¹⁰ and especially those who ^[a](A)indulge the flesh in its corrupt passion, and ^(B)despise ^[b]authority.

^[c]Reckless, ^(C)self-centered, they ^(D)speak abusively of angelic ^[d]majesties without trembling, ^11 (E)whereas angels who are greater in might and power do not bring a demeaning judgment against them before the Lord. ¹² But ^(F)these, like unreasoning animals, ^(G)born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed, using abusive speech where they have no knowledge, will in ^[e]the destruction of those creatures also be destroyed, ¹³ suffering wrong as ^(H)the wages of doing wrong. They count it a pleasure to ^(I)revel in the ^(J)daytime. They are stains and blemishes, ^(K)reveling in their ^[f]deceptions as they ^(L)feast with you, ¹⁴ having eyes full of adultery ^[g]that never cease from sin, ^(M)enticing ^(N)unstable souls, having hearts trained in ^(O)greed, ^(P)accursed children; ¹⁵ abandoning ^(Q)the right way, they have gone astray, having followed ^(R)the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved ^(S)the ^[h]reward of unrighteousness; ¹⁶ but he received a rebuke for his own offense, ^(T)for a mute donkey, speaking with a human voice, restrained the insanity of the prophet.

¹⁷ These are ^(U)springs without water and mists driven by a storm, ^(V)for whom the ^[i]black darkness has been reserved. ¹⁸ For, while speaking out ^(W)arrogant words of no ^(X)value they ^(Y)entice by fleshly desires, by ^(Z)indecent behavior, those who barely ^(AA)escape from the ones who live in error, ¹⁹ promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for ^(AB)by what anyone is overcome, by this he is enslaved. ²⁰ For if, after they have ^(AC)escaped the defilements of the world by ^(AD)the knowledge of the ^(AE)Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again ^(AF)entangled in them and are overcome, ^(AG)the last state has become worse for them than the first. ^21 (AH)For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from ^(AI)the holy commandment ^(AJ)handed on to them. ^22 [j]It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “^(AK)A dog returns to its own vomit,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.”