14 having eyes full of [a]adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. (A)They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. 15 They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of (B)Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet.

17 (C)These are wells without water, [b]clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness [c]forever.

Deceptions of False Teachers

18 For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who [d]have actually escaped from those who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of [e]corruption; (D)for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into [f]bondage.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 2:14 Lit. an adulteress
  2. 2 Peter 2:17 NU and mists
  3. 2 Peter 2:17 NU omits forever
  4. 2 Peter 2:18 NU are barely escaping
  5. 2 Peter 2:19 depravity
  6. 2 Peter 2:19 slavery

14 having eyes full of adultery [a]that never cease from sin, (A)enticing (B)unstable souls, having hearts trained in (C)greed, (D)accursed children; 15 abandoning (E)the right way, they have gone astray, having followed (F)the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved (G)the [b]reward of unrighteousness; 16 but he received a rebuke for his own offense, (H)for a mute donkey, speaking with a human voice, restrained the insanity of the prophet.

17 These are (I)springs without water and mists driven by a storm, (J)for whom the [c]black darkness has been reserved. 18 For, while speaking out (K)arrogant words of no (L)value they (M)entice by fleshly desires, by (N)indecent behavior, those who barely (O)escape from the ones who live in error, 19 promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for (P)by what anyone is overcome, by this he is enslaved.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 2:14 Lit and unceasing from sin
  2. 2 Peter 2:15 Or wages
  3. 2 Peter 2:17 Lit blackness of darkness

14 They have eyes full of adultery, constantly looking for sin, enticing and luring away unstable souls. Having hearts trained in greed, [they are] children of a curse. 15 Abandoning the straight road [that is, the right way to live], they have gone astray; they have followed the way of [the false teacher] Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the reward of wickedness;(A) 16 but he was rebuked for his own transgression: a mute donkey spoke with a man’s voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.(B)

17 These [false teachers] are springs without water and mists driven by a tempest, for whom is reserved the gloom of black darkness. 18 For uttering arrogant words of vanity [pompous words disguised to sound scholarly or profound, but meaning nothing and containing no spiritual truth], they beguile and lure using lustful desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error. 19 They promise them liberty, when they themselves are the slaves of depravity—for by whatever anyone is defeated and overcome, to that [person, thing, philosophy, or concept] he is continually enslaved.

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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)

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 2:15 Greek Bosor

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.

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