1 ¶ But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will privately introduce damnable heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.

2 And many will follow their destructive ways; and because of them the way of truth will be portrayed as evil.

3 ¶ And in their covetousness they will use deceptive words to swindle you: their condemnation has not been idle all this time, and their damnation is not asleep.

4 For if God did not spare the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them to be kept in chains of darkness, until judgement;

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

6 And he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction turning them into ashes, making them an example for those who would later live ungodly lives;

7 ¶ And delivered righteous Lot, who was distressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked:

8 (For that just man while living among them day after day, felt his righteous soul tormented by the lawless deeds he saw and heard;)

9 The Lord knows how to deliver the godly from temptation, while keeping the wicked under punishment for the day of judgment:

10 ¶ Especially those who walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement, and despise authority. Foolhardy and headstrong men, they do not tremble when they speak evil of Christ’s glory.

11 Although angels, who are stronger and more powerful than they, do not speak evil judgements against them before the Lord.

12 But these men, like irrational animals, born only to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of things that they do not understand; and will utterly perish in their own corruption;

13 Intending to bring away the wages of unrighteousness, thinking it is fun to carouse during the day. They are spots and blemishes, reveling in self-deception while they feast with you;

14 Having eyes full of adultery, and unable to cease from sin; enticing unstable souls: having a heart exercised in covetousness; cursed children:

15 Who having forsaken the right way, have gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: for a dumb donkey speaking with the voice of a man constrained the prophet’s madness.

17 These are wells without water, and clouds driven by the wind; for whom the blackness of darkness is reserved forever.

18 For when they speak grandiose but empty words, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, and debauchery, those who have just escaped from those who live in error.

19 While they promise them liberty, they are themselves slaves of corruption: for what overcomes a man, brings him into bondage.

20 For if after they have escaped the corruption of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in it, and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.

21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, having known it, to turn from the holy commandment that was given to them.

22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb, The dog turns back to his own vomit; and the sow that is washed to wallowing in the mire.