2 Peter 2:15

New Living Translation

They have wandered off the right road and followed the footsteps of Balaam son of Beor, who loved to earn money by doing wrong.

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
These false teachers left the right way and went the wrong way. They followed the same way that the prophet Balaam went. He was the son of Beor, who loved being paid for doing wrong.

Revised Standard Version
Forsaking the right way they have gone astray; they have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Be'or, who loved gain from wrongdoing,

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
and have forsaken the right waye and are gone astraye folowinge ye waye of Balam the sonne of Bosor which loved the rewarde of vnrightewesnes:

Hebrew Names Version
forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Bil`am the son of Be'or, who loved the wages of wrong-doing;

New American Standard Bible
abandoning the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the reward of unrighteousness;

New Century Version
These false teachers left the right road and lost their way, following the way Balaam went. Balaam was the son of Beor, who loved being paid for doing wrong.

Update Bible Version
forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the [son] of Bosor, who loved the wages of wrong-doing;

Webster's Bible Translation
Who have forsaken the right way, and gone astray, following the way of Balaam [the son] of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

World English Bible
forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of wrong-doing;

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Who have forsaken the right way and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam, the son of Boser, who loved the reward of unrighteousness.

Weymouth's New Testament
Forsaking the straight road, they have gone astray, having eagerly followed in the steps of Balaam, the son of Beor, who was bent on securing the wages of unrighteousness.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
that forsaken the riyt weie, and erriden, suynge the weie of Balaam of Bosor, which louyde the hire of wickidnesse.

English Revised Version
forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the [son] of Beor, who loved the hire of wrong–doing;

Berean Standard Bible
They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness.

Contemporary English Version
They have left the true road and have gone down the wrong path by following the example of the prophet Balaam. He was the son of Beor and loved what he got from being a crook.

Amplified Bible
Abandoning the straight road [that is, the right way to live], they have gone astray; they have followed the way of [the false teacher] Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the reward of wickedness;

American Standard Version
forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the hire of wrong-doing;

Bible in Basic English
Turning out of the true way, they have gone wandering in error, after the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who was pleased to take payment for wrongdoing;

Complete Jewish Bible
These people have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Bil‘am Ben-B‘or, who loved the wages of doing harm

Darby Translation
having left [the] straight way they have gone astray, having followed in the path of Balaam [the son] of Bosor, who loved [the] reward of unrighteousness;

International Standard Version
They have left the straight path and wandered off to follow the path of Balaam, the son of Bosor,Beor">[fn] who loved the reward he got for doing wrong.Numbers 22:5,7, 21,23, 28; Jude 1:11;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
who, forsaking the straight way, have erred, and gone in the way of Belam bar Beur, who the wages of iniquity loved. But he had reproof of his transgression;

Murdock Translation
and, having left the way of rectitude, they have wandered and gone in the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of iniquity,

King James Version (1611)
Which haue forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the sonne of Bosor, who loued the wages of vnrighteousnesse,

New Life Bible
they have left the right way and have gone the wrong way. They have followed the way of Balaam, who was the son of Beor. He loved the money he got for his sin.

New Revised Standard
They have left the straight road and have gone astray, following the road of Balaam son of Bosor, who loved the wages of doing wrong,

English Standard Version
Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing,

Geneva Bible (1587)
Which forsaking the right way, haue gone astray, folowing the way of Balaam, the sonne of Bosor, which loued the wages of vnrighteousnes.

George Lamsa Translation
Who have forsaken the right way and are gone astray, following the way of Ba''laam, the son of Be-or, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Forsaking a straight path, they have gone astray, following out the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved, a reward of wrong,

Douay-Rheims Bible
Leaving the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam of Bosor who loved the wages of iniquity,

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Which haue forsaken the ryght waye, and are gone astray, folowyng the way of Balaam the sonne of Bosor, which loued the rewarde of vnrighteousnesse:

Good News Translation
They have left the straight path and have lost their way; they have followed the path taken by Balaam son of Beor, who loved the money he would get for doing wrong

Christian Standard Bible®
They have gone astray by abandoning the straight path and have followed the path of Balaam, the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of wickedness

King James Version
Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

Lexham English Bible
By leaving the straight path, they have gone astray, because they followed the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness,

Literal Translation
forsaking a straight path, they went astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness,

Young's Literal Translation
having forsaken a right way, they did go astray, having followed in the way of Balaam the [son] of Bosor, who a reward of unrighteousness did love,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and haue forsaken the righte waye, and are gone astraye: folowinge the waye of Balaam the sonne of Bosor, which loued the rewarde of vnrighteousnes:

Mace New Testament (1729)
and are gone astray to follow the practices of Balaam of Bosor, who loved the wages of iniquity;

THE MESSAGE
They've left the main road and are directionless, having taken the way of Balaam, son of Beor, the prophet who turned profiteer, a connoisseur of evil. But Balaam was stopped in his wayward tracks: A dumb animal spoke in a human voice and prevented the prophet's craziness.

