Dual Panel1From Simeon <4613> Peter <4074>, a slave <1401> and <2532> apostle <652> of Jesus <2424> Christ <5547>, to those who through <1722> the righteousness <1343> of our <2257> God <2316> and <2532> Savior <4990>, Jesus <2424> Christ <5547>, have been granted <2975> a faith <4102> just as precious as <2472> ours <2254>.
2May <4129> grace <5485> and <2532> peace <1515> be lavished <4129> on you <5213> as you grow in <1722> the rich knowledge <1922> of God <2316> and <2532> of Jesus <2424> our <2257> Lord <2962>!
3I can pray this because his <846> divine <2304> power <1411> has bestowed <1433> on us <2254> everything <3956> necessary for <4314> life <2222> and <2532> godliness <2150> through <1223> the rich knowledge <1922> of the one who called <2564> us <2248> by <1223> his own glory <1391> and <2532> excellence <703>.
4Through <1223> these things he has bestowed <1433> on us <2254> his precious <5093> and <2532> most magnificent <3173> promises <1862>, so that <2443> by means of <1223> what was promised <5130> you may become <1096> partakers <2844> of the divine <2304> nature <5449>, after escaping <668> the worldly <2889> corruption <5356> that is produced by <1722> evil desire <1939>.
5For this <5124> very reason <4710>, make <3923> every <3956> effort <3923> to add <2023> to your <5216> faith <4102> excellence <703>, to <1722> excellence <703>, knowledge <1108>;
6to <1722> knowledge <1108>, self-control <1466>; to <1722> self-control <1466>, perseverance <5281>; to <1722> perseverance <5281>, godliness <2150>;
7to <1722> godliness <2150>, brotherly affection <5360>; to <1722> brotherly affection <5360>, unselfish love <26>.
8For <1063> if these things <5023> are <5225> really yours <5213> and <2532> are continually increasing <4121>, they will keep <2525> you from becoming <2525> ineffective <692> and <3761> unproductive <175> in <1519> your pursuit of knowing <1922> our <2257> Lord <2962> Jesus <2424> Christ <5547> more intimately.
9But concerning the one who lacks <3361> <3918> such things <5023>– he is <1510> blind <5185>. That is to say, he is nearsighted <3467>, since he has forgotten <2983> forgotten <3024> about the cleansing <2512> of his <846> past <3819> sins <266>.
10Therefore <1352>, brothers and sisters <80>, make <4704> every <3123> effort <4704> to be sure <949> of your <5216> calling <2821> and <2532> election <1589>. For <1063> by doing <4160> this <5023> you will <4417> never <3756> <3361> stumble <4417> into sin.
11For <1063> thus <3779> an entrance <1529> into <1519> the eternal <166> kingdom <932> of our <2257> Lord <2962> and <2532> Savior <4990>, Jesus <2424> Christ <5547>, will be <2023> richly <4146> provided <2023> for you <5213>.
12Therefore <1352>, I intend <3195> to remind <5279> you <5209> constantly <104> of <4012> these things <5130> even though <2539> you know <1492> them and <2532> are well established <4741> in <1722> the truth <225> that you now have <3918>.
13Indeed, as long as <3745> I am <1510> in <1722> this <5129> tabernacle <4638>, I consider <2233> it right <1342> to stir <1326> you up <1326> by <1722> way of a reminder <5280>,
14since <1492> I know <1492> that <3754> my <3450> tabernacle <4638> will <1510> soon <5031> be <1510> removed <595>, because <2531> <2532> our <2257> Lord <2962> Jesus <2424> Christ <5547> revealed <1213> this to me <3427>.
15Indeed <1539>, I will <4704> also <2532> make every effort <4704> that, after <3326> my <1699> departure <1841>, you <5209> have <2192> a testimony <3420> of these things <5130>.
16For <1063> we did <1811> not <3756> follow <1811> cleverly concocted <4679> fables <3454> when we made known <1107> to you <5213> the power <1411> and <2532> return <3952> of our <2257> Lord <2962> Jesus <2424> Christ <5547>; no <235>, we were <1096> eyewitnesses <2030> of his <1565> grandeur <3168>.
17For <1063> he received <2983> honor <5092> and <2532> glory <1391> from <3844> God <2316> the Father <3962>, when that voice <5456> was conveyed <5342> to him <846> by <5259> the Majestic <3169> Glory <1391>: “This <3778> is <1510> my <3450> dear <27> Son <5207>, in <1519> whom <3739> I <1473> am delighted <2106>.”
18When <2532> this <3778> voice <5456> was conveyed <5342> from <1537> heaven <3772>, we <191> ourselves <2249> heard <191> it, for we were <1510> with <4862> him <846> on <1722> the holy <40> mountain <3735>.
19Moreover, we possess <2192> the prophetic <4397> word <3056> as an altogether reliable thing <949>. You do <4160> well <2573> if you pay attention <4337> to this as <5613> you would to a light <3088> shining <5316> in <1722> a murky <850> place <5117>, until <2193> the day <2250> dawns <1306> and <2532> the morning star <5459> rises <393> in <1722> your <5216> hearts <2588>.
20Above <4412> all <3956>, you do well if you recognize <1097> this <5124>: No <3756> prophecy <4394> of scripture <1124> ever comes about <1096> by the prophet’s own <2398> imagination <1955>,
21for <1063> no <3756> prophecy <4394> was ever borne <5342> of human <444> impulse <2307>; rather <235>, men <444> carried along <5342> by <5259> the Holy <40> Spirit <4151> spoke <2980> from <575> God <2316>.