Dec.
9
Daniel
1-4
Dan
1:1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to Jerusalem, and besieged it.
Dan
1:2 The Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part
of the vessels of the house of God; and he carried them into the land
of Shinar to the house of his god: and he brought the vessels into
the treasure house of his god.
Dan
1:3 The king spoke to Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he
should bring in certain
of the children of Israel, even of the seed royal and of the nobles;
Dan
1:4 youths in whom was no blemish, but well-favored, and skillful in
all wisdom, and endowed with knowledge, and understanding science,
and such as had ability to stand in the king's palace; and that he
should teach them the learning and the language of the Chaldeans.
Dan
1:5 The king appointed for them a daily portion of the king's
dainties, and of the wine which he drank, and that they should be
nourished three years; that at its end they should stand before the
king.
Dan
1:6 Now among these were, of the children of Judah, Daniel,
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
Dan
1:7 The prince of the eunuchs gave names to them: to Daniel he gave
the name of
Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of
Shadrach; and to Mishael, of
Meshach; and to Azariah, of
Abednego.
Dan
1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile
himself with the king's dainties, nor with the wine which he drank:
therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not
defile himself.
Dan
1:9 Now God made Daniel to find kindness and compassion in the sight
of the prince of the eunuchs.
Dan
1:10 The prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel, I fear my lord the
king, who has appointed your food and your drink: for why should he
see your faces worse looking than the youths who are of your own age?
so would you endanger my head with the king.
Dan
1:11 Then said Daniel to the steward whom the prince of the eunuchs
had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
Dan
1:12 Prove your servants, I beg you, ten days; and let them give us
pulse to eat, and water to drink.
Dan
1:13 Then let our faces be looked on before you, and the face of the
youths who eat of the king's dainties; and as you see, deal with your
servants.
Dan
1:14 So he listened to them in this matter, and proved them ten
days.
Dan
1:15 At the end of ten days their faces appeared fairer, and they
were fatter in flesh, than all the youths who ate of the king's
dainties.
Dan
1:16 So the steward took away their dainties, and the wine that they
should drink, and gave them pulse.
Dan
1:17 Now as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill
in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all
visions and dreams.
Dan
1:18 At the end of the days which the king had appointed for
bringing them in, the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before
Nebuchadnezzar.
Dan
1:19 The king talked with them; and among them all was found none
like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they
before the king.
Dan
1:20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding, concerning which
the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all
the magicians and enchanters who were in all his realm.
Dan
1:21 Daniel continued even to the first year of king Cyrus.
Dan
2:1 In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar,
Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams; and his spirit was troubled, and his
sleep went from him.
Dan
2:2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the
enchanters, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, to tell the king
his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king.
Dan
2:3 The king said to them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit is
troubled to know the dream.
Dan
2:4 Then spoke the Chaldeans to the king in the Syrian language, O
king, live forever: tell your servants the dream, and we will show
the interpretation.
Dan
2:5 The king answered the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if
you don't make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you
shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.
Dan
2:6 But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you shall
receive of me gifts and rewards and great honor: therefore show me
the dream and its interpretation.
Dan
2:7 They answered the second time and said, Let the king tell his
servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.
Dan
2:8 The king answered, I know of a certainty that you would gain
time, because you see the thing is gone from me.
Dan
2:9 But if you don't make known to me the dream, there is but one
law for you; for you have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak
before me, until the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream,
and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation.
Dan
2:10 The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not
a man on the earth who can show the king's matter, because no king,
lord, or ruler, has asked such a thing of any magician, or enchanter,
or Chaldean.
Dan
2:11 It is a rare thing that the king requires, and there is no
other who can show it before the king, except the gods, whose
dwelling is not with flesh.
Dan
2:12 For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and
commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
Dan
2:13 So the decree went forth, and the wise men were to be slain;
and they sought Daniel and his companions to be slain.
Dan
2:14 Then Daniel returned answer with counsel and prudence to Arioch
the captain of the king's guard, who was gone forth to kill the wise
men of Babylon;
Dan
2:15 he answered Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree so
urgent from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.
Dan
2:16 Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would appoint
him a time, and he would show the king the interpretation.
Dan
2:17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:
Dan
2:18 that they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning
this secret; that Daniel and his companions should not perish with
the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
Dan
2:19 Then was the secret revealed to Daniel in a vision of the
night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
Dan
2:20 Daniel answered, Blessed be the name of God forever and ever;
for wisdom and might are his.
Dan
2:21 He changes the times and the seasons; he removes kings, and
sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to those
who have understanding;
Dan
2:22 he reveals the deep and secret things; he knows what is in the
darkness, and the light dwells with him.
