21For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.


In Context

18 For, uttering great swelling words of emptiness, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by licentiousness, those who are indeed escaping from those who live in error;

19 promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for a man is brought into bondage by whoever overcomes him.

20 For if, after they have escaped the defilement of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in it and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.

21 For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.

22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb, |The dog turns to his own vomit again,| and |the sow that has washed to wallowing in the mire.|

2 Peter 2:21 in Other Translations

The King James Version of the Holy Bible

2:21For 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.

The New International Version of the Holy Bible

2:21It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.

The American Standard Version of the Holy Bible

2:21For it were better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

The Douay-Rheims Version of the Holy Bible

2:21For it had been better for them not to have known the way of justice, than after they have known it, to turn back from that holy commandment which was delivered to them.

The Darby Bible Translation of the Holy Bible

2:21For it were better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.

The English Revised Version of the Holy Bible

2:21For it were better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

The Webster Bible Translation of the Holy Bible

2:21For 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 to them.

The Young's Literal Translation of the Holy Bible

2:21for it were better to them not to have acknowledged the way of the righteousness, than having acknowledged it, to turn back from the holy command delivered to them,

The American King James Version of the Holy Bible

2:21For 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 to them.