⁵ The earth is also ^(A)defiled ^[a]by its inhabitants, for they violated laws, altered statutes, and ^(B)broke the everlasting covenant.

⁴ For certain people have ^(A)crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand ^[a](B)marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn ^(C)the grace of our God into ^(D)indecent behavior and ^(E)deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

The Appearance of False Prophets

2 But ^(A)false prophets also appeared among the people, just as there will also be ^(B)false teachers ^(C)among you, who will ^(D)secretly introduce ^(E)destructive heresies, even ^(F)denying the ^(G)Master who ^(H)bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.

¹⁷ These are ^(A)springs without water and mists driven by a storm, ^(B)for whom the ^[a]black darkness has been reserved. ¹⁸ For, while speaking out ^(C)arrogant words of no ^(D)value they ^(E)entice by fleshly desires, by ^(F)indecent behavior, those who barely ^(G)escape from the ones who live in error, ¹⁹ promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for ^(H)by what anyone is overcome, by this he is enslaved.