2 Peter 2

1But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

1Just as there were false prophets among the people long ago, there will also be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive teachings, even rejecting the Master who bought them, and bringing quick destruction on themselves.

2And many shall follow their lascivious doings; by reason of whom the way of the truth shall be evil spoken of.

2Many people will follow their immoral ways, and because of them, the way of truth will be insulted.

3And in covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose sentence now from of old lingereth not, and their destruction slumbereth not.

3In their greed, these teachers will exploit you with made-up stories. Their judgment was decided long ago and is not late; their destruction is not sleeping.

4For if God spared not angels when they sinned, but cast them down to hell, and committed them to pits of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

4For God did not spare the angels who sinned, but threw them down to hell, putting them in dark caves to be held until the day of judgment.

5and spared not the ancient world, but preserved Noah with seven others, a preacher of righteousness, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;

5He did not spare the ancient world either, but brought a flood on the world of ungodly people. However, he protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, along with seven others.

6and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, having made them an example unto those that should live ungodly;

6He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, making them an example of what will happen to the ungodly.

7and delivered righteous Lot, sore distressed by the lascivious life of the wicked

7But he rescued Lot, a righteous man who was deeply troubled by the filthy lives of lawless people.

8(for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their lawless deeds):

8(For that righteous man lived among them day after day, and his soul was tortured by the evil things he saw and heard.)

9the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment unto the day of judgment;

9This shows that the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from trials and how to keep the wicked under punishment until the day of judgment.

10but chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement, and despise dominion. Daring, self-willed, they tremble not to rail at dignities:

10This is especially true for those who follow their corrupt desires and despise authority. These people are bold and arrogant, and they are not afraid to insult celestial beings.

11whereas angels, though greater in might and power, bring not a railing judgment against them before the Lord.

11Even angels, who are much stronger and more powerful than these teachers, do not bring insulting charges against such beings before the Lord.

12But these, as creatures without reason, born mere animals to be taken and destroyed, railing in matters whereof they are ignorant, shall in their destroying surely be destroyed,

12But these people are like mindless animals, governed by instinct and born to be caught and destroyed. They insult things they do not understand, and like animals, they will perish in their own corruption.

13suffering wrong as the hire of wrong-doing; men that count it pleasure to revel in the day-time, spots and blemishes, revelling in their deceivings while they feast with you;

13They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. They think it is fun to party in broad daylight. They are like stains and blemishes, enjoying their own deceptions while they eat with you.

14having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; enticing unstedfast souls; having a heart exercised in covetousness; children of cursing;

14Their eyes are full of adultery and they never stop sinning. They trick people who are not firm in their faith. Their hearts are trained in greed; they are under a curse.

15forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the hire of wrong-doing;

15They have left the right path and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the money he earned from doing wrong.

16but he was rebuked for his own transgression: a dumb ass spake with man’s voice and stayed the madness of the prophet.

16But Balaam was scolded for his sin. A donkey, which cannot speak, spoke with a human voice and stopped the prophet’s crazy behavior.

17These are springs without water, and mists driven by a storm; for whom the blackness of darkness hath been reserved.

17These people are like dried-up springs and mists blown by a storm. The thickest darkness has been kept for them.

18For, uttering great swelling words of vanity, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by lasciviousness, those who are just escaping from them that live in error;

18They brag with empty, foolish words. By appealing to sinful human desires, they lure away people who have only just escaped from those who live in error.

19promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he also brought into bondage.

19They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves to destruction. For a person is a slave to whatever has defeated them. scraps

20For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the last state is become worse with them than the first.

20For if they have escaped the world's filth by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, but then get tangled up and defeated by it again, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.

21For it were better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

21It would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than to know it and then turn their backs on the holy command given to them.

22It has happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog turning to his own vomit again, and the sow that had washed to wallowing in the mire.

22What has happened to them proves the truth of the proverbs: 'A dog returns to its own vomit,' and, 'A scrubbed pig goes back to rolling in the mud.'