New English Translation
By forsaking the right path they have gone astray, because they followed the way of Balaam son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness,

New King James Version
They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

Simplified Cowboy Version
They have left the narrow trail and wander lost in the abyss. They have followed the trail of Balaam, who traded what was right for what was profitable.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

Contextual Overview

¹⁰ He is especially hard on those who follow their own twisted sexual desire, and who despise authority. These people are proud and arrogant, daring even to scoff at supernatural beings without so much as trembling. ¹¹ But the angels, who are far greater in power and strength, do not dare to bring from the Lord a charge of blasphemy against those supernatural beings. ¹² These false teachers are like unthinking animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed. They scoff at things they do not understand, and like animals, they will be destroyed. ¹³ Their destruction is their reward for the harm they have done. They love to indulge in evil pleasures in broad daylight. They are a disgrace and a stain among you. They delight in deception even as they eat with you in your fellowship meals. ¹⁴ They commit adultery with their eyes, and their desire for sin is never satisfied. They lure unstable people into sin, and they are well trained in greed. They live under God's curse. ¹⁵ They have wandered off the right road and followed the footsteps of Balaam son of Beor, who loved to earn money by doing wrong. ¹⁶ But Balaam was stopped from his mad course when his donkey rebuked him with a human voice. ¹⁷ These people are as useless as dried-up springs or as mist blown away by the wind. They are doomed to blackest darkness. ¹⁸ They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception. ¹⁹ They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

forsaken: 1 Samuel 12:23, 1 Kings 18:18, 1 Kings 19:10, Ezekiel 9:10, Proverbs 28:4, Hosea 14:8, Acts 13:10

Balaam: Numbers 22:5-7

who: Numbers 22:18-21, Numbers 22:23, Numbers 22:28, Numbers 31:16, Deuteronomy 23:4, Deuteronomy 23:5, Micah 6:5, Jude 1:11, Revelation 2:14

wages: Acts 1:18

Reciprocal: Exodus 18:21 - hating Numbers 22:7 - rewards of divination Numbers 22:19 - General Numbers 22:32 - thy way Numbers 25:18 - beguiled Numbers 31:8 - Balaam Joshua 7:21 - I coveted Joshua 13:22 - Balaam Judges 18:4 - hired me Judges 18:20 - heart 1 Kings 21:16 - Ahab rose up 2 Kings 5:20 - and take 2 Chronicles 16:4 - hearkened Psalms 50:16 - What Psalms 107:7 - he led Psalms 119:10 - O let me Proverbs 5:23 - in the Proverbs 18:2 - but Proverbs 25:14 - boasteth Isaiah 56:11 - they are Jeremiah 6:13 - For Jeremiah 51:13 - and the Ezekiel 14:11 - the house Micah 3:11 - and the prophets Zechariah 13:2 - cause Matthew 13:22 - the care Matthew 18:7 - but Matthew 23:14 - for ye Matthew 26:9 - General Matthew 26:15 - What Mark 14:11 - and promised Luke 9:25 - what Luke 22:5 - and covenanted John 2:16 - make John 11:51 - he prophesied Acts 5:2 - kept Acts 24:26 - hoped 1 Corinthians 5:11 - or covetous 1 Corinthians 9:27 - lest Philippians 4:17 - because 1 Thessalonians 2:5 - a cloak 1 Timothy 3:3 - not covetous 1 Timothy 6:5 - supposing 1 Timothy 6:9 - they 2 Timothy 3:2 - covetous 2 Timothy 3:4 - lovers of God 2 Timothy 4:10 - hath Titus 1:12 - liars 1 Peter 5:12 - true 2 Peter 2:2 - ways 2 Peter 2:3 - through

Cross-References

Genesis 2:2
On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work.

Genesis 2:8
Then the Lord God planted a garden in Eden in the east, and there he placed the man he had made.

Job 31:33
"Have I tried to hide my sins like other people do, concealing my guilt in my heart?

Psalms 128:2
You will enjoy the fruit of your labor. How joyful and prosperous you will be!

Ephesians 4:28
If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Which have forsaken the right way,.... The right way of the Lord, the way of truth, the Gospel of truth; or Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life; the true way to eternal life, and which is the right way to eternal happiness; the way of life, righteousness, and salvation by Christ, the Christian faith, and the doctrine of it, which they once professed, but now relinquished:

and are gone astray; from the right way, the way of truth and holiness, into the paths of error and profaneness:

following the way of Balaam [the son] of Bosor; which Jude calls his error, Judges 1:11, and is the path of covetousness, uncleanness, and idolatry, sins which he was either guilty of himself, or taught, advised, and seduced others to; see Revelation 2:14. The Vulgate Latin version reads "Balaam [out of] Bosor", taking "Bosor" for the name of a place, of which "Balaam" was; but not "Bosor", but "Pethor", was the place of Balaam's residence, Numbers 22:5. The Arabic and Ethiopic versions supply, as we do, "the son of Bosor"; and the Syriac version reads, "the son of Beor", as in Numbers 22:5; for Beor and "Bosor" are the same names; the "sheva" being pronounced by "o", as it is by "oa" in "Boanerges", and the "ain" by "s". Moreover, the letters צ and ע are sometimes used for one another, as in צאן and עאן, ארץ and ארע, and so ע and ש, especially in the Chaldean dialect; and Peter now being at Babylon in Chaldea, see 1 Peter 5:13; it is no wonder that he so pronounced.