Dan
2:23 I thank you, and praise you, you God of my fathers, who have
given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we
desired of you; for you have made known to us the king's matter.
Dan
2:24 Therefore Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed
to destroy the wise men of Babylon; he went and said thus to him:
Don't destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king,
and I will show to the king the interpretation.
Dan
2:25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and
said thus to him, I have found a man of the children of the captivity
of Judah, who will make known to the king the interpretation.
Dan
2:26 The king answered Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Are you
able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its
interpretation?
Dan
2:27 Daniel answered before the king, and said, The secret which the
king has demanded can neither wise men, enchanters, magicians, nor
soothsayers, show to the king;
Dan
2:28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has
made known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter
days. Your dream, and the visions of your head on your bed, are
these:
Dan
2:29 as for you, O king, your thoughts came into
your mind on your bed, what should
happen hereafter; and he who reveals secrets has made known to you
what shall happen.
Dan
2:30 But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom
that I have more than any living, but to the intent that the
interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know
the thoughts of your heart.
Dan
2:31 You, O king, saw, and behold, a great image. This image, which
was mighty, and whose brightness was excellent, stood before you; and
its aspect was awesome.
Dan
2:32 As for this image, its head was of fine gold, its breast and
its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of brass,
Dan
2:33 its legs of iron, its feet part of iron, and part of clay.
Dan
2:34 You saw until a stone was cut out without hands, which struck
the image on its feet that were of iron and clay, and broke them in
pieces.
Dan
2:35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the
gold, broken in pieces together, and became like the chaff of the
summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that no
place was found for them: and the stone that struck the image became
a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
Dan
2:36 This is the dream; and we will tell its interpretation before
the king.
Dan
2:37 You, O king, are king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has
given the kingdom, the power, and the strength, and the glory;
Dan
2:38 and wherever the children of men dwell, the animals of the
field and the birds of the sky has he given into your hand, and has
made you to rule over them all: you are the head of gold.
Dan
2:39 After you shall arise another kingdom inferior to you; and
another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the
earth.
Dan
2:40 The fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron, because iron breaks
in pieces and subdues all things; and as iron that crushes all these,
shall it break in pieces and crush.
Dan
2:41 Whereas you saw the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and
part of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom; but there shall be in it
of the strength of the iron, because you saw the iron mixed with miry
clay.
Dan
2:42 As the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so
the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.
Dan
2:43 Whereas you saw the iron mixed with miry clay, they shall
mingle themselves with the seed of men; but they shall not cling to
one another, even as iron does not mingle with clay.
Dan
2:44 In the days of those kings shall the God of heaven set up a
kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall its sovereignty be
left to another people; but it shall break in pieces and consume all
these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.
Dan
2:45 Because you saw that a stone was cut out of the mountain
without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the brass, the
clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God has made known to the
king what shall happen hereafter: and the dream is certain, and its
interpretation sure.
Dan
2:46 Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, and worshiped
Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an offering and sweet
odors to him.
Dan
2:47 The king answered to Daniel, and said, Of a truth your God is
the God of gods, and the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets,
seeing you have been able to reveal this secret.
Dan
2:48 Then the king made Daniel great, and gave him many great gifts,
and made him to rule over the whole province of Babylon, and to be
chief governor over all the wise men of Babylon.
Dan
2:49 Daniel requested of the king, and he appointed Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon:
but Daniel was in the gate of the king.
Dan
3:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was
sixty cubits, and its breadth six cubits: he set it up in the plain
of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
Dan
3:2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the
satraps, the deputies, and the governors, the judges, the treasurers,
the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to
come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had
set up.
Dan
3:3 Then the satraps, the deputies, and the governors, the judges,
the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of
the provinces, were gathered together to the dedication of the image
that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the
image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
Dan
3:4 Then the herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, peoples,
nations, and languages,
Dan
3:5 that whenever you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither,
lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music, you fall down and worship
the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up;
Dan
3:6 and whoever doesn't fall down and worship shall the same hour be
cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
Dan
3:7 Therefore at that time, when all the peoples heard the sound of
the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music,
all the peoples, the nations, and the languages, fell down and
worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
Dan
3:8 Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and brought
accusation against the Jews.
Dan
3:9 They answered Nebuchadnezzar the king, O king, live for ever.
Dan
3:10 You, O king, have made a decree, that every man that shall hear
the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds
of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image;
Dan
3:11 and whoever doesn't fall down and worship shall be cast into
the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
Dan
3:12 There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs
of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these
men, O king, have not regarded you: they don't serve your gods, nor
worship the golden image which you have set up.
Dan
3:13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his
rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
Then they brought these men before the king.
