2 Peter 2, Numbers 23, Proverbs 29

Nov 12, 2025

False Prophets and Teachers

[1] But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. [2] And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. [3] And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

[4] For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; [5] if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; [6] if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; [7] and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked [8] (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); [9] then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, [10] and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority.

Bold and willful, they do not tremble as they blaspheme the glorious ones, [11] whereas angels, though greater in might and power, do not pronounce a blasphemous judgment against them before the Lord. [12] But these, like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed, blaspheming about matters of which they are ignorant, will also be destroyed in their destruction, [13] suffering wrong as the wage for their wrongdoing. They count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, while they feast with you. [14] They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children! [15] Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, [16] but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.

[17] These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved. [18] For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. [19] They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. [20] For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. [21] For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. [22] What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”

Balaam’s First Oracle
[1] And Balaam said to Balak, “Build for me here seven altars, and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams.” [2] Balak did as Balaam had said. And Balak and Balaam offered on each altar a bull and a ram. [3] And Balaam said to Balak, “Stand beside your burnt offering, and I will go. Perhaps the LORD will come to meet me, and whatever he shows me I will tell you.” And he went to a bare height, [4] and God met Balaam. And Balaam said to him, “I have arranged the seven altars and I have offered on each altar a bull and a ram.” [5] And the LORD put a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak.” [6] And he returned to him, and behold, he and all the princes of Moab were standing beside his burnt offering. [7] And Balaam took up his discourse and said,
“From Aram Balak has brought me,
the king of Moab from the eastern mountains:
‘Come, curse Jacob for me,
and come, denounce Israel!’
[8] How can I curse whom God has not cursed?
How can I denounce whom the LORD has not denounced?
[9] For from the top of the crags I see him,
from the hills I behold him;
behold, a people dwelling alone,
and not counting itself among the nations!
[10] Who can count the dust of Jacob
or number the fourth part of Israel?
Let me die the death of the upright,
and let my end be like his!”
[11] And Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have done nothing but bless them.” [12] And he answered and said, “Must I not take care to speak what the LORD puts in my mouth?”
Balaam’s Second Oracle
[13] And Balak said to him, “Please come with me to another place, from which you may see them. You shall see only a fraction of them and shall not see them all. Then curse them for me from there.” [14] And he took him to the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar. [15] Balaam said to Balak, “Stand here beside your burnt offering, while I meet the LORD over there.” [16] And the LORD met Balaam and put a word in his mouth and said, “Return to Balak, and thus shall you speak.” [17] And he came to him, and behold, he was standing beside his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said to him, “What has the LORD spoken?” [18] And Balaam took up his discourse and said,
“Rise, Balak, and hear;
give ear to me, O son of Zippor:
[19] God is not man, that he should lie,
or a son of man, that he should change his mind.
Has he said, and will he not do it?
Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
[20] Behold, I received a command to bless:
he has blessed, and I cannot revoke it.
[21] He has not beheld misfortune in Jacob,
nor has he seen trouble in Israel.
The LORD their God is with them,
and the shout of a king is among them.
[22] God brings them out of Egypt
and is for them like the horns of the wild ox.
[23] For there is no enchantment against Jacob,
no divination against Israel;
now it shall be said of Jacob and Israel,
‘What has God wrought!’
[24] Behold, a people! As a lioness it rises up
and as a lion it lifts itself;
it does not lie down until it has devoured the prey
and drunk the blood of the slain.”
[25] And Balak said to Balaam, “Do not curse them at all, and do not bless them at all.” [26] But Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell you, ‘All that the LORD says, that I must do’?” [27] And Balak said to Balaam, “Come now, I will take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God that you may curse them for me from there.” [28] So Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, which overlooks the desert. [29] And Balaam said to Balak, “Build for me here seven altars and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams.” [30] And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
[1] He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck,
will suddenly be broken beyond healing.
[2] When the righteous increase, the people rejoice,
but when the wicked rule, the people groan.
[3] He who loves wisdom makes his father glad,
but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
[4] By justice a king builds up the land,
but he who exacts gifts tears it down.
[5] A man who flatters his neighbor
spreads a net for his feet.
[6] An evil man is ensnared in his transgression,
but a righteous man sings and rejoices.
[7] A righteous man knows the rights of the poor;
a wicked man does not understand such knowledge.
[8] Scoffers set a city aflame,
but the wise turn away wrath.
[9] If a wise man has an argument with a fool,
the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.
[10] Bloodthirsty men hate one who is blameless
and seek the life of the upright.
[11] A fool gives full vent to his spirit,
but a wise man quietly holds it back.
[12] If a ruler listens to falsehood,
all his officials will be wicked.
[13] The poor man and the oppressor meet together;
the LORD gives light to the eyes of both.
[14] If a king faithfully judges the poor,
his throne will be established forever.
[15] The rod and reproof give wisdom,
but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.
[16] When the wicked increase, transgression increases,
but the righteous will look upon their downfall.
[17] Discipline your son, and he will give you rest;
he will give delight to your heart.
[18] Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint,
but blessed is he who keeps the law.
[19] By mere words a servant is not disciplined,
for though he understands, he will not respond.
[20] Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
[21] Whoever pampers his servant from childhood
will in the end find him his heir.
[22] A man of wrath stirs up strife,
and one given to anger causes much transgression.
[23] One’s pride will bring him low,
but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.
[24] The partner of a thief hates his own life;
he hears the curse, but discloses nothing.
[25] The fear of man lays a snare,
but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.
[26] Many seek the face of a ruler,
but it is from the LORD that a man gets justice.
[27] An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous,
but one whose way is straight is an abomination to the wicked.

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