New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures Reference Bible

1 Simon Peter, a slave+ and apostle+ of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a faith, held in equal privilege with ours,+ by the righteousness+ of our God* and [the] Savior Jesus Christ:*+

2 May undeserved kindness and peace be increased to YOU+ by an accurate knowledge+ of God and of Jesus* our Lord, 3 forasmuch as his divine power* has given us freely all the things that concern life+ and godly devotion,+ through the accurate knowledge of the one who called+ us through glory+ and virtue. 4 Through these things he has freely given us the precious and very grand promises,+ that through these YOU may become sharers in divine+ nature,*+ having escaped from the corruption that is in the world+ through lust.

5 Yes, for this very reason, by YOUR contributing in response all earnest effort,+ supply to YOUR faith virtue,+ to [YOUR] virtue knowledge,+ 6 to [YOUR] knowledge self-control, to [YOUR] self-control+ endurance, to [YOUR] endurance godly devotion,+ 7 to [YOUR] godly devotion brotherly affection, to [YOUR] brotherly affection love.+ 8 For if these things exist in YOU and overflow, they will prevent YOU from being either inactive or unfruitful*+ regarding the accurate knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 For if these things are not present in anyone, he is blind, shutting his eyes [to the light],*+ and has become forgetful+ of his cleansing+ from his sins of long ago. 10 For this reason, brothers, all the more do YOUR utmost to make the calling+ and choosing+ of YOU sure for yourselves; for if YOU keep on doing these things YOU will by no means ever fail.+ 11 In fact, thus there will be richly supplied to YOU the entrance+ into the everlasting+ kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.+

12 For this reason I shall be disposed always to remind+ YOU of these things, although YOU know [them] and are firmly set in the truth+ that is present [in YOU].+ 13 But I consider it right, as long as I am in this tabernacle,+ to rouse YOU up by way of reminding YOU,+ 14 knowing as I do that the putting off of my tabernacle is soon to be,*+ just as also our Lord Jesus Christ signified to me.+ 15 So I will do my utmost also at every time that, after my departure,+ YOU may be able to make mention of these things* for yourselves.

16 No, it was not by following artfully contrived false stories+ that we acquainted YOU with the power and presence* of our Lord Jesus Christ,+ but it was by having become eyewitnesses of his magnificence.+ 17 For he received from God the Father honor and glory,+ when words such as these* were borne to him by the magnificent glory: “This is my son, my beloved, whom I myself have approved.”*+ 18 Yes, these words* we heard+ borne from heaven while we were with him in the holy mountain.+

19 Consequently we have the prophetic word+ [made] more sure;+ and YOU are doing well in paying attention to it as to a lamp+ shining in a dark place, until day dawns and a daystar*+ rises, in YOUR hearts. 20 For YOU know this first, that no prophecy of Scripture springs from any private interpretation.*+ 21 For prophecy was at no time brought by man’s will,+ but men spoke from God+ as they were borne along by holy spirit.+

2 However, there also came to be false prophets among the people, as there will also be false teachers among YOU.+ These very ones will quietly bring in destructive sects* and will disown even the owner that bought them,+ bringing speedy destruction upon themselves. 2 Furthermore, many will follow+ their acts of loose conduct,*+ and on account of these the way of the truth will be spoken of abusively.+ 3 Also, with covetousness they will exploit YOU with counterfeit words.+ Jer.6:14; Ezek.13:10 ■  But as for them, the judgment from of old+ is not moving slowly, and the destruction of them is not slumbering.+

4 Certainly if God did not hold back from punishing the angels+ that sinned, but, by throwing them into Tarʹta·rus,*+ delivered them to pits of dense darkness to be reserved for judgment;+ 5 and he did not hold back from punishing an ancient* world,+ but kept Noah, a preacher of righteousness,+ safe with seven others+ when he brought a deluge*+ upon a world of ungodly people; 6 and by reducing the cities Sodʹom and Go·morʹrah to ashes he condemned them,+ setting a pattern for ungodly persons* of things to come;+ 7 and he delivered righteous Lot,+ who was greatly distressed by the indulgence of the law-defying people in loose conduct*+— 8 for that righteous man by what he saw and heard while dwelling among them from day to day was tormenting his righteous soul by reason of their lawless deeds— 9 Jehovah* knows how to deliver people of godly devotion out of trial,+ but to reserve unrighteous people for the day of judgment to be cut off,*+ 10 especially, however, those who go on after flesh with the desire to defile [it]+ and who look down* on lordship.+

Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble at glorious ones* but speak abusively,+ 11 whereas angels, although they are greater in strength and power, do not bring against them an accusation in abusive terms,+ [not doing so] out of respect for Jehovah.*+ 12 But these [men], like unreasoning animals born naturally to be caught and destroyed, will, in the things of which they are ignorant and speak abusively,+ even suffer destruction in their own [course of] destruction, 13 wronging themselves+ as a reward for wrongdoing.+

They consider luxurious living in the daytime a pleasure.+ They are spots and blemishes, indulging with unrestrained delight in their deceptive teachings* while feasting together with YOU.+ 14 They have eyes full of adultery*+ and unable to desist from sin,+ and they entice* unsteady souls. They have a heart trained in covetousness.+ They are accursed children.+ 15 Abandoning the straight path, they have been misled. They have followed the path of Baʹlaam,+ [the son] of Beʹor, who loved the reward of wrongdoing,+ 16 but got a reproof for his own violation of what was right.*+ A voiceless beast of burden, making utterance with the voice of a man,+ hindered the prophet’s mad course.+

17 These are fountains without water,+ and mists driven by a violent storm, and for them the blackness of darkness has been reserved.+ 18 For they utter swelling expressions of no profit, and by the desires of the flesh+ and by loose habits they entice+ those who are just escaping+ from people who conduct themselves in error. 19 While they are promising them freedom,+ they themselves are existing as slaves of corruption.+ For whoever is overcome by another is enslaved by this one.*+ 20 Certainly if, after having escaped from the defilements of the world+ by an accurate knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they get involved* again with these very things and are overcome,+ the final conditions have become worse for them than the first.+ 21 For it would have been better for them not to have accurately known the path of righteousness+ than after knowing it accurately to turn away from the holy commandment delivered to them.+ 22 The saying of the true proverb has happened to them: “The dog+ has returned to its own vomit, and the sow that was bathed to rolling in the mire.”+ HEB6:4-6

3 Beloved ones, this is now the second letter I am writing YOU, in which, as in my first one,+ I am arousing YOUR clear thinking faculties* by way of a reminder,+ 2 that YOU should remember the sayings previously spoken by the holy prophets+ and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through YOUR apostles.+ 3 For YOU know this first, that in the last days+ there will come ridiculers*+ with their ridicule, proceeding according to their own desires+ 4 and saying:+ “Where is this promised presence* of his?+ Why, from the day our forefathers fell asleep [in death], all things are continuing exactly as from creation’s beginning.”+

5 For, according to their wish, this fact escapes their notice, that there were heavens+ from of old and an earth standing compactly out of water+ and in the midst of water+ by the word of God; 6 and by those [means] the world of that time suffered destruction when it was deluged with water.+ 7 But by the same word the heavens+ and the earth+ that are now are stored up for fire+ and are being reserved to the day of judgment+ and of destruction of the ungodly men.+  

8 However, let this one fact not be escaping YOUR notice, beloved ones, that one day is with Jehovah* as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day.+ 9 Jehovah* is not slow respecting his promise,+ as some people consider slowness, but he is patient with YOU because he does not desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance.*+ Rom.2:4 10 Yet Jehovah’s* day+ will come as a thief,+ in which the heavens will pass away+ with a hissing noise,+ but the elements* being intensely hot will be dissolved,*+ and earth+ and the works in it will be discovered.*+

11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of persons ought YOU to be in holy acts of conduct and deeds of godly devotion, 12 awaiting+ and keeping close in mind* the presence* of the day of Jehovah,*+ through which [the] heavens being on fire will be dissolved+ and [the] elements being intensely hot will melt! 13 But there are new heavens+ and a new earth+ that we are awaiting according to his promise, and in these righteousness is to dwell.+ Isai.65:17; Rev.21:1

14 Hence, beloved ones, since YOU are awaiting these things, do YOUR utmost to be found finally by him spotless+ and unblemished and in peace.+ 15 Furthermore, consider the patience* of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul according to the wisdom+ given him also wrote YOU,+ 16 speaking about these things as he does also in all [his] letters. In them, however, are some things hard to understand, which the untaught* and unsteady are twisting,* as [they do] also the rest of the Scriptures,+ to their own destruction.

17 YOU, therefore, beloved ones, having this advance knowledge,+ be on YOUR guard that YOU may not be led away with them by the error of the law-defying people* and fall from YOUR own steadfastness.+ 18 No, but go on growing in the undeserved kindness and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.+ To him [be] the glory both now and to the day of eternity.+