Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us, thro' the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ.

As his divine power hath given us all things that pertain to life and godliness, thro' the knowledge of him that hath called us by glory and virtue,

By which he hath given us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these, having escaped the corruption which is in the world thro' desire, ye may become partakers of the divine nature:

But he that wanteth these is blind, not able to see afar off, having forgotten the purification from his old sins.

Knowing that shortly I must put off my tabernacle, even as the Lord Jesus Christ shewed me.

But I will endeavour, that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.

And we have the word of prophecy more confirmed, to which ye do well that ye take heed, as to a lamp that shone in a dark place, till the day should dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts:

Knowing this before that no scripture prophecy is of any private interpretation.

But there were false prophets also among the people, as there shall likewise be false teachers among you, who will privily bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, delivered them to chains of darkness,

And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example to them that should afterwards live ungodly:

(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds).

But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise government: presumptuous, self-willed; they are not afraid to rail at dignities:

Having eyes full of adultery, and that cease not from sin; beguiling unstable souls, having hearts exercised with covetousness, accursed children:

For by speaking swelling words of vanity, they allure thro' the desire of the flesh, thro' wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them that live in error.

But it has befallen them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit, and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: Knowing this first,

that there will come scoffers in the last days,

For this they are willingly ignorant of, that by the word of God of old the heavens were and the earth, standing out of the water and in the water,

Thro' which the world that then was, being overflowed with water perished.

But the heavens and the earth that are now, are by his word kept in store reserved unto fire, against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

But, beloved, be not ye ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

The Lord is not slow concerning his promise (tho' some men count it slowness) but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, the elements shall melt with fervent heat, and the earth, and the works that are therein, shall be burnt up.