2 Peter 2:21

For it was better to them to not know the way of rightwiseness, than to turn again after the knowing, from that holy commandment that was betaken to them. (For it would have been better for them to have never known the way of righteousness, than to turn away after knowing it, yea, from that holy commandment that was delivered to them.)

Wycliffe Modern Spelling

In The King James Version

For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

In Context

20For if men forsake the uncleannesses of the world, by the knowing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and again be [en] wrapped in these, and be overcome, the latter things be made to them worse than the former.

22For that very proverb befelled to them, The hound (re)turned again to his vomit, or casting (up), and a sow is washed in wallowing in fen [or in clay]. (This proverb hath proven true for them, A dog returneth to its vomit, and after a pig hath washed itself, it walloweth again in the mire.)

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Cross References

Psalms 125:5But the Lord shall lead them that bow into obligations, with them that work wickedness; peace be upon Israel. (But may the Lord lead forth those, who turn aside into depraved ways, with those who do evil. May peace be upon Israel.)

Proverbs 16:31A crown of dignity is eld (age), that shall be found in the ways of rightfulness.

Ezekiel 18:24Forsooth if a just man turneth away himself from his rightfulness, and doeth wickedness by all his abominations, which a wicked man is wont to work, whether he shall live? All his rightfulnesses which he did, shall not be had in mind; in his trespassing by which he trespassed, and in his sin which he sinned, he shall die in those. (And if a just person turneth himself away from his righteousness, and doeth wickedness with all his abominations, which a wicked person is wont to do, shall he live? No! All his righteousness which he did, shall not be remembered; and in the trespassing by which he trespassed, and in the sin in which he sinned, in those he shall die.)

Zephaniah 1:6and which be turned away behind the back of the Lord, and which sought not the Lord, neither ensearched him. (and those who be turned away behind the back of the Lord, and those who did not seek the Lord, nor consulted him.)

Matthew 21:32For John came to you in the way of rightwiseness, and ye believed not to him; but publicans and whores believed to him. But ye saw, and had no forthinking after, that ye believed to him, [or But ye seeing, had not penance afterward, that ye should believe to him]. (For John came to you by the way of righteousness, and ye did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes believed him. Yes, ye saw this, but ye had no repenting later, so that ye believed him.)

John 9:41Jesus said to them, If ye were blind, ye should not have sin; but now (that) ye say, That we see, your sin dwelleth still.

Matthew Henry on 2 Peter 2:11-22

False Teachers. ( a. d. 67.) 10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. 11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. 12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; 13 And shall receive… Read the whole commentary →

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