New 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 that was passed on 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 they were given.

New American 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 commandment handed down to them.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For it had been better for them not to have known the way of justice than, after they have known it, to turn back from that holy commandment which was delivered to them.

For it had been better for them not to have known the way of justice than, after they have known it, to turn back from that holy commandment which was delivered to them.

it had.

Matthew 11:23,24 And thou Capharnaum, shalt thou be exalted up to heaven? thou shalt go down even unto hell. For if in Sodom had been wrought the miracles that have been wrought in thee, perhaps it had remained unto this day. . . .

Luke 12:47 And that servant, who knew the will of his lord and prepared not himself and did not according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

John 9:41 Jesus said to them: If you were blind, you should not have sin: but now you say: We see. Your sin remaineth.

John 15:22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin: but now they have no excuse for their sin.

the way.

Proverbs 12:28 In the path of justice is life: but the bye-way leadeth to death.

Proverbs 16:31 Old age is a crown of dignity, when it is found in the ways of justice.

Matthew 21:32 For John came to you in the way of justice: and you did not believe him. But the publicans and the harlots believed him: but you, seeing it, did not even afterwards repent, that you might believe him.

to turn.

Psalm 36:3,4 The words of his mouth are iniquity and guile: he would not understand that he might do well. . . .

Psalm 125:5 But such as turn aside into bonds, the Lord shall lead out with the workers of iniquity: peace upon Israel.

Ezekiel 3:20 Moreover if the just man shall turn away from his justice, and shall commit iniquity: I will lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die, because thou hast not given him warning: he shall die in his sin, and his justices which he hath done, shall not be remembered: but I will require his blood at thy hand.

Ezekiel 18:24 But if the just man turn himself away from his justice, and do iniquity according to all the abominations which the wicked man useth to work, shall he live? all his justices which he hath done, shall not be remembered: in the prevarication, by which he hath prevaricated, and in his sin, which he hath committed, in them he shall die.

Ezekiel 23:13 And I saw that she was defiled, and that they both took one way.

Zephaniah 1:6 And them that turn away from following after the Lord, and that have not sought the Lord, nor searched after him.

holy.

Romans 7:12 Wherefore the law indeed is holy: and the commandment holy and just and good.

1 Thessalonians 4:2 For you know what precepts I have given to you by the Lord Jesus.