2 Petrus 2:17-18

2:17 These men ¹  are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm, for whom the utter depths of darkness ²  have been reserved. 2:18 For by speaking high-sounding but empty words ³  they are able to entice, ⁴  with fleshly desires and with debauchery, ⁵  people ⁶  who have just escaped ⁷  from those who reside in error. ⁸ 

[2:17]  ¹ tn Although some translations have simply “these” or “these people,” since in v. 14 they are described as having eyes “full of an adulteress,” men are in view.

[2:17]  ² tn Grk “utter darkness of darkness.” Verse 4 speaks of wicked angels presently in “chains of utter darkness,” while the final fate of the false teachers is a darker place still.

[2:18]  ³ tn Grk “high-sounding words of futility.”

[2:18]  ⁴ tn Grk “they entice.”

[2:18]  ⁵ tn Grk “with the lusts of the flesh, with debauchery.”

[2:18]  ⁶ tn Grk “those.”

[2:18]  ⁷ tn Or “those who are barely escaping.”

[2:18]  ⁸ tn Or “deceit.”