¶ But there were¹ false prophets also among the people, even² as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily³ shall bring in damnable⁴ heresies, even denying⁵ the Lord that bought⁶ them, and bring⁷ upon themselves swift destruction.

And many⁸ shall follow their pernicious ways⁹; by reason of whom the way¹⁰ of truth shall be evil¹¹ spoken of.

¶ And through¹² covetousness shall they with¹³ feigned words make¹⁴ merchandise of you: whose¹⁵ judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

For if God spared¹⁶ not the angels¹⁷ that sinned, but¹⁸ cast them down to hell, and delivered them into¹⁹ chains of darkness, to be²⁰ reserved unto judgment;

And spared²¹ not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth²² person, a preacher²³ of righteousness, bringing²⁴ in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

And turning²⁵ the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making²⁶ them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;

¶ And delivered²⁷ just Lot, vexed²⁸ with the filthy conversation of the wicked:

(For that²⁹ righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing³⁰ and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

The Lord knoweth³¹ how to deliver the godly³² out of temptations, and³³ to reserve the unjust unto³⁴ the day of judgment to be punished:

¶ But chiefly them that³⁵ walk after the flesh in the³⁶ lust of uncleanness, and despise³⁷ government³⁸. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled³⁹, they are not afraid to speak⁴⁰ evil of dignities.

Whereas angels⁴¹, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them⁴² before the Lord.

But these, as natural⁴³ brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish⁴⁴ in their own corruption;

And shall receive the reward⁴⁵ of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot⁴⁶ in the day time. Spots⁴⁷ they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while⁴⁸ they feast with you;

Having eyes⁴⁹ full of adultery⁵⁰, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling⁵¹ unstable souls: an heart⁵² they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed⁵³ children:

Which have forsaken⁵⁴ the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam⁵⁵ the son of Bosor, who loved the wages⁵⁷ of unrighteousness;

But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb⁵⁸ ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness⁵⁹ of the prophet.

These are wells⁶⁰ without water, clouds⁶¹ that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist⁶² of darkness⁶³ is reserved for ever.

For when they speak⁶⁴ great swelling⁶⁵ words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness⁶⁶, those that were⁶⁷ clean⁶⁸ escaped from them who live in error.

While they promise⁶⁹ them liberty, they themselves⁷⁰ are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome⁷¹, of the same is he brought in bondage.

¶ For if after⁷² they have escaped⁷³ the pollutions of the world through⁷⁴ the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter⁷⁵ end is worse with them than the beginning.

For it had⁷⁶ been better for them not to have known the way⁷⁷ of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn⁷⁸ from the holy⁷⁹ commandment delivered unto them.

But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog⁸⁰ is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.