New Testament Lesson

2 Pet. 2:10b-16 (NRSV)

10 -especially those who indulge their flesh in depraved lust, and who despise authority. Bold and willful,
they are not afraid to slander the glorious ones, 11whereas angels, though greater in might and power, do not
bring against them a slanderous judgment from the Lord. 12These people, however, are like irrational
animals, mere creatures of instinct, born to be caught and killed. They slander what they do not understand,
and when those creatures are destroyed, they also will be destroyed, 13suffering the penalty for doing wrong.
They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their dissipation
while they feast with you. 14They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls.
They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children! 15They have left the straight road and have gone
astray, following the road of Balaam son of Bosor, who loved the wages of doing wrong, 16but was rebuked
for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet's
madness.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.