2 Peter 2:21

Deliverance from False Prophets

20If indeed they have escaped the corruption of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, only to be entangled and overcome by it again, their final condition is worse than it was at first.21It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and then to turn away from the holy commandment passed on to them. 22Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.”

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Berean Standard Bible
It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and then to turn away from the holy commandment passed on to them.
American Standard Version (1901)
For 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.
Bible in Basic English
For it would have been better for them to have had no knowledge of the way of righteousness, than to go back again from the holy law which was given to them, after having knowledge of it.
Douay-Rheims 1899
For 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.
Free Bible Version
It would have been better not to have known the right way of truth, than to have known it and then turn away from the sacred instructions they'd been given.
Geneva Bible 1599
For it had bene better for them, not to haue acknowledged the way of righteousnes, then after they haue acknowledged it, to turne from the holy commandement giuen vnto them.
King James (Authorized) 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.
Plain English Version
God will punish everyone that goes the wrong way. He will even punish people that never knew the right way. But these people knew the right way, and then they turned back and went the wrong way, so God will punish them more than those others.
Translation for Translators
Because God will severely punish them, it would have been better for them if they had never known what it means to live in a righteous way. It is too bad that although they knew how to live in a righteous way, they stopped doing the things that God commanded people to do, the things that were taught to them ◄by us apostles/by Christ► {that ◄we apostles/Christ► taught to them}.
Unlocked Literal Bible
It would have been better for them not to know the way of righteousness than to know it and turn away from the holy commandment delivered to them.
Noah Webster Bible
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 to them.
World English Bible
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.
Young's Literal Translation
for 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,