[This is Second Peter from the Holy Bible, Hoehn Version, copyright 2011, (Amazon). It has been revised from the King James Version into modern English by Frederick Hoehn.] ___2 Peter chapter 1 1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ, 2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that has called us to glory and virtue, 4 By which are given to us very great and precious promises, so that by these you'll be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, 6 And to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience, and to patience godliness, 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are in you, and are plentiful, they'll keep you from being barren or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacks these things is blind, and can't see afar off, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 So rather, brothers, give diligence to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things, you'll never fall, 11 That's how an entrance shall be ministered to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 12 So, I won't be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though you know them, and are established in the present truth. 13 Yes, I think it's appropriate, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by reminding you, 14 Knowing that soon, I must put off this body that I have, as our Lord Jesus Christ has shown me. 15 Also I will try to arrange that you'll be able to have these things always in remembrance, after my death. 16 For we haven't followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when such a voice came to him from the excellent glory and said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." 18 And we heard this voice that came from heaven, when we were with him in the holy mountain. 19 We also have a more sure word of prophecy, to which you do well to pay attention to, like to a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns, and the day star arises in your hearts, 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy didn't come in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. ___2 Peter chapter 2 1 But there were false prophets also among the people, just as there'll be false teachers among you, who secretly shall bring in damnable false teachings, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their wicked ways, because of whom the way of truth shall be spoken evil about. 3 And through covetousness, they'll make merchandise of you with pretended words, whose judgment now after a long time doesn't wait, and their damnation doesn't sleep. 4 For if God didn't spare the angels that sinned, but threw them down to hell, and delivered them to chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment, 5 And didn't spare the old world, but saved Noah, the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly, 6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example to those who afterward would live in ungodly ways, 7 And gave deliverance to just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked, 8 (For that righteous man living among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds,) 9 The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust until the day of judgment to be punished, 10 But mainly those who walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. They're presumptuous, self-willed, they aren't afraid to speak evil of dignities. 11 But angels, who are greater in power and might, don't bring railing accusation against them before the Lord. 12 But these, like natural brute animals, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil about the things that they don't understand, and shall completely perish in their own corruption, 13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, like those who that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. They are spots and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you, 14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that can't stop sinning, corrupting unstable souls, they have exercised their hearts with covetous practices, cursed children, 15 Who've forsaken the right way, and have gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness, 16 But was scolded for his sin, the dumb donkey speaking with man's voice spoke against the insanity of the prophet. 17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest, to whom the mist of darkness is reserved forever. 18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they seduce through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those who were completely escaped from those who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption, for by whom a man is overcome, that’s how he is brought into bondage. 20 For if after they’ve escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the end is worse for them than the beginning. 21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandments delivered to them. 22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb, "The dog has turned to his own vomit again, and the pig that was washed to her wallowing in the mire." ___2 Peter chapter 3 1 This second letter, beloved, I now write to you, in both of which I stir up your pure minds by reminding you, 2 So that you'll be thinking about the words that were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Savior, 3 Knowing this first, that in the last days, scoffers shall come, walking according to their own lusts, 4 And saying, "Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue like they were from the beginning of the creation." 5 For this they are willingly ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water, 6 By which, the world that was then, being submerged in water, was destroyed, 7 But the heavens and the earth that are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved for fire until the day of judgment and hell for ungodly men. 8 But beloved, don't be ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness, but is patient toward us, not willing for anyone to perish, but that all would come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night, in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are in it shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what kind of people ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hurrying toward the coming of the day of God, in which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 However we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness lives. 14 So beloved, seeing that you look for such things, be diligent so you'll be found by him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 15 And consider that the patience of our Lord is salvation, like our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given to him has written to you, 16 As also in all his letters, speaking in them about these things, in which are some things difficult to understand, which those who are unlearned and unstable tear, as they do also the other scriptures, to their own destruction. 17 You therefore, beloved, seeing you know these things before, beware so you won't also be led away with the error of the wicked, and fall from your own steadiness. 18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory now and forever. Amen.