Dan
3:14 Nebuchadnezzar answered them, Is it on purpose, Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego, that you don't serve my god, nor worship the
golden image which I have set up?
Dan
3:15 Now if you are ready whenever you hear the sound of the horn,
flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music to fall down
and worship the image which I have made, well:
but if you don't worship, you shall be cast the same hour into the
midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that god that shall
deliver you out of my hands?
Dan
3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king,
Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
Dan
3:17 If it be so,
our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery
furnace; and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.
Dan
3:18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve
your gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up.
Dan
3:19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his
visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore
he spoke, and commanded that they should heat the furnace seven times
more than it was usually heated.
Dan
3:20 He commanded certain mighty men who were in his army to bind
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and
to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
Dan
3:21 Then these men were bound in their pants, their tunics, and
their mantles, and their other
garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
Dan
3:22 Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the
furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who
took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
Dan
3:23 These three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down
bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
Dan
3:24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in
haste: he spoke and said to his counselors, Didn't we cast three men
bound into the midst of the fire? They answered the king, True, O
king.
Dan
3:25 He answered, Look, I see four men loose, walking in the midst
of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the aspect of the fourth is
like a son of the gods.
Dan
3:26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery
furnace: he spoke and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you
servants of the Most High God, come forth, and come here. Then
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came forth out of the midst of the
fire.
Dan
3:27 The satraps, the deputies, and the governors, and the king's
counselors, being gathered together, saw these men, that the fire had
no power on their bodies, nor was the hair of their head singed,
neither were their pants changed, nor had the smell of fire passed on
them.
Dan
3:28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel, and delivered his
servants who trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and
have yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any
god, except their own God.
Dan
3:29 Therefore I make a decree, that every people, nation, and
language, which speak anything evil against the God of Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall
be made a dunghill; because there is no other god who is able to
deliver after this sort.
Dan
3:30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the
province of Babylon.
Dan
4:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all the peoples, nations, and
languages, who dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.
Dan
4:2 It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the
Most High God has worked toward me.
Dan
4:3 How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his
kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from
generation to generation.
Dan
4:4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in
my palace.
Dan
4:5 I saw a dream which made me afraid; and the thoughts on my bed
and the visions of my head troubled me.
Dan
4:6 Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of
Babylon before me, that they might make known to me the
interpretation of the dream.
Dan
4:7 Then came in the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and
the soothsayers; and I told the dream before them; but they did not
make known to me its interpretation.
Dan
4:8 But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was
Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the
spirit of the holy gods: and I told the dream before him, saying,
Dan
4:9 Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the
spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no secret troubles you, tell
me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation.
Dan
4:10 Thus were the visions of my head on my bed: I saw, and behold,
a tree in the midst of the earth; and its height was great.
Dan
4:11 The tree grew, and was strong, and its height reached to the
sky, and its sight to the end of all the earth.
Dan
4:12 The leaves of it were beautiful, and its fruit much, and in it
was food for all: the animals of the field had shadow under it, and
the birds of the sky lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed
from it.
Dan
4:13 I saw in the visions of my head on my bed, and behold, a
watcher and a holy one came down from the sky.
Dan
4:14 He cried aloud, and said thus, Cut down the tree, and cut off
its branches, shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit: let the
animals get away from under it, and the fowls from its branches.
Dan
4:15 Nevertheless leave the stump of its roots in the earth, even
with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and
let it be wet with the dew of the sky: and let his portion be with
the animals in the grass of the earth:
Dan
4:16 let his heart be changed from man's, and let an animal's heart
be given to him; and let seven times pass over him.
Dan
4:17 The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand
by the word of the holy ones; to the intent that the living may know
that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to
whomever he will, and sets up over it the lowest of men.
Dan
4:18 This dream I, king Nebuchadnezzar, have seen; and you,
Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation, because all the wise men of
my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation; but
you are able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in you.
Dan
4:19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was stricken mute for
a while, and his thoughts troubled him. The king answered,
Belteshazzar, don't let the dream, or the interpretation, trouble
you. Belteshazzar answered, My lord, the dream be to those who hate
you, and its interpretation to your adversaries.
Dan
4:20 The tree that you saw, which grew, and was strong, whose height
reached to the sky, and its sight to all the earth;
Dan
4:21 whose leaves were beautiful, and its fruit much, and in it was
food for all; under which the animals of the field lived, and on
whose branches the birds of the sky had their habitation:
Dan
4:22 it is you, O king, that are grown and become strong; for your
greatness is grown, and reaches to the sky, and your dominion to the
end of the earth.
