2 Peter 2:15-20

15They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness.

16But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—an animal without speech—who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.

17These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.

18For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error.

19They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.”

20If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.