Verse Comparison: 2 Peter 2:21
American Standard Version
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.
Amplified® Bible
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.
Contemporary English Version
They would have been better off if they had never known about the right way. Even after they knew what was right, they turned their backs on the holy commandments that they were given.
Darby English Version
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.
Good News Bible
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.
International Standard Version
It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to know it and turn their backs on the holy commandment that was committed to them.
King James Version
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.
New American Standard Bible
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.
New International Version
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.
New King James Version
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.
N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
For it would have become more desirable 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.
Young's Literal Translation
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,
