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.
|
