves.
2 And many people will follow their unrestrained, indecent conduct, which will result in the true way [of God] being spoken against.
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
2 Many will follow their (I)sensuality, and because of them (J)the way of the truth will be (K)maligned;
2 Many will follow their unrestrained ways, and the way of truth will be blasphemed because of them.(D)
2 Many people will follow their immoral ways, and because of them the way of truth will be maligned.
3 And through greedy desires and deceptive words they will exploit you [for evil purposes]. But the judgment that they have had coming for a long time, will not delay, but will eventually awaken [i.e., arrive] to bring destruction upon them.
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.
3 and in their (L)greed they will (M)exploit you with (N)false words; (O)their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
3 They will exploit(E) you in their greed(F) with deceptive words. Their condemnation,(G) pronounced long ago, is not idle, and their destruction does not sleep.
3 In their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words. The ancient verdict against them is still in force, and their destruction is not delayed.
4 For if God did not spare sinning angels, but cast them in chains, into deep, dark dungeons to await judgment;
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;
4 For (P)if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and (Q)committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment;
4 For if God didn’t spare(H) the angels who sinned but threw them down into Tartarus(a)(I) and delivered them to be kept in chains(b) of darkness until judgment;(J)
4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but threw them into the lowest hell and imprisoned them in chains of deepest darkness, holding them for judgment;
5 and if He did not spare the ancient world of Noah's day, when He brought a flood on those ungodly people (though Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven other people, were saved from it);
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;
5 and did not spare (R)the ancient world, but preserved (S)Noah, a (a)preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a (T)flood upon the world of the ungodly;
5 and if He didn’t spare the ancient world, but protected Noah,(K) a preacher of righteousness, and seven others,(c)(L) when He brought a flood on the world of the ungodly;
5 and if he did not spare the ancient world but protected Noah, a righteous preacher, along with seven others when he brought the flood on the world of ungodly people;
6 and if God also condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by reducing them to ashes, thereby condemning them to catastrophic destruction, and making them an example to other ungodly people in the future;
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;
6 and if He (U)condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an (V)example to those who would (W)live ungodly lives thereafter;
6 and if He reduced the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah(M) to ashes and condemned them to ruin,(d) making them an example to those who were going to be ungodly;(e)(N)
6 and if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and destroyed them by burning them to ashes, making them an example to ungodly people of what is going to happen to them;
7 and if He rescued the righteous man Lot, who had become very disturbed by unrestrained wickedness [of the people there in Sodom].
7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
7 and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man who was greatly distressed by the immoral conduct of lawless people
8 (For, being a righteous man living among them, Lot's righteous spirit was very disturbed every day by the wickedness he heard and saw),
8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
8 (for by what he saw and heard that (AA)righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds),
8 (for as he lived among them, that righteous man tormented himself day by day with the lawless deeds he saw and heard(P))—
8 for as long as that righteous man lived among them, day after day he was being tortured in his righteous soul by what he saw and heard in their lawless actions
9 then the Lord [surely] knows how to rescue godly people from trying situations, and to keep unrighteous people under [a sentence of] punishment [to be received] on the judgment day.
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:
9 (AB)then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from (b)temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the (AC)day of judgment,
9 then the Lord knows how to rescue(Q) the godly from trials and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment,(R)
9 then the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials and to hold unrighteous people for punishment on the day of judgment,
10 [This fate will come upon] those people especially who corrupt themselves with physical desires and despise being ruled by others. They are daring, self-willed, and are not afraid to speak against glorious beings [i.e., angels],
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.
10 and especially those who (c)(AD)indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and (AE)despise authority.Daring, (AF)self-willed, they do not tremble when they (AG)revile angelic (d)majesties,
10 especially those who follow the polluting desires of the flesh and despise authority.(S)Bold, arrogant people! They do not tremble when they blaspheme the glorious ones;
10 especially those who satisfy their flesh by indulging in its passions and who despise authority.
11 while [those] angels, who are greater in strength and power than they, refuse to speak against such authorities, in condemnation, before the Lord.
11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.
11 (AH)whereas angels who are greater in might and power do not bring a reviling judgment against them before the Lord.
11 however, angels, who are greater in might and power, do not bring a slanderous charge against them before the Lord.(f)
11 Being bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to slander glorious beings. Yet even angels, although they are greater in strength and power, do not bring a slanderous accusation against them from the Lord.
12 However, these people are like unreasonable, ignorant creatures of instinct, born as animals which are [to be] caught and destroyed. They speak out against things about which they are ignorant. In [the process of] destroying others, they will certainly be destroyed themselves.
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;
12 But (AI)these, like unreasoning animals, (AJ)born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed, reviling where they have no knowledge, will in (e)the destruction of those creatures also be destroyed,
12 But these people, like irrational animals—creatures of instinct born to be caught and destroyed—speak blasphemies about things they don’t understand, and in their destruction they too will be destroyed,
12 These people, like irrational animals, are mere creatures of instinct that are born to be caught and killed. They insult what they don't understand, and like animals they, too, will be destroyed,
13 They suffer wrong themselves for doing wrong to other people. They consider it [especially] pleasurable to carry on their drunken revellings, [even] during the daytime. They become blots and blemishes [i.e., like spoiled food] in your fellowship meal, as they revel in their deceitful behavior.
