2 Peter 2:21 — Compare All Translations

English (YLT) 1898 Young's Literal Translation by Robert Young

for it were better to them not to have acknowledged the way of the righteousness, than having acknowledged [it], to turn back from the holy command delivered to them,

English ASV

For it were better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

English Amplified

For never to have obtained a [full, personal] knowledge of the way of righteousness would have been better for them than, having obtained [such knowledge], to turn back from the holy commandment which was [verbally] delivered to them.

English Amplified Classic Bible 1987

For never to have obtained a [full, personal] knowledge of the way of righteousness would have been better for them than, having obtained [such knowledge], to turn back from the holy commandment which was [verbally] delivered to them.

English Berean Standard Bible (BSB) 2025

It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and then to turn away from the holy commandment passed on to them.

English CSB 2017 - Christian Standard Bible

For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy command delivered to them.

English Darby 1890 : Public Domain

For it were better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known [it] to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.

English EASY 2024

It would have been better for them if they had never known God's good way. But they did understand about the right things that God wants us to do. And then they turned away from that way of life. They stopped obeying God's good rules, that people had taught them.

English ERV 2006 - Only For Website

Yes, it would be better for them to have never known the right way. That would be better than to know the right way and then to turn away from the holy teaching that was given to them.

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.

English GNT (Good News Translation)

It would have been much better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than to know it and then turn away from the sacred command that was given them.

English God's Word - GW 1995

It would have been better for them never to have known the way of life that God approves of than to know it and turn their backs on the holy life God told them to live.

English HCSB 2004 - Copyrighted Only For Website

For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.

English KJV 1611

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.

English LSB

For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them.

English MEV 2014 (Modern English Version)

For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and then turn back from the holy commandment that was delivered to them.

English NASB (New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995)

For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them.

English NASU 1989 - New American Standard Update - Only for Website

For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment handed down to them.

English NET Bible - 2005 (New English Translation)

For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than, having known it, to turn back from the holy commandment that had been delivered to them.

English NIRV 1996 - Copyrighted only for Website

What if they had not known the way of godliness? That would have been better than to have known it and then to have turned their backs on it. The way of godliness is the sacred command that was passed on to them.

English NIV

It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.

English NKJ 1982

For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.

English NLT

It would be better if they had never known the right way to live than to know it and then reject the holy commandments that were given to them.

English NRSV 1989 - Only for website

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 that was passed on to them.

English Passion Translation Bible 2020

It would have been much better for them never to have experienced the way of righteousness than to know it and then turn away from the sacred obligation that was given to them.

English RSV (Revised Standard Version)

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.

English TL (The Living Bible) (1971)

It would be better if he had never known about Christ at all than to learn of him and then afterwards turn his back on the holy commandments that were given to him.

English Tyndale 1537

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 given unto them.

2 Peter 2:21 — Compare Translations