I can pray this because his divine power has bestowed on us everything necessary for life and godliness through the rich knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and excellence.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith excellence, to excellence, knowledge;

Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to be sure of your calling and election. For by doing this you will never stumble into sin.

Indeed, as long as I am in this tabernacle, I consider it right to stir you up by way of a reminder,

since I know that my tabernacle will soon be removed, because our Lord Jesus Christ revealed this to me.

For he received honor and glory from God the Father, when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory: "This is my dear Son, in whom I am delighted."

When this voice was conveyed from heaven, we ourselves heard it, for we were with him on the holy mountain.

Moreover, we possess the prophetic word as an altogether reliable thing. You do well if you pay attention to this as you would to a light shining in a murky place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

Above all, you do well if you recognize this: No prophecy of scripture ever comes about by the prophet's own imagination,

They are illustrations of this true proverb: "A dog returns to its own vomit," and "A sow, after washing herself, wallows in the mire."

Dear friends, this is already the second letter I have written you, in which I am trying to stir up your pure mind by way of reminder:

Above all, understand this: In the last days blatant scoffers will come, being propelled by their own evil urges

For they deliberately suppress this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago and an earth was formed out of water and by means of water.

Now, dear friends, do not let this one thing escape your notice, that a single day is like a thousand years with the Lord and a thousand years are like a single day.

Since all these things are to melt away in this manner, what sort of people must we be, conducting our lives in holiness and godliness,

while waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God? Because of this day, the heavens will be burned up and dissolve, and the celestial bodies will melt away in a blaze!