- (II) LETTER OF SHIM'ON KEFA TO THE KEHILLAH
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1 But there were also nevi'ei sheker (false prophets) among Am Yisroel just as also there will be morei sheker among you. These false teachers will secretly bring in heretical doctrines of koferim ba-ikkarim (deniers of fundamentals), producing machshelah (ruin), as these heretics even become meshummad, denying the Ribbono Shel Olam who redeemed them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow them in walking in darchei zimah (the ways of licentiousness), and because of them the Derech HaEmes will be libeled with lashon hora. 3 And in their chomed (covetous) greed, they will exploit you with deceptive words. For them the Mishpat (Judgment) of old is not drei (idle) and their churban (ruin) does not slumber.
4 For if Hashem did not spare malachim that sinned, but cast them into Gehinnom, consigning them to the sharsherot (chains) of choshech to be kept for Mishpat; 5 And if Hashem, when he brought a mabbul (flood) upon the world of resha'im (evildoers), did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noach, the eighth of the nefashot*in the Teva (Ark) and a maggid of Tzidkanut (Righteousness); 6 And if Hashem judged the cities of S'dom and Amora, reducing them to ashes by a churban catastrophe, making them a mofet (an example) for the ones intending to be resha'im; 7 And if Hashem delivered Lot, a tzaddik distressed by the hitnahagut (conduct) of the mufkarim†2:8,10; 3:17(lawless) walking in darchei zimah (the ways of licentiousness) 8 — For that tzaddik, living among them day after day, was tortured in his nefesh hayesharah (honest soul) by the darchei mufkarim (the ways of lawless ones) that he saw and heard 9 — Then Hashem knows how to rescue the chasidim from trial and how to preserve the anshei resha (men of wickedness) for punishment for the Yom HaDin, 10 Especially the ones going after the basar (flesh) in ta'avah (lust) producing tum'a (defilement) and the ones despising kol samchut.‡Mt 28:18 Bold and self-willed, these have no yirat Shomayim and therefore commit Chillul Hashem as they slander the glorious ones, 11 Whereas malachim, being greater b'oz and koach (in strength and power), al kol panim (nevertheless) do not bring against them a slanderous judgment before Hashem. 12 But these men, like irrational beasts born b'derech hatevah (naturally) to be caught and killed, commit Chillul Hashem in matters where they lack da'as. In the destruction of [the beasts], they also will be destroyed, 13 Suffering harm as onesh (penalty) for harm done. They actually think there is ta'anug (pleasure) in reveling in broad daylight. They are mumim (defects) and spots reveling in their ta'nugot (evil pleasures) even while they sit at seudot (banquet dinners) with you. 14 Having eyes full of ni'uf (adultery), ceaselessly committing averos (sins), enticing unstable nefashot (souls), having levavot trained in chomed (covetous) greed — banim mekulalim (accursed children)! 15 Forsaking the Derech HaYashar (Straight Way), they went astray, having followed the Derech HaBil'am Ben-B'or, who loved the sachar haresha (reward of unrighteousness). 16 But he had tochachah (reproof) for his own peysha (transgression): a dumb chamor (donkey), having spoken in a manʼs voice, hindered the madness of the meshuga navi.
17 These men are mikva'ot without mayim and mists being driven by storms, for whom has been reserved the gloom of choshech (darkness). 18 Using high sounding words of hevel, they entice, with licentious ta'avot of the basar, the ones barely escaped from those living in toyus (error) and delusion. 19 They offer them the havtachah (promise) of cherut (freedom), but they themselves are avadim (slaves) of shachat (corruption), for whatever defeats a man also enslaves him. 20 For if, having escaped the tumot (defilements) of Olam Hazeh by da'as of Adoneinu and Moshieinu Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua, they are again entangled in these, then their last state is worse for them than their first. 21 For better it was for them not to have da'as of the Derech HaTzidkanut (the Way of Righteousness) than, having known it, to turn away from the mitzvah hakedosha handed down to them. 22 The word of the true mashal (proverb) has overtaken them: KECHELEV SHAV AL KE'O§Prov 26:11(As a dog having returned to its own vomit), and a “chazir (swine) is washed only to wallow in the mud.”

- (II) LETTER OF SHIM'ON KEFA TO THE KEHILLAH
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*2:5 in the Teva (Ark)

†2:7 2:8,10; 3:17

‡2:10 Mt 28:18

§2:22 Prov 26:11

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