Who loved the wages of unrighteousness: which were the rewards of divination, Numbers 22:7; which were brought him for his divining or soothsaying, and may well be called unrighteous wages, since it was for doing unrighteous things, or things in an unrighteous manner; and these he loved, desired, and greedily coveted, and fain would he have taken Balak's gold and silver, and have cursed Israel, but was restrained by the Lord: he showed a good will to it, in going along with the messengers, and in building altars, and offering sacrifice in one place after another, in which there was a great resemblance between him and the men here spoken of.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Which have forsaken the right way - The straight path of honesty and integrity. Religion is often represented as a straight path, and to do wrong is to go out of that path in a crooked way.

Following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor - See Numbers 22:5, following. In the Book of Numbers, Balaam is called the son of “Beor.” Perhaps the name Beor was corrupted into Bosor; or, as Rosenmuller suggests, the father of Balaam may have had two names. Schleusner (Lexicon) supposes that it was changed by the Greeks because it was more easily pronounced. The Septuagint, however, reads it as Βεὼρ Beōr - “Beor.” The meaning here is, that they IMitAted Balaam. The particular point to which Peter refers in which they imitated him, seems to have been the love of gain, or covetousness. Possibly, however, he might have designed to refer to a more general resemblance, for in fact they imitated him in the following things:

(1)In being professed religious teachers, or the servants of God;

(2)In their covetousness;

(3)In inducing others to sin, referring to the same kind of sins in both cases.

Balaam counselled the Moabites to entice the children of Israel to illicit connection with their women, thus introducing licentiousness into the camp of the Hebrews (Numbers 31:16; compare Numbers 25:1-9); and in like manner these teachers led others into licentiousness, thus corrupting the church.

Who loved the wages of unrighteousness - Who was supremely influenced by the love of gain, and was capable of being employed, for a price, in a wicked design; thus prostituting his high office, as a professed prophet of the Most High, to base and ignoble ends. That Balaam, though he professed to be influenced by a supreme regard to the will of God Numbers 22:18, Numbers 22:38, was really influenced by the desire of reward, and was willing to prostitute his great office to secure such a reward, there can be no doubt.

(1) The elders of Moab and of Midian came to Balaam with “the rewards of divination in their hand” Numbers 22:7, and with promises from Balak of promoting him to great honor, if he would curse the children of Israel, Numbers 22:17.

(2) Balaam was disposed to go with them, and was restrained from going at once only by a direct and solemn prohibition from the Lord, Numbers 22:11.

(3) Notwithstanding this solemn prohibition, and not with standing he said to the ambassadors from Balak that he would do only as God directed, though Balak should give him his house full of silver and gold, Numbers 22:18, yet he did not regard the matter as settled, but proposed to them that they should wait another night, with the hope that the Lord would give a more favourable direction in reference to their request, thus showing that his heart was in the service which they required, and that his inclination was to avail himself of their offer, Numbers 22:19.

(4) When he did obtain permission to go, it was only to say that which the Lord should direct him to say, Numbers 22:20; but he went with a perverse heart, with a secret wish to comply with the desire of Balak, and with a knowledge that he was doing wrong, Numbers 22:34, and was restrained from uttering the curse which Balak desired only by an influence from above which he could not control. Balaam was undoubtedly a wicked man, and was constrained by a power from on high to utter sentiments which God meant should be uttered, but which Balaam would never have expressed of his own accord.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 15. Which have forsaken the right way — As Balaam did, who, although God showed him the right way, took one contrary to it, preferring the reward offered him by Balak to the approbation and blessing of God.

The way of Balaam — Is the counsel of Balaam. He counselled the Moabites to give their most beautiful young women to the Israelitish youth, that they might be enticed by them to commit idolatry. Numbers 22:5, c., and "Numbers 23:1", &c.

The son of Bosor — Instead of βοσορ, BOSOR two ancient MSS. and some of the versions have βεωρ, Beor, to accommodate the word to the Hebrew text and the Septuagint. The difference in this name seems to have arisen from mistaking one letter for another in the Hebrew name, בעור Beor, for בצור Betsor or Bosor tsaddi צ and ain ×¢, which are very like each other, being interchanged.