Chapter 2

But there were false prophets also among the people, just as among you there will be lying teachers who will bring in destructive sects. They even disown the Lord who bought them, thus bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

And many will follow their wanton conduct, and because of them the way of truth will be maligned.

And out of greed they will with deceitful words use you for their gain. Their condemnation, passed of old, is not made void, and their destruction does not slumber. Warning from the Past

For God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but dragged them down by infernal ropes to Tartarus, and delivered them to be tortured and kept in custody for judgment.

Nor did he spare the ancient world, but preserved (with seven others) Noe a herald of justice, when he brought a flood upon the world of the impious.

And he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction, reducing them to ashes, thus making them an example to those who in the future should live impiously;

whereas he delivered just Lot, who was distressed by the lawless behavior of the wicked.

For by what that just man saw and heard while dwelling among them, they tormented his just soul day after day with their wicked deeds.

The Lord knows how to deliver the God-fearing from temptation and to reserve the wicked for torment on the day of judgment,

but especially those who follow the flesh in unclean lust and despise authority. The Vices of Heresy Rash and self-willed, such men in their deriding do not regard majesty;

whereas angels, though greater in strength and power, do not bring against themselves an abusive charge.

But these men, like irrational animals created by nature for capture and destruction, deride what they do not understand, and will perish in their own corruption,

receiving thereby the recompense of their wrongdoing. They regard as pleasure their daylight revelry; they are spots and blemishes, they abound in wantonness while banqueting with you.

They have eyes full of adultery and turned unceasingly towards sin. They entice unstable souls; they have their hearts exercised in covetousness; they are children of a curse.

They have forsaken the right way and have gone astray; they have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of wrongdoing.

But he was rebuked for his madness; a dumb beast of burden spoke with the voice of a man and checked the folly of the prophet.

These men are springs without water and mists driven by storms; the blackness of darkness is reserved for them.

For by high-sounding, empty words they entice with sensual allurements of carnal passion those who are just escaping from such as live in error.

They promise them freedom, whereas they themselves are the slaves of corruption; for by whatever a man is overcome, of this also he is the slave.

For if after escaping the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, their latter state has become worse for them than the former.

For it was better for them not to have known the way of justice, than having known it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.

For what the true proverb says has happened to them, "A dog returns to his vomit," and, "A sow even after washing wallows in the mire."