for these things being to you and abounding, do make you neither inert nor unfruitful in regard to the acknowledging of our Lord Jesus Christ,

for he with whom these things are not present is blind, dim-sighted, having become forgetful of the cleansing of his old sins;

wherefore, the rather, brethren, be diligent to make stedfast your calling and choice, for these things doing, ye may never stumble,

for so, richly shall be superadded to you the entrance into the age-during reign of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

For, skilfully devised fables not having followed out, we did make known to you the power and presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, but eye-witnesses having become of his majesty --

for having received from God the Father honour and glory, such a voice being borne to him by the excellent glory: 'This is My Son -- the beloved, in whom I was well pleased;'

for not by will of man did ever prophecy come, but by the Holy Spirit borne on holy men of God spake.

For if God messengers who sinned did not spare, but with chains of thick gloom, having cast them down to Tartarus, did deliver them to judgment, having been reserved,

for in seeing and hearing, the righteous man, dwelling among them, day by day the righteous soul with unlawful works was harassing.

for overswellings of vanity speaking, they do entice in desires of the flesh -- lasciviousnesses, those who had truly escaped from those conducting themselves in error,

liberty to them promising, themselves being servants of the corruption, for by whom any one hath been overcome, to this one also he hath been brought to servitude,

for, if having escaped from the pollutions of the world, in the acknowledging of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and by these again being entangled, they have been overcome, become to them hath the last things worse than the first,

for it were better to them not to have acknowledged the way of the righteousness, than having acknowledged it, to turn back from the holy command delivered to them,

and saying, 'Where is the promise of his presence? for since the fathers did fall asleep, all things so remain from the beginning of the creation;'

for this is unobserved by them willingly, that the heavens were of old, and the earth out of water and through water standing together by the word of God,

and the present heavens and the earth, by the same word are treasured, for fire being kept to a day of judgment and destruction of the impious men.

waiting for and hasting to the presence of the day of God, by which the heavens, being on fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements with burning heat shall melt;

and for new heavens and a new earth according to His promise we do wait, in which righteousness doth dwell;

wherefore, beloved, these things waiting for, be diligent, spotless and unblameable, by Him to be found in peace,