¹¹ Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain;^(A) they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error;^(B) they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.^(C)

¹² These people are blemishes at your love feasts,^(D) eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves.^(E) They are clouds without rain,^(F) blown along by the wind;^(G) autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted^(H)—twice dead. ¹³ They are wild waves of the sea,^(I) foaming up their shame;^(J) wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.^(K)

¹⁴ With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce^(A) the unstable;^(B) they are experts in greed^(C)—an accursed brood!^{(D) 15} They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam^(E) son of Bezer,^[a] who loved the wages of wickedness. ¹⁶ But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—an animal without speech—who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.^(F)

¹⁷ These people are springs without water^(G) and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.^{(H) 18} For they mouth empty, boastful words^(I) and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping^(J) from those who live in error. ¹⁹ They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.”^(K)