¹² But ^(A)these, like unreasoning animals, ^(B)born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed, using abusive speech where they have no knowledge, will in ^[a]the destruction of those creatures also be destroyed, ¹³ suffering wrong as ^(C)the wages of doing wrong. They count it a pleasure to ^(D)revel in the ^(E)daytime. They are stains and blemishes, ^(F)reveling in their ^[b]deceptions as they ^(G)feast with you, ¹⁴ having eyes full of adultery ^[c]that never cease from sin, ^(H)enticing ^(I)unstable souls, having hearts trained in ^(J)greed, ^(K)accursed children; ¹⁵ abandoning ^(L)the right way, they have gone astray, having followed ^(M)the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved ^(N)the ^[d]reward of unrighteousness; ¹⁶ but he received a rebuke for his own offense, ^(O)for a mute donkey, speaking with a human voice, restrained the insanity of the prophet.

¹⁷ These are ^(P)springs without water and mists driven by a storm, ^(Q)for whom the ^[e]black darkness has been reserved. ¹⁸ For, while speaking out ^(R)arrogant words of no ^(S)value they ^(T)entice by fleshly desires, by ^(U)indecent behavior, those who barely ^(V)escape from the ones who live in error, ¹⁹ promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for ^(W)by what anyone is overcome, by this he is enslaved. ²⁰ For if, after they have ^(X)escaped the defilements of the world by ^(Y)the knowledge of the ^(Z)Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again ^(AA)entangled in them and are overcome, ^(AB)the last state has become worse for them than the first. ^21 (AC)For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from ^(AD)the holy commandment ^(AE)handed on to them.