II Peter Chapter II

[He foretelleth them of false teachers, shewing the impiety and punishment of them and their followers...]

BUT there were false prophets among the 
people, even as there shall be false teachers
among you, who privily shall bring in damnable
heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, 
and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by 
reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 
3 And through covetousness shall they with 
feigned words make merchandise of you: whose 
judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and 
their damnation slumbereth not. 
4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, 
but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into
chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah 
the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing
in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah 
into ashes, condemned them with an overthrow, 
making them an ensemble unto those that after 
should live ungodly;
7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy
conversation of the wicked:
8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them,
in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul
from day to day with their unlawful deeds;
9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly
out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto 
the day of judgment to be punished:
10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in 
the lust of uncleanness, and despise government.
Presumptuous are they, self-willed; they are not 
afraid to speak evil of dignities.
11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power
and might, bring not railing accusation against them 
before the Lord. 
12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to 
be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things
that they understand not; and shall utterly perish 
in their own corruption: 
13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, 
as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day-time.
 Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves
with their own deceivings while they feast with you, 
14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot
cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls; an 
heart they have exercised with covetous practices;
cursed children:
15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are 
gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son 
of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb 
ass, speaking with man's voice, forbade the madness 
of the prophet.
17 These are wells without water, clouds that 
are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of 
darkness is reserved for ever.
18 For when they speak great swelling words of 
vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, 
through much wantonness, those that were clean 
escaped from them who live in error. 
19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves
are the servants of corruption: for of whom a 
man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions 
of the world through the knowledge of the 
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled 
therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse 
with them than the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have 
known the way of righteousness, than, after they 
have known it, to turn from the holy commandment
delivered unto them. 
22 But it is happened unto them according to the 
true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit 
again; and, The sow that was washed, to her 
wallowing in the mire. 

THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PETER CHAPTER I.

[Peter, saluting the Christians, admonisheth them of the gifts and promises of the gospel, &c.]

SIMON Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus
Christ, to them that have obtained like precious
faith with us through the righteousness of
God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through 
the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power hath given unto 
us all thing that pertain unto life and godliness,
through the knowledge of him that hath called us 
to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great 
and precious promises; that by these ye might be
partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the 
corruption that is in the world through lust. 
5 And besides 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, charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they 
make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful
in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and 
cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was 
purged from his old sins. 
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence 
to make your calling and election sure: for if ye 
do these things, ye shall never fall: 
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto 
you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our 
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 
12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you 
always in remembrance of these things, though ye 
know them, and be established in the present truth. 
13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this 
tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in
remembrance;
14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my
tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath 
showed me. 
15 Moreover, I will endeavour that ye may be
able, after my disease, to have these things always
in remembrance.
16 For we have not followed cunningly devised 
fables, when we made known unto 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 there came such a voice to him 
from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, 
in whom I am well pleased. 
18 And this voice which came from heaven we 
heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; 
whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a 
light that shineth in a dark place, until the day 
dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts:
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the 
scripture is of any private interpretation. 
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by 
the will of man: but holy men of God spake as
they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 

I PETER CHAPTER V.

[1 The elders exhorteth to feed the flock of Christ; 5 the younger to obey the elder; 8 and 
all to be sober, watchful, and steadfast in the faith, resisting the devil...]

THE elders which are among you I exhort, who 
am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings 
of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that 
shall be revealed
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, 
taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but 
willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage,
but being ensamples to the flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye
shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 
5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the 
elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another,
and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the 
proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty 
hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary 
the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking 
whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing 
that the same afflictions are accomplished in your 
brethren that are in the world. 
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us 
unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye 
have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, 
strengthen, settle you.
11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and 
ever. Amen. 
12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I 
suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying
that this is the true Grace of God wherein ye stand
13 The church that is at Babylon, elected together 
with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.
14 Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity.
Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.