2 Peter 2:20

¹⁸ For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

¹⁹ While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

²¹ 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.

²² But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: If 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.
KJV: For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
WEB: 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.
ASV: For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the last state is become worse with them than the first.
DARBY: For if after having escaped the pollutions of the world through [the] knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, again entangled, they are subdued by these, their last state is worse than the first.
BLB: For if, having escaped from the pollutions of the world in the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, now again having been entangled in these they are subdued, the last [state] has become worse to them than the first.

ÅB: For om de har flyktet fra verdens urenhet ved kunnskap om vår Herre og frelser Jesus Kristus, men så lar seg fange av den igjen og blir beseiret, er det siste verre for dem enn det første.
OTB: For hvis, etter at de har unnsluppet verdens forurensninger ved kunnskapen om Herren og Frelseren Jesus Kristus, de igjen blir viklet inn i dem og blir overvunnet, har den siste tilstanden blitt verre for dem enn den første.
B1930: For om de har flyktet bort fra verdens urenhet ved å ha lært vår Herre og frelser Jesus Kristus å kjenne, og så atter lar sig fange av den og ligger under for den, da er det siste blitt verre med dem enn det første.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Hebrews 10:26–27
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
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Hebrews 6:4–8
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
Read in context
Philippians 3:19
Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
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Luke 11:24–26
When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.
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Deuteronomy 32:29
O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!
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Matthew 12:43–45
When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
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2 Peter 1:4
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Read in context
Numbers 24:20
And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.
Read in context