1SimonPeter,a bond-servantand apostleof JesusChrist,To thosewho have receiveda faithof the same kindas ours,by the righteousnessof our Godand Savior,JesusChrist:2Graceand peacebe multipliedto you in the knowledgeof Godand of Jesusour Lord;3seeingthat His divinepowerhas grantedto us everythingpertainingto lifeand godliness,throughthe true knowledgeof Him who calledus by His owngloryand excellence.4For by theseHe has grantedto us His preciousand magnificentpromises,sothat by them you may becomepartakersof [the] divinenature,having escapedthe corruptionthat is in the worldby lust.5Nowfor thisveryreason also,applyingalldiligence,in your faithsupplymoralexcellence, and in [your] moral excellence,knowledge,6and in [your] knowledge,self-control,and in [your] self-control,perseverance,and in [your] perseverance,godliness,7and in [your] godliness,brotherlykindness, and in [your] brotherly kindness,love.8For if these[qualities] are yoursand are increasing,they renderyou neitheruselessnorunfruitfulin the true knowledgeof our LordJesusChrist.9For he wholacksthese[qualities] is blind[or] short-sighted,having forgotten[his] purificationfrom his formersins.10Therefore,brethren,be all the morediligentto makecertainabout His callingand choosingyou; for as long as you practicethese things,you will neverstumble;11for in this waythe entranceinto the eternalkingdomof our Lordand SaviorJesusChristwill be abundantlysuppliedto you.
12Therefore,I will alwaysbe readyto remindyou of these things,even thoughyou [already] know[them], and have been establishedin the truthwhich is presentwith [you].13I considerit right,as longas I amin this[earthly] dwelling,to stiryou up by wayof reminder,14knowingthat the laying asideof my [earthly] dwellingis imminent,as alsoour LordJesusChristhas made clearto me.15And I will alsobe diligentthat at any timeaftermy departureyou will be ableto callthese thingsto mind.
16For we did not followcleverly devisedtaleswhen we made knownto you the powerand comingof our LordJesusChrist,but we were eyewitnessesof His majesty.17For when He receivedhonorand gloryfrom Godthe Father,suchan utteranceas this was madeto Him by the MajesticGlory,"Thisis My belovedSonwith whomI am well-pleased"--18and we ourselvesheardthisutterancemadefrom heavenwhen we were with Him on the holymountain.
19[So] we havethe propheticword[made] more sure,to whichyou dowellto pay attentionas to a lampshiningin a darkplace,untilthe daydawnsand the morning stararisesin your hearts.20But knowthisfirstof all, that noprophecyof Scriptureis [a matter] of one's owninterpretation,21for noprophecywas evermadeby an act of humanwill,but menmovedby the HolySpiritspokefrom God.