Dan
4:23 Whereas the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from
the sky, and saying, Cut down the tree, and destroy it; nevertheless
leave the stump of its roots in the earth, even with a band of iron
and brass, in the tender grass of the field, and let it be wet with
the dew of the sky: and let his portion be with the animals of the
field, until seven times pass over him;
Dan
4:24 this is the interpretation, O king, and it is the decree of the
Most High, which is come on my lord the king:
Dan
4:25 that you shall be driven from men, and your dwelling shall be
with the animals of the field, and you shall be made to eat grass as
oxen, and shall be wet with the dew of the sky, and seven times shall
pass over you; until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom
of men, and gives it to whomever he will.
Dan
4:26 Whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the
tree; your kingdom shall be sure to you, after that you shall have
known that the heavens do rule.
Dan
4:27 Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you, and
break off your sins by righteousness, and your iniquities by showing
mercy to the poor; if there may be a lengthening of your tranquility.
Dan
4:28 All this came on the king Nebuchadnezzar.
Dan
4:29 At the end of twelve months he was walking in the royal palace
of Babylon.
Dan
4:30 The king spoke and said, Is not this great Babylon, which I
have built for the royal dwelling place, by the might of my power and
for the glory of my majesty?
Dan
4:31 While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from
the sky, saying,
O king Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom is departed
from you:
Dan
4:32 and you shall be driven from men; and your dwelling shall be
with the animals of the field; you shall be made to eat grass as
oxen; and seven times shall pass over you; until you know that the
Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he
will.
Dan
4:33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled on Nebuchadnezzar: and he
was driven from men, and ate grass as oxen, and his body was wet with
the dew of the sky, until his hair was grown like eagles' feathers,
and his nails like birds' claws.
Dan
4:34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to
heaven, and my understanding returned to me, and I blessed the Most
High, and I praised and honored him who lives forever; for his
dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation
to generation.
Dan
4:35 All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he
does according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the
inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or tell him,
What do you?
Dan
4:36 At the same time my understanding returned to me; and for the
glory of my kingdom, my majesty and brightness returned to me; and my
counselors and my lords sought to me; and I was established in my
kingdom, and excellent greatness was added to me.
Dan
4:37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of
heaven; for all his works are truth, and his ways justice; and those
who walk in pride he is able to abase.
Dec. 9
2 Peter 2
2Pe 2:1 But false
prophets also arose among the people, as false teachers will also be
among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, denying
even the Master who bought them, bringing on themselves swift
destruction.
2Pe 2:2 Many will
follow their immoral ways, and as a result, the way of the truth will
be maligned.
2Pe 2:3 In covetousness
they will exploit you with deceptive words: whose sentence now from
of old doesn't linger, and their destruction will not slumber.
2Pe 2:4 For if God
didn't spare angels when they sinned, but cast them down to Tartarus,
and committed them to pits of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;
2Pe 2:5 and didn't
spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah with seven others, a
preacher of righteousness, when he brought a flood on the world of
the ungodly;
2Pe 2:6 and turning the
cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to
destruction, having made them an example to those who would live
ungodly;
2Pe 2:7 and delivered
righteous Lot, who was very distressed by the lustful life of the
wicked
2Pe 2:8 (for that
righteous man dwelling among them, was tormented in his righteous
soul from day to day with seeing and hearing lawless deeds):
2Pe 2:9 the Lord knows
how to deliver the godly out of temptation and to keep the
unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment;
2Pe 2:10 but chiefly
those who walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement, and despise
authority. Daring, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of
dignitaries;
2Pe 2:11 whereas
angels, though greater in might and power, don't bring a railing
judgment against them before the Lord.
2Pe 2:12 But these, as
unreasoning creatures, born natural animals to be taken and
destroyed, speaking evil in matters about which they are ignorant,
will in their destroying surely be destroyed,
2Pe 2:13 receiving the
wages of unrighteousness; people who count it pleasure to revel in
the daytime, spots and blemishes, reveling in their deceit while they
feast with you;
2Pe 2:14 having eyes
full of adultery, and who can't cease from sin; enticing unsettled
souls; having a heart trained in greed; children of cursing;
2Pe 2:15 forsaking the
right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the
son of Beor, who loved the wages of wrongdoing;
2Pe 2:16 but he was
rebuked for his own disobedience. A mute donkey spoke with a man's
voice and stopped the madness of the prophet.
2Pe 2:17 These are
wells without water, clouds driven by a storm; for whom the blackness
of darkness has been reserved forever.
2Pe 2:18 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;
2Pe 2:19 promising them
liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for a
man is brought into bondage by whoever overcomes him.
2Pe 2:20 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.
2Pe 2:21 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.
2Pe 2:22 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."