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;
13 suffering wrong as (AK)the wages of doing wrong. They count it a pleasure to (AL)revel in the (AM)daytime. They are stains and blemishes, (AN)reveling in their (f)deceptions, as they (AO)carouse with you,
13 suffering harm as the payment for unrighteousness. They consider it a pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, delighting in their deceptions(g) as they feast with you.
13 suffering harm as punishment for their wrongdoing. They take pleasure in wild parties in broad daylight. They are stains and blemishes, reveling in their deceitful pleasures while they eat with you.
14 Their eyes are filled with sexual lust, and they are never satisfied when it comes to sinning. They entice unstable people and have hearts trained to be greedy [i.e., they continually desire the possessions of others]. [In this condition] they are under God's curse.
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:
14 having eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin, (AP)enticing (AQ)unstable souls, having a heart trained in (AR)greed, (AS)accursed children;
14 They have eyes full of adultery(T) and are always looking for sin. They seduce unstable people and have hearts trained in greed. Children under a curse!(U)
14 With eyes full of adultery, they cannot get enough of sin. They seduce unsteady souls and have had their hearts expertly trained in greed. They are doomed to a curse.
15 They strayed away [from God] by taking the wrong road like Balaam, the son of Bosor did, who loved the reward for doing wrong.
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;
15 forsaking (AT)the right way, they have gone astray, having followed (AU)the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved (AV)the wages of unrighteousness;
15 They have gone astray by abandoning the straight path(V) and have followed the path of Balaam,(W) the son of Bosor,(h) who loved the wages of unrighteousness(X)
15 They have left the straight path and wandered off to follow the path of Bosor's son Balaam, who loved the reward he got for doing wrong.
16 But Balaam was rebuked for his own wrongdoing by a speechless donkey, who spoke out in a man's voice and prevented the prophet from continuing his foolishness.
16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
16 but he received a rebuke for his own transgression, (AW)for a mute donkey, speaking with a voice of a man, restrained the madness of the prophet.
16 but received a rebuke for his transgression: A donkey that could not talk spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s irrationality.(Y)
16 But he was rebuked for his offense. A donkey that normally cannot talk spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet's insanity.
17 Such people are like springs that give no water and clouds driven by the winds. [Only] the blackest darkness awaits them.
17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
17 These are (AX)springs without water and mists driven by a storm, (AY)for whom the (g)black darkness has been reserved.
17 These people are springs without water, mists driven by a whirlwind. The gloom of darkness has been reserved for them.(Z)
17 These men are dried-up springs, mere clouds driven by a storm. Gloomy darkness is reserved for them.
18 [Although] their talk is big, what they say is worthless, and by [offering people] fleshly desires [i.e., sexual gratification], they lead people astray, who are barely escaping from the error of the world.
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.
18 For speaking out (AZ)arrogant words of (BA)vanity they (BB)entice by fleshly desires, by (BC)sensuality, those who barely (BD)escape from the ones who live in error,
18 For by uttering boastful, empty words,(AA) they seduce, with fleshly desires and debauchery, people who have barely escaped(i) from those who live in error.
18 By talking high-sounding nonsense and using sinful cravings of the flesh, they entice people who have just escaped from those who live in error.
19 [Although] these people promise "liberty," they themselves are slaves to corrupting influences, for people are slaves to whatever controls them.
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.
19 promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for (BE)by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.
19 They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption, since people are enslaved to whatever defeats them.(AB)
19 Promising them freedom, they themselves are slaves to depravity, for a person is a slave to whatever conquers him.
20 For if people who have escaped from the defiling practices of the world by coming to know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, become tangled up in them again, and are overcome by them, these people are worse off than before they were converted.
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.
20 For if, after they have (BF)escaped the defilements of the world by (BG)the knowledge of the (BH)Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again (BI)entangled in them and are overcome, (BJ)the last state has become worse for them than the first.
20 For if, having escaped the world’s impurity through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,(AC) they are again entangled in these things and defeated, the last state is worse for them than the first.(AD)
20 For if, after escaping the world's corruptions through a full knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus, the Messiah, they are again entangled and conquered by those corruptions, then their last condition is worse than their former one.
21 It would have been better for them if they had not known the right way [to God] than, after knowing it, to turn back from the sacred message that had been presented to them.
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.
21 (BK)For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from (BL)the holy commandment (BM)handed on to them.
21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness(AE) than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy command(AF) delivered(AG) to them.(AH)
21 It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to know it and turn their backs on the holy commandment that was committed to them.
22 It has happened to them like the true proverb [says], "The dog [throws up, and then] goes back and eats its own vomit," and "The hog that was all cleaned up [goes back] to wallowing in the mud."
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.
22 (h)It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “(BN)A dog returns to its own vomit,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.”
22 It has happened to them according to the true proverb: A dog returns to its own vomit,(AI)(j) and, “a sow, after washing itself, wallows in the mud.”
22 The proverb is true that describes what has happened to them: "A dog returns to its vomit," and "A pig that is washed goes back to wallow in the mud."